Deuteronomy 7:20
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This verse reveals a subtle but powerful aspect of God's judgment: it relentlessly pursues those who try to hide from Him. Even when people try to disappear into hidden places, God's "hornets" will find them, highlighting that there's no escaping His justice when one tries to evade His will.
Moreover, the LORD your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is laying out God's promises and commands for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, emphasizing complete annihilation of the nations there and strict separation from their idolatrous practices. This instruction follows God's powerful demonstration of His might in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and precedes the assurance that God Himself will drive out these nations, ensuring Israel's victory and preventing them from being overwhelmed. The mention of "hornets" is part of God's multifaceted strategy to ensure the utter destruction of the enemy, including those who attempt to hide from the Israelites.
When we read about God sending 'hornets,' it might sound strange, even a little scary. What does this really mean for us today?
In Deuteronomy 7:20, God promises to send 'hornets' among the Canaanites. This isn't just about a literal insect.
Divine Instruments
The ancient commentators noted that 'hornets' could refer to literal, venomous insects, known for their ability to drive people out of hiding. Some even suggested it could represent a broader sense of pestilence or plague.
Beyond Literal Insects
While the imagery is vivid, the core message is about God's power to use anything to accomplish His will. Whether it's literal insects, natural disasters, or even circumstances we can't explain, God has ways to deal with opposition to His plans and His people.
A Spiritual Application
Just as God used 'hornets' to ensure the destruction of the Canaanites, He can use unseen forces or even challenging situations in our lives to root out sin and protect us from spiritual harm.
What happens when people try to hide from God's judgment or His people? This verse offers a stark reminder.
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Deuteronomy 7:20 doesn't just mention destruction; it highlights the futility of escape. God's judgment will find those who 'hide themselves.'
Persistent Pursuit
The imagery of hornets penetrating hiding places speaks to God's relentless pursuit of those who oppose Him or His covenant people. There's no corner too dark or too secret for God's action to reach.
The End Goal: Complete Destruction
The verse states this will continue 'until' they are destroyed. This emphasizes that God's work, when it comes to dealing with persistent opposition and sin, is thorough. He doesn't leave a remnant to cause future trouble.
Assurance for Believers
For the Israelites, this was a promise of security. It meant the complete removal of threats. For us, it's a reminder that God is committed to the ultimate victory of His kingdom and the eradication of evil.
Understand the original words
tsirah · Hebrew Noun
A stinging insect, used symbolically or literally as a tool of divine judgment to harass and drive out enemies.
This passage describes God sending hornets ahead of the Israelites to drive out the Hivites, Perizzites, and Hittites, directly paralleling the promise in Deuteronomy of how God will deal with their enemies.
Joshua 24:12Joshua recounts how God sent hornets before the Israelites to drive out the two kings of the Amorites, confirming the literal fulfillment of the promise made in Deuteronomy.
Psalm 78:45This psalm reflects on God's past actions, mentioning sending 'destroying flies' and 'frogs' among the Egyptians, illustrating God's power to use plagues and natural forces as instruments of judgment.
Isaiah 10:26This prophetic passage speaks of God raising up a whip against His people, like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb, showing God's sovereign hand in using overwhelming forces to judge and deliver.
calvinDeuteronomy 7:16-26: "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee."
The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out; so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.
Probationum magnarum quas videru…
gillDeuteronomy 7:20: "Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed."
Moreover, the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them,.... Not a single one, but several of them, and which may be understood of creatures so called, which resemble wasps, only twice as large, an insect very bold and venomous; see Exodus 23:28 . Aben Ezra interprets it of the leprosy: until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, b…
This verse reveals a subtle but powerful aspect of God's judgment: it relentlessly pursues those who try to hide from Him. Even when people try to disappear into hidden places, God's "hornets" will find them, highlighting that there's no escaping His justice when one tries to evade His will.
Moses is laying out God's promises and commands for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, emphasizing complete annihilation of the nations there and strict separation from their idolatrous practices. This instruction follows God's powerful demonstration of His might in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and precedes the assurance that God Himself will drive out these nations, ensuring Israel's victory and preventing them from being overwhelmed. The mention of "hornets" is part of God's multifaceted strategy to ensure the utter destruction of the enemy, including those who attempt to hide from the Israelites.
Moses is laying out God's promises and commands for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, emphasizing complete annihilation of the nations there and strict separation from their idolatrous practices. This instruction follows God's powerful demonstration of His might in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and precedes the assurance that God Himself will drive out these nations, ensuring Israel's victory and preventing them from being overwhelmed. The mention of "hornets" is part of God's multifaceted strategy to ensure the utter destruction of the enemy, including those who attempt to hide from the Israelites.
"Moreover, the LORD your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed." — This verse reveals a subtle but powerful aspect of God's judgment: it relentlessly pursues those who try to hide from Him. Even when people try to disappear into hidden places, God's "hornets" will f…
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Last reviewed October 2026
