Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 11:8-17

Love, Obedience, and the Land Held by the Rain of Heaven

From the appeal grounded in personally witnessed works (vv. 1-7) through the land-contrast establishing covenant dependency on the LORD's rain (vv. 8-12), through the blessing-and-curse pivot and the saturation-practices renewed (vv. 13-21), to the conquest promise conditional on holding fast (vv. 22-25), and finally to the blessing and curse formally set before Israel at the threshold of the land (vv. 26-32).

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8 You shall therefore keep every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

9 and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

10 For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden.

11 But the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks in the rain from heaven.

12 It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.

13 So if you carefully obey the commandments I am giving you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.

15 And I will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied.

16 But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,

17 or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you. He will shut the heavens so that there will be no rain, nor will the land yield its produce, and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is giving you.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

You shall therefore keep וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ H8104 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct commandment הַמִּצְוָ֔ה H4687 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֥י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am giving you today מְצַוְּךָ֖ H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . הַיּ֑וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular so that לְמַ֣עַן H4616 Conjunction you may have the strength תֶּחֶזְק֗וּ H2388 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural to go in וּבָאתֶם֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural and possess וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם H3423 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתֶּ֛ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural are crossing עֹבְרִ֥ים H5674 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural [the Jordan] שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

and so that וּלְמַ֨עַן H4616 Conjunction you may live long תַּאֲרִ֤יכוּ H748 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . יָמִים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the land הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר֩ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֧ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular swore נִשְׁבַּ֨ע H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to your fathers לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֛ם H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural to give לָתֵ֥ת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct them לָהֶ֖ם Preposition | third person masculine plural and their descendants וּלְזַרְעָ֑ם H2233 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural a land אֶ֛רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular flowing זָבַ֥ת H2100 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct with milk חָלָ֖ב H2461 Noun - masculine singular and honey וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ס H1706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction the land הָאָ֗רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֤ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are entering בָא־ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֙מָּה֙ H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular is not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle like the land כְאֶ֤רֶץ H776 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular from which הִ֔וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular you have come יְצָאתֶ֖ם H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural . . . מִשָּׁ֑ם H8033 Preposition-m | Adverb - אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative where אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you sowed תִּזְרַע֙ H2232 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker your seed זַרְעֲךָ֔ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and irrigated וְהִשְׁקִ֥יתָ H8248 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular on foot בְרַגְלְךָ֖ H7272 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular like a vegetable הַיָּרָֽק׃ H3419 Article | Noun - masculine singular garden כְּגַ֥ן H1588 Preposition-k | Noun - common singular construct
Verse 11

Original words

But the land וְהָאָ֗רֶץ H776 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתֶּ֜ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural are crossing עֹבְרִ֥ים H5674 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural [the Jordan] שָׁ֙מָּה֙ H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular is a land אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of mountains הָרִ֖ים H2022 Noun - masculine plural and valleys וּבְקָעֹ֑ת H1237 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural that drinks in תִּשְׁתֶּה־ H8354 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . מָּֽיִם׃ H4325 Noun - masculine plural the rain לִמְטַ֥ר H4306 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct from heaven הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

It is a land אֶ֕רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular for which אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular cares דֹּרֵ֣שׁ H1875 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אֹתָ֑הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular the eyes עֵינֵ֨י H5869 Noun - cdc of the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular are always תָּמִ֗יד H8548 Adverb on it בָּ֔הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular from the beginning מֵֽרֵשִׁית֙ H7225 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct to וְעַ֖ד H5704 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the end אַחֲרִ֥ית H319 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . שָׁנָֽה׃ס H8141 Noun - feminine singular of the year הַשָּׁנָ֔ה H8141 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

So וְהָיָ֗ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular if אִם־ H518 Conjunction you carefully obey שָׁמֹ֤עַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the commandments מִצְוֺתַ֔י H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular - אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֛י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am giving you today מְצַוֶּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular - אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural - הַיּ֑וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular to love לְאַהֲבָ֞ה H157 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural and to serve Him וּלְעָבְד֔וֹ H5647 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular with all בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your heart לְבַבְכֶ֖ם H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural and with all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your soul נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 14

Original words

then I will provide וְנָתַתִּ֧י H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular rain מְטַֽר־ H4306 Noun - masculine singular construct for your land אַרְצְכֶ֛ם H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural in season בְּעִתּ֖וֹ H6256 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular the autumn and spring rains יוֹרֶ֣ה H3138 Noun - masculine singular . . . וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ H4456 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular that you may gather וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular your grain דְגָנֶ֔ךָ H1715 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular new wine וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֖ H8492 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and oil וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ H3323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew; SP, LXX, and Vulgate He will provide; also in verse 15
Verse 15

Original words

And I will provide וְנָתַתִּ֛י H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular grass עֵ֥שֶׂב H6212 Noun - masculine singular in the fields בְּשָׂדְךָ֖ H7704 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular for your livestock לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ H929 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and you will eat וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular and be satisfied וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃ H7646 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

But be careful הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ H8104 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural that you are not פֶּ֥ן H6435 Conjunction enticed יִפְתֶּ֖ה H6601 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . לְבַבְכֶ֑ם H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural to turn aside וְסַרְתֶּ֗ם H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural to worship וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural and bow down וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם H7812 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural to other אֲחֵרִ֔ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֣ים H430 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 17

Original words

or the anger אַף־ H639 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will be kindled וְחָרָ֨ה H2734 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular against you בָּכֶ֗ם Preposition | second person masculine plural He will shut וְעָצַ֤ר H6113 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural so that there will be יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular no וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle rain מָטָ֔ר H4306 Noun - masculine singular nor will לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle the land וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular yield תִתֵּ֖ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its produce יְבוּלָ֑הּ H2981 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular and you will soon perish וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם H6 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural . . . מְהֵרָ֗ה H4120 Adverb from מֵעַל֙ H5921 Preposition-m the good הַטֹּבָ֔ה H2896 Article | Adjective - feminine singular land הָאָ֣רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָכֶֽם׃ Preposition | second person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.