The Meaning of Exodus 23:21 Explained

Exodus 23:21

KJV: Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

YLT: be watchful because of his presence, and hearken to his voice, rebel not against him, for he beareth not with your transgression, for My name is in his heart;

Darby: Be careful in his presence, and hearken unto his voice: do not provoke him, for he will not forgive your transgressions; for my name is in him.

ASV: Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Beware  of  him, and obey  his voice,  provoke  him not; for he will not pardon  your transgressions:  for my name  [is] in him. 

What does Exodus 23:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 23:18-33 - Promise Of Entrance Into Canaan
This Angel must have been the Lord himself, for Stephen said expressly that the Angel was with Moses at the burning bush, where Jehovah revealed Himself, and the very ground was holy. Besides, we are told here that God's Name-i.e., His nature-was in Him. The Son of God, therefore, must have been the leader of that pilgrim-host, preceding the march, and preparing for their needs.
Notice that God would also send the hornet before His people, Exodus 23:28. The Presence, which is an Angel for God's children, becomes a hornet to the rebellious and ungodly. To one it is a savor of life, and to the other of death. The sun that bleaches linen white, tans the hands that expose it; the cloud which is light to Israel is thick darkness to Egypt. Grieve not the Holy One, who will overcome your enemies and satisfy your soul with goodness, if you will obey His voice. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 23

1  Of slander, false witness, and partiality
4  Of charitableness
6  Of justice in judgment
8  Of taking bribes
9  Of oppressing a stranger
10  Of the year of rest
12  Of the Sabbath
13  Of idolatry
14  Of the three feasts
18  Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice
20  An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him

What do the individual words in Exodus 23:21 mean?

Beware of him and obey His voice not do provoke Him for not he will pardon your transgressions My Name [is] in him
הִשָּׁ֧מֶר מִפָּנָ֛יו וּשְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹל֖וֹ אַל־ תַּמֵּ֣ר בּ֑וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם שְׁמִ֖י בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ

הִשָּׁ֧מֶר  Beware 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִפָּנָ֛יו  of  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וּשְׁמַ֥ע  and  obey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹל֖וֹ  His  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
תַּמֵּ֣ר  do  provoke 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָרַר  
Sense: to be bitter.
יִשָּׂא֙  he  will  pardon 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם  your  transgressions 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
שְׁמִ֖י  My  Name  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ  in  him 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.