Deuteronomy 7:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will send the hornet to afflict the enemies until they are destroyed.
The Context of Deuteronomy 7:20
God will use insects or disease as one means of driving out the enemy nations.
What Does Deuteronomy 7:20 Mean?
A specific mechanism of conquest is introduced: God will send the hornet among these nations. Whether literal hornets or a metaphorical representation of plague and affliction, the image conveys that God's action will discomfit and scatter the enemy. The description of enemies being forced to hide themselves and eventually be destroyed suggests psychological as well as physical defeat—terror breaking their ability to resist.
This detail breaks up the pattern of direct military conquest. God's methods are varied: sometimes direct, sometimes through ecological or pest-borne affliction. The key point is that the process is God-directed, not dependent on Israel's military sophistication. Different methods serve the same purpose: clearing the land for Israel's occupation.
Deuteronomy 7:20 in the Original Language
tzir'a (צִרְעָה), 'hornet' — an aggressive insect that could both swarm and poison; its use here represents God's power through unexpected or overwhelming natural means rather than just military force.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 7:20
What does Deuteronomy 7:20 mean?
God will send the hornet to afflict the enemies until they are destroyed.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 7:20?
God will use insects or disease as one means of driving out the enemy nations.