God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 31:26
26“Take this Book of Teachings, and put it next to the ark of the promise of the Lord your God, where it will be a witness against you.
Deuteronomy 31:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
- New International Version (NIV)“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you;
Context of Deuteronomy 31:26
24Finally, Moses finished writing all the words of these teachings in a book. 25He gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise: “Take this Book of Teachings, and put it next to the ark of the promise of the Lord your God, where it will be a witness against you. 27I know how rebellious you are. You are impossible to deal with. While I am alive and still with you, you are rebelling against the Lord. How much more rebellious will you be after I die? 28Assemble all the leaders of your tribes and your officers in front of me. As they listen, I will speak these words and call on heaven and earth to testify against them.
Read all of Deuteronomy 31Deuteronomy 31:26 word by word
לָקֹ֗חַ אֵ֣ת סֵ֤פֶר הַתּוֹרָה֙ הַזֶּ֔ה וְשַׂמְתֶּ֣ם אֹת֔וֹ מִצַּ֛ד אֲר֥וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָֽיָה־שָׁ֥ם בְּךָ֖ לְעֵֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- this bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
- of the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- it in the sideצַדtsad · sideH6654
- of the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
- of the covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- your Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- that it may be there for a witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 31:26
- 1 Kings 8:9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.
- 2 Kings 22:8The chief priest Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the Book of Moses’ Teachings in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it.
- 2 Chronicles 34:14When they brought out the money that had been deposited in the Lord’s temple, the priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Lord’s Teachings written by Moses.
- Deuteronomy 31:19“Write down this song, teach it to the Israelites, and have them sing it. This song will be a witness for me against the Israelites.
- Romans 3:19We know that whatever the Scriptures say applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God.
- Galatians 2:19When I tried to obey the laws in the Scriptures, those laws killed me. As a result, I live in a relationship with God. I have been crucified with Christ.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 31:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Take this book of the law - The standard copy to which all transcripts must ultimately refer: another copy was put into the bands of the priests. See the note on Deuteronomy 31:9.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24-29Verses 24-29 Moses completes the writing out of the book of the Law, and directs it to be placed by the ark of the covenant. Deuteronomy 31:24 The “book” here spoken of would contain the whole Pentateuch up to this verse, and be “the Book of Moses,” called generally by the Jews “the Law” (compare Matthew 22:40; Galatians 4:21). Deuteronomy 31:25 The Levites, which bare the ark - i. e., as in Deuteronomy 31:9, “the priests the sons of Levi.” The…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-30Verses 23-30 The solemn delivery of the book of the law to the Levites, to be deposited in, or rather by the side, of the ark, is again related. The song which follows in the next chapter is delivered to Moses, and by him to the people. He wrote it first, as the Holy Spirit taught him; and then spake it in the hearing of all the people. Moses tells them plainly, I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves. Many a sad thought, no doubt…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26beside the ark: Unlike the stone tablets, they must place the scroll of Deuteronomy near the ark of the covenant, not inside it. It was kept in the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and later in the temple (see 31:9; Exodus 25:16; 26:33). a witness: Like the song the Israelites were required to sing, the scroll of Deuteronomy served as a constant reminder of Israel's covenant obligations and privileges (see Deuteronomy 31:19; see 31:10, 19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark--The second copy of the law (see on De 31:9) was deposited for greater security and reverence in a little chest beside the ark of the covenant, for there was nothing contained within it but the tables of stone (1Ki 8:9). Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, from the testimony of Paul (He 9:4), that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this was the copy…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 31:26
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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