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)
The verse doesn't just forbid intermarriage; it vividly portrays the consequence: not only will their daughters turn your sons to false gods, but your sons will be enticed into the same spiritual "whoring" by their new wives. This highlights how deeply intertwined spiritual and relational connections are, and how easily idolatry can spread through intimate family ties.
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)
Fresh from God's reaffirmation of His covenant, Moses is given new laws for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. These commands specifically warn against intermarrying with the Canaanite peoples and adopting their idolatrous practices, highlighting the spiritual danger of such unions. The text emphasizes the risk of their sons being led astray by their foreign wives' devotion to other gods.
Why would God link marriage directly to the breaking of His covenant? It's more than just a union; it's about building families and futures together.
In this passage, God prohibits Israel from taking wives from the surrounding Canaanite nations. This isn't just about cultural preferences; it's about the foundational building blocks of the nation.
Building Blocks of Faith
The text uses the strong language of 'whoredom' to describe the consequence of these marriages. What makes idolatry such a profound betrayal?
The term 'whoredom' in this context is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. It describes a deep betrayal of the covenant relationship Israel had with God.
The Heart of the Matter
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Understand the original words
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 echoes the warning in Exodus 34:16, directly forbidding intermarriage with surrounding nations for fear that their foreign gods and practices will lead Israel astray.
Judges 3:6-7Here we see the consequences of ignoring the command found in Exodus 34:16; the Israelites did intermarry with Canaanites, and their children began to worship the foreign gods, illustrating the very danger God warned against.
1 Kings 11:1-6This passage provides a real-world example of the spiritual danger of foreign alliances, as Solomon's many foreign wives turned his heart away from the Lord, mirroring the concern expressed in Exodus 34:16 about sons being led astray.
2 Corinthians 6:14The Apostle Paul picks up this theme of separation from idolatry and ungodly influences, urging believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, reflecting the principle behind God's command in Exodus 34.
gillExodus 34:16: "And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods."
And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons,.... That is, marry them to them, which explains what is meant by making a covenant with them, entering into such a near relation, and joining families, and thus intermixing with one another: and their daughters go a whoring after their gods; the worship of whom they have been trained up…
cambridgeExodus 34:16: "And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods."
16 . and thou take , &c.] Intermarriage with Canaanites is forbidden, for the same reason, in Deuteronomy 7:3 f.; cf. Joshua 23:12 (D2[221]), and Jdg 3:6 (where disregard of the prohibition is said to have been followed by the same consequences which are here apprehended). [221] Deuteronomic passages in Josh., Jud., Kings.
The verse doesn't just forbid intermarriage; it vividly portrays the consequence: not only will their daughters turn your sons to false gods, but your sons will be enticed into the same spiritual "whoring" by their new wives. This highlights how deeply intertwined spiritual and relational connections are, and how easily idolatry can spread through intimate family ties.
Fresh from God's reaffirmation of His covenant, Moses is given new laws for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. These commands specifically warn against intermarrying with the Canaanite peoples and adopting their idolatrous practices, highlighting the spiritual danger of such unions. The text emphasizes the risk of their sons being led astray by their foreign wives' devotion to other gods.
Fresh from God's reaffirmation of His covenant, Moses is given new laws for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. These commands specifically warn against intermarrying with the Canaanite peoples and adopting their idolatrous practices, highlighting the spiritual danger of such unions. The text emphasizes the risk of their sons being led astray by their foreign wives' devotion to other gods.
"and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods." — The verse doesn't just forbid intermarriage; it vividly portrays the consequence: not only will their daughters turn your sons to false gods, but your sons will be enticed into the same spiritual "wh…
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Last reviewed October 2026