Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother.The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (Israel). This familial connection is the basis for the command not to despise them. Despite historical conflicts between Israel and Edom, such as Edom's refusal to allow Israel passage during the Exodus (
Numbers 20:14-21), the Israelites are reminded of their shared ancestry. This reflects a broader biblical theme of reconciliation and forgiveness, as seen in the eventual reconciliation between Jacob and Esau in
Genesis 33. The command also underscores the importance of kinship and the recognition of shared humanity, which is a recurring theme in the Bible.
Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
The Israelites' time in Egypt, though marked by eventual enslavement, began with Joseph's rise to power and the subsequent settlement of his family in Goshen (Genesis 47:11). This period of residence, which lasted over 400 years, is acknowledged here as a time when Egypt provided refuge during a famine. The command to not despise Egyptians highlights the importance of gratitude and the recognition of past hospitality, even amidst later oppression. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches love for enemies and prayer for those who persecute (Matthew 5:44). The instruction also serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty in using nations and circumstances for His purposes, as seen in the eventual Exodus and the formation of Israel as a nation.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
EdomitesDescendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. The Edomites lived in the region south of the Dead Sea and had a complex relationship with Israel, marked by both kinship and conflict.
2.
EgyptiansThe people of Egypt, where the Israelites lived as foreigners and were eventually enslaved before the Exodus. Egypt is significant in Israel's history as both a place of refuge and oppression.
3.
IsraelitesThe descendants of Jacob (Israel), who were given the Law through Moses. They are the primary audience of Deuteronomy, receiving instructions on how to live as God's chosen people.
4.
MosesThe prophet and leader who delivered God's Law to the Israelites. He is the speaker in Deuteronomy, conveying God's commands to the people.
5.
The ExodusThe event of Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt, which is a foundational account for understanding their identity and relationship with God.
Teaching Points
Kinship and RespectThe command to not despise the Edomites underscores the importance of recognizing and respecting familial ties, even amidst historical conflicts.
Gratitude and MemoryRemembering the time in Egypt serves as a reminder to treat others with kindness and gratitude, acknowledging past hospitality despite later oppression.
God's Sovereignty in RelationshipsGod’s instructions reflect His sovereignty over nations and relationships, reminding us that He orchestrates history and kinship for His purposes.
Forgiveness and ReconciliationThe call to not despise former adversaries encourages believers to pursue forgiveness and reconciliation, reflecting God's grace.
Living as WitnessesBy treating others with respect and kindness, believers can live as witnesses to God's love and justice in a world often marked by division.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 23:7?
2.How does Deuteronomy 23:7 guide us in treating foreigners and former enemies?
3.What historical context helps us understand Deuteronomy 23:7's message about Edomites and Egyptians?
4.How can Deuteronomy 23:7 be connected to Jesus' teachings on loving others?
5.In what ways can we apply Deuteronomy 23:7 to modern immigration issues?
6.How does Deuteronomy 23:7 challenge us to overcome past grievances with others?
7.How does Deuteronomy 23:7 align with the broader message of love and acceptance in the Bible?
8.Why does Deuteronomy 23:7 instruct not to despise Edomites and Egyptians despite historical conflicts?
9.What historical context influenced the command in Deuteronomy 23:7 regarding Edomites and Egyptians?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 23?
11.What is Mount Seir's significance in the Bible?
12.What prompted God's judgment on Edom?
13.What is the summary of the Exodus from Egypt?
14.What are the main themes of the Bible's books?What Does Deuteronomy 23:7 Mean
Do not despise an Edomite• “Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother.” (Deuteronomy 23:7a)
• Edomites descend from Esau, Jacob’s twin (Genesis 25:24-26). Family history—no matter how strained—still matters to God.
• Earlier, when Israel skirted Edom, the LORD said, “Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land” (Deuteronomy 2:4-5). The same respect commanded on the journey is now made permanent in daily life.
• Treating Edom kindly underscores the bigger principle: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart” (Leviticus 19:17-18), pointing forward to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Even when Edom later opposed Judah (Obadiah 10-12), the original command stood. Justice belongs to God (Proverbs 20:22;Romans 12:19).
