Definition: They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Exodus 23:33. It’s a really important warning about worshiping foreign gods. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is telling Moses (and later the Israelites) that if they start worshipping other gods besides him, it will lead to trouble and ultimately, ruin for them. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “They shall not dwell in thy land…” : This means they must stop worshipping other gods. It’s about staying within God’s designated territory – the land of Israel. “…lest they make thee sin against me” : This is a warning about the potential for harm. God is saying that if they begin to worship other gods, it could lead them to disobey him and do something wrong. “Sin” in this context means breaking God’s laws or commandments. “for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.” : This is the core of the warning. It's saying that if they start worshiping other gods, it will lead to trouble and ultimately, to a loss of their true faith and God’s favor. "A snare" suggests something that will trap them in a bad situation. In short: God is telling the Israelites (and those who follow him) to stay solely devoted to him and reject any other gods. It's a serious warning against idolatry – worshipping anything other than God. Why is this important? This verse is a cornerstone of Jewish and Christian beliefs, emphasizing the absolute importance of God as the only true god and the dangers of worshiating anything else. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of the verse in more detail? Give you some historical context about why this warning was important during that time? Or, would you like me to offer a related biblical story or concept?