New English Translation
Deuteronomy 33:21
21He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler is set aside there; he came with the leaders of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel.
Deuteronomy 33:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments for Israel."
- New King James Version (NKJV)He provided the first part for himself, Because a lawgiver’s portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people; He administered the justice of the Lord, And His judgments with Israel.”
Context of Deuteronomy 33:21
19They will summon peoples to the mountain, there they will sacrifice proper sacrifices; for they will enjoy the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the shores. 20Of Gad he said: Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness he will dwell; he will tear at an arm – indeed, a scalp. He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler is set aside there; he came with the leaders of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel. 22Of Dan he said: Dan is a lion’s cub; he will leap forth from Bashan. 23Of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, overflowing with favor, and full of the Lord’s blessing, possess the west and south.
Read all of Deuteronomy 33Deuteronomy 33:21 word by word
וַיַּ֤רְא רֵאשִׁית֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־שָׁ֛ם חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּתֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם צִדְקַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he providedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: selectH7200
- the first partרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: bestH7225
- a portionחֶלְקָהchelqâh · portionH2513
- of the lawgiverחָקַקchâqaq · to decreeH2710
- seatedסָפַןsâphan · to coverH5603
- and he cameאָתָה'âthâh 'âthâ' · to comeH857
- with the headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- he executedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- the justiceצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and his judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- with Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 33:21
- Numbers 32:1Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle,
- Numbers 32:33So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them.
- Joshua 1:14Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them
- Joshua 22:4Now the Lord your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes in your own land which Moses the Lord’s servant assigned to you east of the Jordan.
- Numbers 32:16Then they came very close to him and said, “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families,
- Joshua 4:12The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them.
- Judges 5:2“When the leaders took the lead in Israel, When the people answered the call to war – Praise the Lord!
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He provided the first part - That is, he chose for himself a very excellent portion, viz., the land of Sihon and Og, in which this tribe had requested to be settled by the lawgiver, viz., Moses, from whom they requested this portion, Numbers 32:1-5. He came with the heads of the people - Notwithstanding this portion fell unto them on the east side of Jordan, yet they proceeded with the heads of the people, the chiefs of the other tribes. To execute the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The first fruits of the conquest made by Israel were assigned to Gad and Reuben by Moses, at their own request. Because seated - Render, because there was the leader‘s portion reserved, i. e., there was reserved the fitting portion for Gad as a leader in war. And he came - i. e., he joined the other leaders to fulfill the commands of God respecting the conquest of Canaan (compare Numbers 32:17, Numbers 32:21, Numbers 32:32; Joshua 1:14). Moses regards…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. 21The tribe of Gad chose this territory before the conquest of Canaan. It was the rich and productive land of Bashan (Numbers 32:1–5). God praises Gad for carrying out his justice and obeying his rules. This probably refers to the tribe’s faithfulness in helping the western tribes conquer Canaan (Joshua 22:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Ge 30:11; 49:19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [De 33:21] in the invasion of Canaan.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 33:21
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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