Christian Standard Bible
Deuteronomy 33:21
21He chose the best part for himself, because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out the Lord’s justice and his ordinances for Israel.
Deuteronomy 33:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments for Israel."
- New King James Version (NKJV)He provided the first part for himself, Because a lawgiver’s portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people; He administered the justice of the Lord, And His judgments with Israel.”
Context of Deuteronomy 33:21
19They summon the peoples to a mountain; there they offer acceptable sacrifices. For they draw from the wealth of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand. 20He said about Gad: The one who enlarges Gad’s territory will be blessed. He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or even a head. He chose the best part for himself, because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out the Lord’s justice and his ordinances for Israel. 22He said about Dan: Dan is a young lion, leaping out of Bashan. 23He said about Naphtali: Naphtali, enjoying approval, full of the Lord’s blessing, take possession to the west and the south.
Read all of Deuteronomy 33Deuteronomy 33:21 word by word
וַיַּ֤רְא רֵאשִׁית֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־שָׁ֛ם חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּתֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם צִדְקַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he providedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: selectH7200
- the first partרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: bestH7225
- a portionחֶלְקָהchelqâh · portionH2513
- of the lawgiverחָקַקchâqaq · to decreeH2710
- seatedסָפַןsâphan · to coverH5603
- and he cameאָתָה'âthâh 'âthâ' · to comeH857
- with the headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- he executedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- the justiceצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and his judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- with Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 33:21
- Numbers 32:1The Reubenites and Gadites had a very large number of livestock. When they surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, they saw that the region was a good one for livestock.
- Numbers 32:33So Moses gave them — the Gadites, Reubenites, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph — the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, the land including its cities with the territories surrounding them.
- Joshua 1:14Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them
- Joshua 22:4Now that he has given your brothers rest, just as he promised them, return to your homes in your own land that Moses the Lord’s servant gave you across the Jordan.
- Numbers 32:16Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheep pens here for our livestock and cities for our dependents.
- Joshua 4:12The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses had instructed them.
- Judges 5:2When the leaders lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, blessed be the Lord.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He provided the first part - That is, he chose for himself a very excellent portion, viz., the land of Sihon and Og, in which this tribe had requested to be settled by the lawgiver, viz., Moses, from whom they requested this portion, Numbers 32:1-5. He came with the heads of the people - Notwithstanding this portion fell unto them on the east side of Jordan, yet they proceeded with the heads of the people, the chiefs of the other tribes. To execute the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The first fruits of the conquest made by Israel were assigned to Gad and Reuben by Moses, at their own request. Because seated - Render, because there was the leader‘s portion reserved, i. e., there was reserved the fitting portion for Gad as a leader in war. And he came - i. e., he joined the other leaders to fulfill the commands of God respecting the conquest of Canaan (compare Numbers 32:17, Numbers 32:21, Numbers 32:32; Joshua 1:14). Moses regards…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-23Verses 6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The tribe of Gad chose this territory before the conquest of Canaan. It was the rich and productive land of Bashan (Numbers 32:1–5). God praises Gad for carrying out his justice and obeying his rules. This probably refers to the tribe’s faithfulness in helping the western tribes conquer Canaan (Joshua 22:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Ge 30:11; 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [De 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 33:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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