You must not bow down to their godsThis command emphasizes the exclusivity of worship that God demands from His people. In the ancient Near East, polytheism was prevalent, and the Israelites were surrounded by nations worshiping multiple deities. Bowing down signifies submission and reverence, which God reserves for Himself alone (
Exodus 20:3-5). This prohibition is a call to maintain spiritual purity and allegiance to Yahweh, rejecting the idolatry that could lead them astray.
or serve them
Serving other gods implies engaging in rituals, sacrifices, and practices dedicated to these deities. This service often included acts that were morally and spiritually corrupt, such as child sacrifice or temple prostitution, which were common in Canaanite religion. The Israelites are reminded that their service is to be directed solely to God, as seen in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), which calls for love and service to God with all one's heart, soul, and strength.
or follow their practices
The practices of the surrounding nations often included detestable acts in the sight of God (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). These practices could include divination, sorcery, and other forms of occultism. The Israelites are warned not to adopt these customs, as they are contrary to the holiness God requires. This call to separation is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged not to conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2).
Instead, you are to demolish them
The command to demolish the idols and places of worship of other gods is a call to eradicate the influence of idolatry completely. This action symbolizes a total rejection and cleansing of anything that could lead the Israelites away from God. It reflects the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the need for His people to be distinct and set apart (Leviticus 20:26).
and smash their sacred stones to pieces
Sacred stones, or standing stones, were often used in pagan worship as symbols of the deities or as altars. By smashing these stones, the Israelites were to make a public declaration of the powerlessness of these gods and the supremacy of Yahweh. This act of destruction is a physical manifestation of spiritual warfare, prefiguring the ultimate victory over sin and idolatry through Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of faith (1 Peter 2:6-8).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who are being instructed on how to live in the Promised Land.
2.
Canaanite NationsThe inhabitants of the land that the Israelites are entering, who worship false gods and engage in idolatrous practices.
3.
God (Yahweh)The one true God who commands the Israelites to remain faithful to Him and reject the idolatry of the surrounding nations.
4.
Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
5.
IdolatryThe worship of false gods, which is strictly forbidden by God and is a central issue in this passage.
Teaching Points
Exclusive WorshipGod demands exclusive worship and loyalty. Just as the Israelites were to reject the gods of the Canaanites, Christians today must reject anything that competes with their devotion to God.
Spiritual WarfareThe command to demolish and smash sacred stones symbolizes the spiritual warfare believers engage in against sin and idolatry in their lives.
Holiness and SeparationBelievers are called to be holy and separate from the world, not conforming to its practices but living according to God's standards.
Vigilance Against IdolatryIdolatry can take many forms, including materialism, power, and self-worship. Christians must be vigilant in identifying and removing these idols from their lives.
Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' success in the Promised Land depended on their obedience to God's commands. Similarly, Christians are called to obey God's Word to experience His blessings.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 23:24?
2.How can we "demolish their sacred stones" in our modern-day context?
3.What does Exodus 23:24 teach about avoiding cultural influences contrary to God's commands?
4.How does Exodus 23:24 relate to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3?
5.In what ways can we "break down their pillars" in our spiritual lives?
6.How can we ensure our worship aligns with God's instructions in Exodus 23:24?
7.What does Exodus 23:24 reveal about God's view on idolatry and other religions?
8.How does Exodus 23:24 challenge the practice of religious tolerance?
9.Why does Exodus 23:24 emphasize destroying pagan altars and idols?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 23?
11.What are Firstfruits to God?
12.Why didn't Israelites eat their livestock in the wilderness?
13.What defines unbiblical worship practices?
14.Joshua 24:14-15 - How does this pledge to exclusively serve the Lord reconcile with the later biblical narratives showing continued idolatry in Israel?What Does Exodus 23:24 Mean
You must not bow down to their godsThe Lord had just rescued Israel from Egypt’s idolatry; now He issues a clear command: no physical or heart–level submission to any rival deity.
- This echoes the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3-5).
- Joshua later repeats it: “Do not bow down to their gods” (Joshua 23:7).
- The warning is as relevant today: anything we kneel to—career, possessions, popularity—becomes a counterfeit god. God alone is worthy of worship (Revelation 22:9).
or serve them“Serve” moves from posture to lifestyle. God forbids giving time, energy, or resources to idols.
- Samuel calls Israel to “serve the LORD with all your heart and worship Him alone” (1 Samuel 7:3-4).
- Jesus affirms the same exclusive service: “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
- Genuine service is whole-life devotion—jobs, relationships, and schedules offered to Him (Romans 12:1).
or follow their practicesThe Lord bans adopting pagan customs, knowing imitation breeds assimilation.
- “Do not do what is done in the land of Egypt…nor in Canaan” (Leviticus 18:3, 24-30).
- Paul says, “Do not conform to this world” (Romans 12:2).
