And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

EXODUS 23:28KJV
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Exodus 23:28 (KJV)

What does Exodus 23:28 mean?

Exodus 23:28 describes God’s promise to help the Israelites enter the land ahead of them. God says he will send hornets to drive out three peoples who live there: the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites.

The words “before thee” picture the hornets going ahead of the Israelites as they approach the land. The promise follows the warning in verse 27 that the peoples there will be thrown into confusion.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 23:28

  • “hornets” — צִרְעָה (tsirʿah): The word refers to a stinging insect, often understood as a hornet. The Hebrew form is singular, although the KJV uses the plural “hornets” for the threat sent against the peoples.
  • “before” — פָּנִים (panim): This word can mean “face” or “presence.” Here, “before thee” gives the sense of something taking place ahead of the Israelites.

Why Exodus 23:28 matters

  • The removal of the peoples is presented as gradual, not as a single sudden event. Exodus 23:29–30 says the land will be cleared “by little and little” as the Israelites increase.
  • The named peoples give the promise a particular setting. The Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites are among the peoples the Israelites would encounter in the land.
  • The promise belongs to a passage that also warns the Israelites against adopting the worship of those peoples. Exodus 23:24 tells them not to bow down to their gods.

Where else these words appear

“hornets” Hebrew H6880 · used in 3 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:20 Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.
  • Joshua 24:12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

“Hivite” Hebrew H2340 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 10:17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
  • Exodus 34:11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
  • Joshua 12:8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

“out” Hebrew H1644 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • Leviticus 21:14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

“Hittite” Hebrew H2850 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 15:20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
  • Deuteronomy 7:1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
  • 2 Samuel 11:24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.