New American Standard Bible 1995
Deuteronomy 31:21
21Then it shall come about, 1when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the 2lips of their descendants); for 3I know their intent which they are 4developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.”
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
19“Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel. 20For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant. Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants); for I know their intent which they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.” 22So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel. 23Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with 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
- Then it shall comeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- whenכִּיkîy · forH3588
- manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- and troublesצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
- have comeמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- upon them, that thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- songשִׁירָהshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
- will testifyעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- them as a witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- for it shall not be forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
- lipsפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- of their descendantsזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- their intentיֵ֫צֶרyêtser · intentionH3336
- whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- developingעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- todayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- beforeטֶ֫רֶםţerem · beforeH2962
- I have broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- them into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- I sworeשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 31:21
- Deuteronomy 31:19“Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.
- Genesis 6:5Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
- Genesis 8:21The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.
- Psalms 139:2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
- Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
- Ezekiel 38:10‘Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan,
- Hosea 5:3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself.
- Hosea 13:5I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.
- Amos 5:25“Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel?
- John 2:24But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,
- Acts 2:23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
- Acts 4:28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
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
Notes
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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