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Exodus 34:12-13 - Compare All Versions

Exodus 34:12-13 NIV (New International Version)

Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.

Exodus 34:12-13 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim

Exodus 34:12-13 NLT (New Living Translation)

“Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles.

Exodus 34:12-13 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise, they will become a snare among you.  Instead, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, and chop down their Asherah poles.

Exodus 34:12-13 KJV (King James Version)

Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves

Exodus 34:12-13 NKJV (New King James Version)

Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images

Exodus 34:10-16 MSG (The Message)

And GOD said, “As of right now, I’m making a covenant with you: In full sight of your people I will work wonders that have never been created in all the Earth, in any nation. Then all the people with whom you’re living will see how tremendous GOD’s work is, the work I’ll do for you. Take careful note of all I command you today. I’m clearing your way by driving out Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Stay vigilant. Don’t let down your guard lest you make covenant with the people who live in the land that you are entering and they trip you up. “Tear down their altars, smash their phallic pillars, chop down their fertility poles. Don’t worship any other god. GOD—his name is The-Jealous-One—is a jealous God. Be careful that you don’t make a covenant with the people who live in the land and take up with their sex-and-religion life, join them in meals at their altars, marry your sons to their women, women who take up with any convenient god or goddess and will get your sons to do the same thing.

Exodus 34:12-13 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

Be careful that you do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their memorial stones, and cut down their Asherim

Exodus 34:12-13 AMP (Amplified Bible)

Watch yourself so that you do not make a covenant (solemn agreement, treaty) with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a [dangerous] trap among you. But you shall tear down and destroy their [pagan] altars, smash in pieces their [sacred] pillars (obelisks, images) and cut down their Asherim

Exodus 34:12-13 NET (New English Translation)

Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles.