Deuteronomy 33:21

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 will call other people to come to their mountain. They will offer the right sacrifices there. They will become rich from their work on the seas, and from things that are hidden in the sand on the shore. 20I pray this for the tribe of Gad: Praise the Lord, who will give more land to Gad's people! Gad lives there like a hungry lion. He will tear off the arm or the head of his enemies. He has chosen the best part of the land for himself. When Israel's leaders met together, Gad's tribe received the land that a leader deserves. Gad's people obeyed the Lord's good laws. They obeyed the Lord's commands for Israel. 22I pray this for the tribe of Dan: Dan's tribe is like a young lion. They jump out from Bashan to attack their enemies. 23I pray this for the tribe of Naphtali: The Lord has blessed Naphtali's tribe very much. He has been very kind to them. Land in the west and in the south will belong to them.

Deuteronomy 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 people in the tribes of Reuben and Gad had very many animals. They saw that the land in Jazer and Gilead was good for their animals.
• Numbers 32:33So Moses gave to them all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og, the king of Bashan. He gave to them the land with its towns and all the land round the towns. He gave it to the descendants of Gad and of Reuben and half of the tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh.
• Joshua 1:14Your wives, children and animals can stay in this land that Moses gave to you, on the east side of the Jordan River. But your strong men must cross the river, with their weapons. They must go in front of the other Israelite tribes. You must help them
• Joshua 22:4Now your brothers can live safely in the land, as the Lord promised them. So you can return to your homes on the other side of the Jordan River. Moses, the Lord's servant, gave that land to you.
• Numbers 32:16The men of Reuben and Gad said to Moses, ‘Let us build strong houses here for our women and our children. We will also build places to keep our animals safe.
• Joshua 4:12The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh led the people across. They were all ready to fight, as Moses had told them.
• Judges 5:2‘The leaders of Israel led their people out. The people were happy to follow them to the battle. Praise 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

• Death

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Abundance
• Accept
• Bless
• Blessing
• Couch
• Dip
• Drops

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