The Meaning of Exodus 23:22 Explained

Exodus 23:22

KJV: But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

YLT: for, if thou diligently hearken to his voice, and hast done all that which I speak, then I have been at enmity with thine enemies, and have distressed those distressing thee.

Darby: But if thou shalt diligently hearken unto his voice, and do all that I shall say, then I will be an enemy to thine enemies, and an adversary to thine adversaries.

ASV: But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But if thou shalt indeed  obey  his voice,  and do  all that I speak;  then I will be an enemy  unto thine enemies,  and an adversary  unto thine adversaries. 

What does Exodus 23:22 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 23:22 mean?

But if indeed you obey his voice and do all that I speak then I will be an enemy - to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries
כִּ֣י אִם־ שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־ אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ וְצַרְתִּ֖י צֹרְרֶֽיךָ

שָׁמֹ֤עַ  indeed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
תִּשְׁמַע֙  you  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹל֔וֹ  his  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ  and  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֲדַבֵּ֑ר  I  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙  then  I  will  be  an  enemy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ  to  your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָיַב  
Sense: to be hostile to, to be an enemy to.
וְצַרְתִּ֖י  and  an  adversary 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: צוּר 
Sense: to bind, besiege, confine, cramp.
צֹרְרֶֽיךָ  to  your  adversaries 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.