New English Translation
Deuteronomy 31:21
21Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it. I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.”
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
19Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites! 20For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors – one flowing with milk and honey – and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant. Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it. I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.” 22So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, 23and the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun, “Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it shall come to pass, when manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- evilsרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- and troublesצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
- are befallenמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- them, that this songשִׁירָהshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
- shall testifyעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- againstפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- them as a witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- for it shall not be forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
- out of the mouthsפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- of their seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- for I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- their imaginationיֵ֫צֶרyêtser · intentionH3336
- which they go aboutעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- even nowיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- before I have broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- them into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- which I swareשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 31:21
- Deuteronomy 31:19Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!
- Genesis 6:5But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.
- Genesis 8:21And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.
- Psalms 139:2You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.
- Isaiah 46:10who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’
- Ezekiel 38:10“‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- Hosea 5:3I know Ephraim all too well; the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. For you have engaged in prostitution, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled itself.
- Hosea 13:5I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.
- Amos 5:25You did not bring me sacrifices and grain offerings during the forty years you spent in the wilderness, family of Israel.
- John 2:24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.
- Acts 2:23this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.
- Acts 4:28to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen.
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
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
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