EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Deuteronomy 31:21
21Many bad things will happen to them so that they are in great trouble. Then this song will show them that they are guilty. Their descendants will never forget it. Even now, I know what they are thinking. I know what they want to do, even before I take them into the land that I have promised to them.’
Deuteronomy 31:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
- New International Version (NIV)And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.”
Context of Deuteronomy 31:21
19Now write down this song that I will give to you. Teach the Israelites to sing it. Its words will show them that they are guilty because they have not obeyed me. 20I will take them into this land, where there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone. It is the land that I promised to give to their ancestors. When they live there, they will eat as much food as they want. They will be fat and healthy. But then they will start to worship other gods. They will turn against me. They will not obey the covenant that I made with them. Many bad things will happen to them so that they are in great trouble. Then this song will show them that they are guilty. Their descendants will never forget it. Even now, I know what they are thinking. I know what they want to do, even before I take them into the land that I have promised to them.’ 22So Moses wrote down this song on that same day. He taught it to the Israelites. 23Then the Lord made Joshua, the son of Nun, the new leader. He said to Joshua, ‘Be strong and very brave! You will lead the Israelites into the land that I have promised to give them. I will be with you to help you.’
Read all of Deuteronomy 31Deuteronomy 31:21 word by word
וְ֠הָיָה כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ אֹת֜וֹ רָע֣וֹת רַבּוֹת֮ וְצָרוֹת֒ וְ֠עָנְתָה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את לְפָנָיו֙ לְעֵ֔ד כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־יִצְר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא עֹשֶׂה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם בְּטֶ֣רֶם אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it shall come to pass, when manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- evilsרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- and troublesצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
- are befallenמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- them, that this songשִׁירָהshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
- shall testifyעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- againstפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- them as a witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- for it shall not be forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
- out of the mouthsפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- of their seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- for I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- their imaginationיֵ֫צֶרyêtser · intentionH3336
- which they go aboutעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- even nowיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- before I have broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- them into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- which I swareשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 31:21
- Deuteronomy 31:19Now write down this song that I will give to you. Teach the Israelites to sing it. Its words will show them that they are guilty because they have not obeyed me.
- Genesis 6:5The Lord saw that men and women on the earth had become very bad. They thought only of evil things all the time.
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the sacrifice and it made him happy. The Lord said to himself, ‘I will never curse the ground again because of the bad things that people do. From the time that they are children, they want to do bad things. But I will never again destroy everything that breathes, as I have done this time.
- Psalms 139:2You know when I sit down, and you know when I get up. Even when you are far away, you understand what I am thinking about.
- Isaiah 46:10From the beginning, I say what will happen at the end. Long ago, I spoke about future things that have not yet happened. I say this: “My purpose will not change. I will do everything that I want to do.”
- Ezekiel 38:10This is what the Almighty Lord says: On that day you will have evil thoughts. You will decide to do a wicked thing.
- Hosea 5:3I know what the people of Ephraim are like. The Israelites cannot hide their sins from me. You are no better than prostitutes! You can no longer serve me as my people.
- Hosea 13:5I took care of you in the wilderness, where it was very hot and dry.
- Amos 5:25You people of Israel's family, listen to me! I led you through the wilderness for 40 years. During that time, did you worship me with sacrifices and offerings? No!
- John 2:24But Jesus himself did not trust the people. He knew what all people are really like.
- Acts 2:23God knew that Jesus' enemies would give him to you. God had decided that this should happen. You let people who do not obey God's Law fix him to the cross. In that way you killed him.
- Acts 4:28But you are powerful. These men did only what you said would happen. You had already decided on these events.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 31:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21This song shall testify against them - Because in it their general defection is predicted, but in such a way as to show them how to avoid the evil; and if they did not avoid the evil, and the threatened punishment should come upon them, then the song should testify against them, by showing that they had been sufficiently warned, and might have lived to God, and so escaped those disasters.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14-23Verses 14-23 The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he had some time before Numbers 27:22 been called, and his recognition in it by God, which were manifested by his being summoned into the tabernacle with Moses while the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud (compare Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5). Deuteronomy 31:16 The future apostasy of the people is announced in the presence of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 Moses and Joshua attended the Divine Majesty at the door of the tabernacle. Moses is told again that he must shortly die; even those who are most ready and willing to die, need to be often reminded of its coming. The Lord tells Moses, that, after his death, the covenant he had taken so much pains to make between Israel and their God, would certainly be broken. Israel would forsake Him; then God would forsake Israel. Justly does he cast those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22In the future, when the community sings this song, it will remind them of God's past faithfulness and their frequent disloyalty (32:1–43). The song includes major blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The people of Israel will sing it to show they accept these promises and warnings. Through music, they will remember God's blessings for obedience and call for God's judgment if they are unfaithful.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2216-22. the Lord said unto Moses, ... this people will rise up--In this remarkable interview, Moses was distinctly apprised of the infidelity of Israel, their corruptions of the true religion through intercourse with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan (Am 5:26), and their chastisements in consequence of those national defections.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 31:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 31
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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