3
But today you can be sure the Lord your God will go over there ahead of you. He is like a fire that will burn them up. He'll destroy them. He'll bring them under your control. You will drive them out. You will put an end to them quickly, just as the Lord has promised you.
Reference
Greek: εἰ μή (ei mḗ)
if not
Hebrew: ʼăbâl
nay, i.e. truly or yet
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: διαπεράω (diaperáō)
to cross entirely
Greek: ἐκεῖ (ekeî)
there; by extension, thither
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: φῶς (phōs)
compare G5316 (φαίνω), G5346 (φημί)); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative)
Hebrew: ʼûwr
flame; hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light)
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: πυρόω (pyróō)
to kindle, i.e. (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined (by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust)
Hebrew: dᵉlaq
{to flame (literally or figuratively)}
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ἐξολοθρεύω (exolothreúō)
to extirpate
Hebrew: ʼăbad
{properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)}
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ἀποφέρω (apophérō)
to bear off (literally or relatively)
Hebrew: gûwz
properly, to shear off; but used only in the (figuratively) sense of passing rapidly
Greek: ὑποκάτω (hypokátō)
down under, i.e. beneath
Hebrew: tᵉchôwth
beneath
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἀπελαύνω (apelaúnō)
to dismiss
Hebrew: ṭᵉrad
to expel
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Hebrew: hâdâh
to stretch forth the hand
Greek: συντελέω (synteléō)
to complete entirely; generally, to execute (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: gabluth
a twisted chain or lace
Greek: ἔνδικος (éndikos)
in the right, i.e. equitable
Hebrew: tsaddîyq
just
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Parallel theme
Joshua 3:14
Isaiah 33:14
References God
Deuteronomy 4:24
Hebrews 12:29
Romans 8:31
Deuteronomy 20:4
Deuteronomy 1:30
2 Thessalonians 1:8
References Lord
Joshua 3:11
Micah 2:13
Verse Explanation
Moses assured Israel that the Lord Himself would go before them like a consuming fire, destroying their enemies and giving them victory. Their success would not come from their own power but from God's presence and action. Moses encouraged them to trust God while still taking responsibility to follow His commands during the conquest.
History
The image of God as a consuming fire emphasizes His holiness, power, and ability to judge His enemies.