God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 33:9
9They said that they didn’t know their father and mother. They didn’t recognize their own brothers. They didn’t acknowledge their own children. But they obeyed your word and were faithful to the terms of your promise.
Deuteronomy 33:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
- New International Version (NIV)He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)who said of his father and mother, 'I regard them not'; he disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed your word and kept your covenant.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who says of his father and mother, ‘I have not seen them’; Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, Or know his own children; For they have observed Your word And kept Your covenant.
Context of Deuteronomy 33:9
7This is what he said about the tribe of Judah: “Hear the cry of Judah, O Lord, and bring them to their people. They must defend themselves. Help them against their enemies.” 8About the tribe of Levi he said, “Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful people. You tested your people at Massah. You quarreled with them at the oasis of Meribah. They said that they didn’t know their father and mother. They didn’t recognize their own brothers. They didn’t acknowledge their own children. But they obeyed your word and were faithful to the terms of your promise. 10They teach Jacob your rules and give Israel your teachings. They burn incense for you to smell and sacrifice burnt offerings on your altar. 11Lord, bless them with strength and be pleased with the work they do. Break the backs of those who attack them and hate them so that they can never get up again.”
Read all of Deuteronomy 33Deuteronomy 33:9 word by word
הָאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Who saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- and to his motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- I have not seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- him; neither did he acknowledgeנָכַרnâkar · to recognizeH5234
- his brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- nor knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- his own childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- for they have observedשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
- thy wordאִמְרָה'imrâh 'emrâh · wordH565
- and keptנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
- thy covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 33:9
- Exodus 32:25Aaron had let the people get out of control, and they became an object of ridicule to their enemies. When Moses saw this,
- Leviticus 10:6Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: “Do not mourn by leaving your hair uncombed or tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die and the Lord will become angry with the whole congregation. All the other Israelites may cry over the fire the Lord sent, but you may not.
- Leviticus 21:11He must never go near any dead bodies or become unclean, even for his father or mother.
- Matthew 10:37“The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.
- Matthew 12:48He replied to the man speaking to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
- Matthew 22:16They sent their disciples to him along with Herod’s followers. They said to him, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and that you teach the truth about the way of God. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are.
- Luke 14:26“If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples.
- 2 Corinthians 5:16So from now on we don’t think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don’t anymore.
- Galatians 1:10Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4Rather, we are always spreading the Good News. God trusts us to do this because we passed his test. We don’t try to please people but God, who tests our motives.
- 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly call on you in the sight of God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels to be impartial when you follow what I’ve told you. Never play favorites.
- Genesis 29:32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here’s My Son], because she said, “Certainly, the Lord has seen my misery; now my husband will love me!”
- 1 Chronicles 17:17And this you consider to be a small act, God. You’ve spoken about the distant future of my house. Lord God, you’ve shown me the generation of the great man.
- Job 37:24That is why people should fear him. He does not respect those who think they’re wise.”
- Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, “Let’s plot against Jeremiah, because the teachings of the priests, the advice of wise people, and the word of the prophets won’t disappear. Accuse him! Pay no attention to anything he says.”
- Malachi 2:5“I promised Levi life and peace. I gave them to him so that he would respect me. He respected me and stood in awe of my name.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Who said unto his father, etc. - There are several difficulties in this and the following verses. Some think they are spoken of the tribe of Levi; others, of all the tribes; others, of the Messiah, etc.; but several of the interpretations founded on these suppositions are too recondite, and should not be resorted to till a plain literal sense is made out. I suppose the whole to be primarily spoken of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. Let us examine the words…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Who said unto his father and to his mother - Compare Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26.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. 9maintained Your covenant: This verse refers to the sin of the gold calf at Mount Sinai and to what happened at Baal-peor (Exodus 32:25–29; Numbers 25:6–9). At those times, the Levites chose to stand with the Lord. Their love for the Lord and their loyalty to his covenant (his binding agreement with his people) were stronger than their loyalty to their own families. Because of this, God did not destroy the whole nation. Instead, the Levites received the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-108-10. of Levi he said--The burden of this blessing is the appointment of the Levites to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood (Le 10:11; De 22:8; 17:8-11), a reward for their zeal in supporting the cause of God, and their unsparing severity in chastising even their nearest and dearest relatives who had participated in the idolatry of the molten calf (Ex 32:25-28; compare Mal 2:4-6).Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 33:9
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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