Exodus 34:15-16
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The text doesn't just warn against joining pagan feasts; it highlights the subtle danger of simply being "invited" and eating of their sacrifice, emphasizing that even casual participation in idolatrous worship, especially when framed as fellowship, is considered a form of spiritual betrayal. This act of sharing food from a sacrifice offered to other gods is presented as a direct participation in that false worship, thereby breaking the covenant with the LORD.
lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is reconfirming the covenant with Israel after they broke it by worshipping the golden calf. He's warning Moses not to make any alliances or treaties with the people living in the land of Canaan, because if they do, the Israelites will inevitably be drawn into the Canaanites' idolatrous practices, including participating in their feasts and eventually worshipping their gods. This prohibition is a crucial part of maintaining Israel's unique relationship with the Lord.
Why does the Bible compare idolatry to 'going a whoring'? What does this imagery reveal about our relationship with God?
The Bible often uses the analogy of marriage to describe the relationship between God and His people. God is the faithful husband, and Israel is His bride.
When Israel turned to other gods, it was seen as spiritual adultery – a profound betrayal of their covenant vows. The text uses strong language like 'whore' to emphasize the severity of this spiritual infidelity.
This wasn't just about choosing a different god; it was about breaking the most intimate and exclusive bond. It signifies a deep disrespect and abandonment of the one true God who had committed Himself to them.
What's the big deal about eating food offered to idols? It seems like a small step, but God saw it as a critical danger.
The verse warns against participating in the sacrifices of pagan worship. When an idolater invites you to eat of their sacrifice, it's not just a casual meal.
These feasts were integral parts of the worship itself. By eating the sacrifice, an Israelite would be symbolically participating in and endorsing the worship of the idol.
This seemingly minor act could lead to a deeper entanglement with idolatry. It normalizes pagan practices and opens the door for intermarriage and further deviation from God's commands, as history sadly shows.
Understand the original words
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zanah · Hebrew Verb
Metaphorical language used throughout Scripture to describe the spiritual infidelity of God's people when they forsake their covenant loyalty to Him to worship idols or false gods.
zebah · Hebrew Noun
The act of presenting an animal or gift to a deity to establish, maintain, or restore a relationship, seeking favor or expressing devotion.
zanah · Hebrew Verb
In biblical usage, 'whoring' or 'playing the harlot' refers to spiritual infidelity, describing God's people turning away from Him to serve or worship other deities, thus breaking the covenant relationship.
elohim · Hebrew Noun
In the context of the Old Testament, these refer to non-Israelite deities, which were forbidden because the Lord is the only true God and demanded exclusive worship from His people.
This passage directly illustrates the consequences warned against in Exodus 34:15, showing how the Israelites turned to worshiping local deities after making covenants with the inhabitants of the land.
1 Kings 11:1-8Solomon's story serves as a real-world example of the danger highlighted in Exodus 34:15, demonstrating how foreign wives and participation in their religious practices led him into idolatry, despite his initial wisdom.
Ezekiel 20:30-32The prophet Ezekiel confronts Israel with their spiritual unfaithfulness, using language similar to the 'whoredom' metaphor from Exodus 34:15 to describe their attraction to foreign gods and practices, highlighting a long-standing pattern of disobedience.
1 Corinthians 10:20-21Paul uses the concept of participating in sacrifices to explain that eating food sacrificed to idols is akin to communion with demons, echoing the spiritual danger of sharing in the sacrifices of other gods as warned against in Exodus 34:15.
Jeremiah 3:6-10Jeremiah powerfully employs the imagery of spiritual adultery and whoredom, directly referencing the covenant unfaithfulness described in Exodus 34:15, to condemn Israel's persistent turning away from God to other deities.
pooleExodus 34:15: "Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;"
A covenant , for cohabitation, or to suffer them quietly to live among you, whom you should drive out. Go a whoring , i.e. commit idolatry, which is oft called and compared to spiritual whoredom. See Jer 2 Jer 3 Eze 16 . And thou eat of his sacrifice to wit of the parts or remainders of his sacrifi…
ellicottExodus 34:15: "Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;"
(15, 16) Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants. —If a covenant were made with the idolatrous nations of Canaan, and they were allowed to dwell in the land together with the Israelites ( Exodus 23:33 ), the danger would be, in the first place, that Israel would be induced to partake in the…
The text doesn't just warn against joining pagan feasts; it highlights the subtle danger of simply being "invited" and eating of their sacrifice, emphasizing that even casual participation in idolatrous worship, especially when framed as fellowship, is considered a form of spiritual betrayal. This act of sharing food from a sacrifice offered to other gods is presented as a direct participation in that false worship, thereby breaking the covenant with the LORD.
God is reconfirming the covenant with Israel after they broke it by worshipping the golden calf. He's warning Moses not to make any alliances or treaties with the people living in the land of Canaan, because if they do, the Israelites will inevitably be drawn into the Canaanites' idolatrous practices, including participating in their feasts and eventually worshipping their gods. This prohibition is a crucial part of maintaining Israel's unique relationship with the Lord.
God is reconfirming the covenant with Israel after they broke it by worshipping the golden calf. He's warning Moses not to make any alliances or treaties with the people living in the land of Canaan, because if they do, the Israelites will inevitably be drawn into the Canaanites' idolatrous practices, including participating in their feasts and eventually worshipping their gods. This prohibition is a crucial part of maintaining Israel's unique relationship with the Lord.
"lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters w…" — The text doesn't just warn against joining pagan feasts; it highlights the subtle danger of simply being "invited" and eating of their sacrifice, emphasizing that even casual participation in idolatr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
