The Meaning of Exodus 23:24 Explained

Exodus 23:24

KJV: Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

YLT: 'Thou dost not bow thyself to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their doings, but dost utterly devote them, and thoroughly break their standing pillars.

Darby: Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their deeds; but thou shalt utterly destroy them, and utterly shatter their statues.

ASV: Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt not bow down  to their gods,  nor serve  them, nor do  after their works:  but thou shalt utterly  overthrow  them, and quite  break down  their images. 

What does Exodus 23:24 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 23:24 mean?

Not You shall bow down to their gods nor serve them do according to their works but utterly you shall overthrow them and completely break down their [sacred] pillars
לֹֽא־ תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א תָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כִּ֤י הָרֵס֙ תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם

תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה  You  shall  bow  down 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙  to  their  gods 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם  serve  them 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם  according  to  their  works 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
הָרֵס֙  utterly 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: הָרַס  
Sense: to tear down, break down, overthrow, beat down, break, break through, destroy, pluck down, pull down, throw down, ruined, destroyer, utterly.
תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם  you  shall  overthrow  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: הָרַס  
Sense: to tear down, break down, overthrow, beat down, break, break through, destroy, pluck down, pull down, throw down, ruined, destroyer, utterly.
וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר  and  completely 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר  break  down 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם  their  [sacred]  pillars 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַצֵּבָה  
Sense: pillar, mastaba, stump.