New English Translation
Deuteronomy 32:47
47For this is no idle word for you – it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
Deuteronomy 32:47 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
- New International Version (NIV)They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”
Context of Deuteronomy 32:47
45When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel 46he said to them, “Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law. For this is no idle word for you – it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.” 48Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, 49“Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession.
Read all of Deuteronomy 32Deuteronomy 32:47 word by word
כִּ֠י לֹֽא־דָבָ֨ר רֵ֥ק הוּא֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּי־ה֖וּא חַיֵּיכֶ֑ם וּבַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה תַּאֲרִ֤יכוּ יָמִים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- not a vainרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
- thingדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- your lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
- ye shall prolongאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- in the landאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- whither ye go overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
- to possessיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 32:47
- Deuteronomy 30:19Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!
- Leviticus 18:5So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord.
- Proverbs 3:1My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
- Proverbs 4:22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.
- Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.
- Matthew 6:33But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Romans 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”
- 1 Timothy 4:8For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”
- 1 Timothy 6:6Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.
- 1 Peter 3:10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
- 2 Peter 1:3I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.
- Revelation 22:14Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 32:47
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 47Through this thing ye shall prolong your days - Instead of being cut off, as God here threatens, ye shall be preserved and rendered prosperous in the land which, when they passed over Jordan, they should possess.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 44-52Verses 44-52 These verses were, no doubt, added by the author of the supplement to Deuteronomy. For the statements contained in them, consult the marginal references.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 44-47Verses 44-47 Here is the solemn delivery of this song to Israel, with a charge to mind all the good words Moses had said unto them. It is not a trifle, but a matter of life and death: mind it, and you are made for ever; neglect it, and you are for ever undone. Oh that men were fully persuaded that religion is their life, even the life of their souls!Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 47they are your life: Obeying the Lord’s words brings life (see 8:3; 30:20). you will live long: This promise does not guarantee each person will live for a long time or become immortal. It refers to Israel’s extended stay in the promised land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44-4744-47. Moses ... spake all the words of this song in the ears, &c.--It has been beautifully styled "the Song of the Dying Swan" [Lowth]. It was designed to be a national anthem, which it should be the duty and care of magistrates to make well known by frequent repetition, to animate the people to right sentiments towards a steadfast adherence to His service.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 32:47
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 32
- 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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