Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Return, Heart Circumcision, and the Choice of Life

The chapter moves from future exile to promised return, from outward covenant command to God-given heart circumcision, from the nearness of the revealed word to the urgent summons to choose life by loving and obeying the LORD.

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

15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster.

16 For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,

18 I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,

20 and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Cross-references

Isaiah 1:19 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 30:19 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:26 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 21:8 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:11 Classic cross-references

Original words

See רְאֵ֨ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular I have set נָתַ֤תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular before you לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular today הַיּ֔וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker life הַֽחַיִּ֖ים H2416 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and prosperity הַטּ֑וֹב H2896 Article | Noun - masculine singular as well as וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker death הַמָּ֖וֶת H4194 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and disaster הָרָֽע׃ H7451 Article | Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 30:6 Classic cross-references Matthew 22:37 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:2 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:12 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

For אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֣י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am commanding מְצַוְּךָ֮ H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular you today הַיּוֹם֒ 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 אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to walk לָלֶ֣כֶת H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in His ways בִּדְרָכָ֔יו H1870 Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular and to keep וְלִשְׁמֹ֛ר H8104 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct His commandments מִצְוֺתָ֥יו H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular statutes וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו H2708 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular and ordinances וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֑יו H4941 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular so that you may live וְחָיִ֣יתָ H2421 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular and increase וְרָבִ֔יתָ H7235 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular and the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular may bless וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular you in the land בָּאָ֕רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are entering בָא־ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Hebrews 12:25 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:17 Classic cross-references Judges 6:13 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 16:13 Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 4:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

But if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction your heart לְבָבְךָ֖ H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular turns away יִפְנֶ֥ה H6437 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and you do not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle listen תִשְׁמָ֑ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular but are drawn away וְנִדַּחְתָּ֗ H5080 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular to bow down וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָ H7812 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular to other אֲחֵרִ֖ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods לֵאלֹהִ֥ים H430 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural and worship them וַעֲבַדְתָּֽם׃ H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural

Verse 18

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:26 Classic cross-references Micah 2:10 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 8:19 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 17:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 63:17 Classic cross-references

Original words

I declare הִגַּ֤דְתִּי H5046 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular to you לָכֶם֙ Preposition | second person masculine plural today הַיּ֔וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction you will surely perish אָבֹ֖ד H6 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תֹּאבֵד֑וּן H6 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun vvv לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle you shall not prolong תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן H748 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun [your] days יָמִים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the land הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֤ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are crossing עֹבֵר֙ H5674 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Jordan הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן H3383 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular vvv לָבֹ֥א H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct vvv שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 30:15 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:26 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:30 Classic cross-references Joshua 24:15 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:36 Classic cross-references

Original words

I call heaven הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and earth הָאָרֶץ֒ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular as witnesses הַעִידֹ֨תִי H5749 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular against you בָכֶ֣ם Preposition | second person masculine plural today הַיּוֹם֮ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker that I have set נָתַ֣תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular before לְפָנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular you life הַחַיִּ֤ים H2416 Article | Noun - masculine plural and death וְהַמָּ֙וֶת֙ H4194 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular blessing הַבְּרָכָ֖ה H1293 Article | Noun - feminine singular and cursing וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה H7045 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Therefore choose וּבָֽחַרְתָּ֙ H977 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular life בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים H2416 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural so that לְמַ֥עַן H4616 Conjunction you אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular and your descendants וְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ H2233 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular may live תִּחְיֶ֖ה H2421 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Psalms 37:3 Classic cross-references John 11:25 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:20 Classic cross-references John 17:3 Classic cross-references Acts 17:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

and that you may love לְאַֽהֲבָה֙ H157 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular obey Him לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ H8085 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . בְּקֹל֖וֹ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and hold fast וּלְדָבְקָה־ H1692 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular to Him ב֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction He [is] ה֤וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular your life חַיֶּ֙יךָ֙ H2416 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and He will prolong וְאֹ֣רֶךְ H753 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct your life יָמֶ֔יךָ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . לָשֶׁ֣בֶת H3427 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in עַל־ H5921 Preposition the land הָאֲדָמָ֗ה 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 give לָתֵ֥ת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . לָהֶֽם׃פ Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural to your fathers לַאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to Abraham לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם H85 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Isaac לְיִצְחָ֥ק H3327 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jacob וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

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