- Practical takeaways:
- Evaluate entertainment, holidays, and habits—do they mirror culture or Christ?
- Teach children God’s ways early (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Instead, you are to demolish themGod’s people were to tear down physical idols, removing temptation at the root.
- “Tear down their altars” (Exodus 34:13;Deuteronomy 7:5).
- Hezekiah later “removed the high places” (2 Kings 18:4).
- Modern application: decisively eliminate sin’s footholds—destroy porn stash, delete toxic apps, break off immoral relationships (Colossians 3:5).
and smash their sacred stones to piecesSacred stones, or standing pillars, symbolized Canaanite worship. Shattering them declared the emptiness of those gods.
- Israel was told to “burn their Asherah poles” (Deuteronomy 12:3;2 Chronicles 31:1).
- Paul’s converts in Ephesus burned occult books worth 50,000 drachmas (Acts 19:19).
- Total eradication prevents relapse and magnifies the supremacy of the living God (Psalm 115:4-8).
summaryExodus 23:24 commands exclusive allegiance to the Lord, forbids any compromise with idolatry, and insists on active, decisive removal of every rival. Worship God alone, serve Him wholeheartedly, avoid cultural practices that dilute faith, and destroy whatever competes for the throne of your heart—because He alone is worthy and His commands lead to true freedom.
(24)
Nor do after their works.--The Canaanitish nations were not merely idolaters, they were corrupt, profligate, and depraved. All the abominations mentioned in
Leviticus 18:6-23 were practised widely among them before they were dispossessed of their territory (
Leviticus 18:24-30). No doubt the idolatry and the profligacy were closely connected, as among idolatrous nations generally; but it was for their profligacy rather than their idolatry that they were driven out. Thus it was necessary to warn Israel against both.
Thou shalt . . . quite break down their images.--Conquerors generally preserved the idols of the conquered nations as trophies of victory; to do so was forbidden to the Israelites. Idolatry had such a powerful and subtle attraction for them, that there was danger of their being seduced into it unless the entire apparatus of the idol-worship were destroyed and made away with. Hence the present injunctions, and others similar to them. (Comp.Exodus 34:13;Deuteronomy 7:5; &c.)
Verse 24. -
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works. It is always to be borne in mind that with the idolatries of the heathen were connected "works of darkness," which it is shameful even to speak cf. The rites of Baal and Ashtoreth, of Chemosh, Molech, Rimmon, and the other Canaanite and Syrian deities were at once defiled by the abomination of human sacrifices, and polluted with the still more debasing evil of religious impurity. "The sacrifice offered to Ash-toreth," says Dr. Dollinger, "consisted in the prostitution of women: the women submitted themselves to the visitors of the feast, in the temple of the goddess or the adjoining precinct. A legend told of Astarte (Ashtoreth) having prostituted herself in Tyre for ten years: and in many places matrons, as well as maidens, consecrated themselves for a length of time, or on the festivals of the goddess, with a view of propitiating her, or earning her favour as
hieroduli of unchastity... In this way they went so far at last as to contemplate the abominations of unnatural lust as a homage rendered to the deity, and to exalt it into a regular cultus. The worship of the goddess at Aphaca in Lebanon was specially notorious in this respect. The temple in a solitary situation was, as Eusebius tells us, a place of evil-doing for such as chose to ruin their bodies in scandalous ways... Criminal intercourse with women, impurity, shameful and degrading deeds, were practised in the temple, where there was no custom and no law, and no honourable or decent human being could be found." (
Jew and Gentile, vol. 1. pp. 428, 429; Darnell's translation.)
Thou shaltutterly overthrow them. The heathen gods are identified with their images. These were to be torn from their bases, overthrown, and rolled in the dust for greater contempt and ignominy. They were then to be broken up and burnt, till the gold and the silver with which they were overlaid was calcined and could be stamped to powder. Nothing was to be spared that had been degraded by idolatry, either for its beauty or its elaborate workmanship, or its value. All was hateful to God, and was to be destroyed.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
You must notלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nobow downתִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֤ה(ṯiš·ta·ḥă·weh)Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7812:To depress, prostrateto their godsלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙(lê·lō·hê·hem)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeor serve themתָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם(ṯā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm)Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslaveorוְלֹ֣א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nofollowתַעֲשֶׂ֖ה(ṯa·‘ă·śeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, maketheir practices.כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם(kə·ma·‘ă·śê·hem)Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4639:An action, a transaction, activity, a product, propertyInstead,כִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionyou are to demolish themהָרֵס֙(hā·rês)Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2040:To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroyand smash their sacred stonesמַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃(maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯê·hem)Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4676:Something stationed, a column, an idolto pieces.וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר(wə·šab·bêr)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7665:To break, break in pieces
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OT Law: Exodus 23:24 You shall not bow down to their (Exo. Ex) 
