God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 1:39
39Although you thought the little children would be captured in war, your children, who are still too young to know the difference between good and evil, will enter that land. I will give it to them, and they will take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 1:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
- New International Version (NIV)And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
Context of Deuteronomy 1:39
37The Lord became angry with me because of you. He said, “You won’t go there either. 38But your assistant Joshua, son of Nun, will go there. Encourage him, because he will help Israel take possession of the land. Although you thought the little children would be captured in war, your children, who are still too young to know the difference between good and evil, will enter that land. I will give it to them, and they will take possession of it. 40Turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea.” 41You responded, “We have sinned against the Lord. We’ll go and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us to do.” Each of you armed yourself for war, thinking you could easily invade the mountain region.
Read all of Deuteronomy 1Deuteronomy 1:39 word by word
וְטַפְּכֶם֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֜ם לָבַ֣ז יִהְיֶ֗ה וּ֠בְנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יָדְע֤וּ הַיּוֹם֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע הֵ֖מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ שָׁ֑מָּה וְלָהֶ֣ם אֶתְּנֶ֔נָּה וְהֵ֖ם יִירָשֽׁוּהָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Moreover your little onesטַףţaph · childH2945
- which ye saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- should be a preyבַּזbaz · plunderH957
- and your childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- which in that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- had no knowledgeיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- between goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- and evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- they shall go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- thither, and unto them will I giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- it, and they shall possessיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 1:39
- Numbers 14:3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land—just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
- Isaiah 7:15He will eat cheese and honey until he knows how to reject evil and choose good.
- Jonah 4:11Shouldn’t I feel sorry for this important city, Nineveh? It has more than 120,000 people in it as well as many animals. These people couldn’t tell their right hand from their left.”
- Romans 9:11Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice,
- Ephesians 2:3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1:39
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-46Verses 19-46 Moses reminds the Israelites of their march from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea, through that great and terrible wilderness. He shows how near they were to a happy settlement in Canaan. It will aggravate the eternal ruin of hypocrites, that they were not far from the kingdom of God. As if it were not enough that they were sure of their God before them, they would send men before them. Never any looked into the Holy Land, but they must own it to be a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-46See Numbers 14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. your children ... who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil--All ancient versions read "to-day" instead of "that day"; and the sense is--"your children who now know," or "who know not as yet good or evil." As the children had not been partakers of the sinful outbreak, they were spared to obtain the privilege which their unbelieving parents had forfeited. God's ways are not as man's ways [Is 55:8, 9].Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 1:39
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 1
- 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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