• Practical take-away:
– Family conflicts never erase God-ordained bonds.
– Mercy toward difficult relatives guards our own hearts (Hebrews 12:14-15).
– Obedience is measured not by how we treat friends but by how we treat former rivals.
Do not despise an Egyptian• “Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.” (Deuteronomy 23:7b)
• Israel’s 430-year stay (Exodus 12:40-41) included slavery, yet God calls the people to remember Egypt’s hospitality at the start (Genesis 46:3-7). Gratitude is stronger than bitterness.
• Earlier laws echoed the same ethic:
– “You must not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)
– “The foreigner living among you must be treated as a native-born; love him as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:34)
• The command models God’s character: He “makes His sun rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:44-45).
• Practical take-away:
– Past suffering does not license present hatred.
– Remembering God’s providence during hard seasons fosters humility (Deuteronomy 8:2-4).
– Showing kindness to former oppressors testifies that the LORD, not resentment, rules our hearts (Romans 12:20-21).
summaryDeuteronomy 23:7 presses Israel—and us—to practice selective memory: recall kinship with Edom and God’s shelter in Egypt, not the offenses that followed. Family ties and past hospitality create lasting obligations of mercy. By honoring those links, God’s people mirror His steadfast love, leave vengeance to Him, and keep their own hearts free from contempt.
(7)
Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite . . . an Egyptian.--The contrast between these and the Moabite and Ammonite is drawn rather well by Rashi in this passace. "Learn here," he says, "that he who makes a man to sin, treats him worse than he who kills-him; for he that kills, kills only in this world, but he who causes him to sin, banishes him both from this world and from the world to come. Edom, therefore who met them with the sword (
Numbers 21:18;
Numbers 21:20) they must not abhor; nor, again, Egypt, that would have drowned them (
Exodus 1:22); but those who made them to sin are to be abhorred of them, because of the counsel wherewith they counselled them to cause them to sin." The counsel of Balaam and the whoredoms of Moab are referred to; the Midianites who joined in this effort had been chastised already (Numbers 31).
Verse 7. - It was to be otherwise with the Edomite and the Egyptian; though the former had refused permission to the Israelites to pass through their land, and the latter had oppressed and wronged the nation, yet as the former were connected with Israel by a bond of kindred -
for he is thy brother - and the latter had received Israel to sojourn in their land, where, notwithstanding the oppression which clouded the later times of their sojourn, they had reaped many benefits, they were not to abhor these nations or place them under a ban of perpetual exclusion; descendants in the third generation of an Edomite or Egyptian might be naturalized in Israel. Vers. 9-11 - When the people went forth to war, all impurity and defilement was to be kept out of their camp.
When the host goeth forth; literally,
when thou goest forth as a camp or
host. As in the wilderness the camp was to be kept pure (
Numbers 5:2, etc.), so also in the future, when they went out to war, all defilement was to be removed from their host.
Every wicked thing; rather,
every evil thing, evil in the sense of blemish or uncleanness (cf.
Deuteronomy 17:1).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Do notלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nodespiseתְתַעֵ֣ב(ṯə·ṯa·‘êḇ)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8581:To loathe, detestan Edomite,אֲדֹמִ֔י(’ă·ḏō·mî)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 130:Edomite -- a descendant of Edomforכִּ֥י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionheה֑וּא(hū)Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, areis your brother.אָחִ֖יךָ(’ā·ḥî·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251:A brother, )Do notלֹא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nodespiseתְתַעֵ֣ב(ṯə·ṯa·‘êḇ)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8581:To loathe, detestan Egyptian,מִצְרִ֔י(miṣ·rî)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4713:Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egyptbecauseכִּי־(kî-)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionyou livedהָיִ֥יתָ(hā·yî·ṯā)Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beas a foreignerגֵ֖ר(ḡêr)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616:A guest, a foreignerin his land.בְאַרְצֽוֹ׃(ḇə·’ar·ṣōw)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, land
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OT Law: Deuteronomy 23:7 You shall not abhor an Edomite (Deut. De Du) 
