Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Succession, Written Torah, and the Song as Witness

The chapter moves from Moses' public announcement of his death and Joshua's succession, to the written Torah entrusted for regular public reading, to the LORD's disclosure of future apostasy, the commissioning of Joshua, and the song placed as a covenant witness against Israel.

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

1When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel,

2he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’

3The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said.

4And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land.

5The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you.

6Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.

8The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

When Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhad finishedוַיֵּ֖לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularspeakingוַיְדַבֵּ֛רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheseהָאֵ֖לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralwordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • DSS and LXX; MT When Moses went out and spoke
Verse 2

Original words

he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto themאֲלֵהֶ֗םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralIאָנֹכִי֙H595Pronoun - first person common singularam nowהַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singulara hundredמֵאָה֩H3967Number - feminine singularand twentyוְעֶשְׂרִ֨יםH6242Conjunctive waw | Number - common pluralyears oldבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שָׁנָ֤הH8141Noun - feminine singularI amאוּכַ֥לH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularnoלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlelongerע֖וֹדH5750Adverbable to comeלָצֵ֣אתH3318Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructand goוְלָב֑וֹאH935Conjunctive waw, Preposition | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructand the LORDוַֽיהוָה֙H3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularhas saidאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto meאֵלַ֔יH413Preposition | first person common singularYou shall notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecrossתַעֲבֹ֖רH5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheהַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularJordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֥ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֜יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularHimselfה֣וּא׀H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill cross overעֹבֵ֣רH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularahead of youלְפָנֶ֗יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularHeהֽוּא־H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill destroyיַשְׁמִ֞ידH8045Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheseהָאֵ֛לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralnationsהַגּוֹיִ֥םH1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralbefore youמִלְּפָנֶ֖יךָH6440Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularand you will dispossess themוִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑םH3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .ה֚וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill crossעֹבֵ֣רH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularahead of youלְפָנֶ֔יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas saidדִּבֶּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill doוְעָשָׂ֤הH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularto themלָהֶ֔םPreposition | third person masculine pluralasכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeHe didעָשָׂ֗הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto Sihonלְסִיח֥וֹןH5511Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand Ogוּלְע֛וֹגH5747Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe kingsמַלְכֵ֥יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יH567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularwhenאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeHe destroyedהִשְׁמִ֖ידH8045Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularthemאֹתָֽם׃H853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralalong with their landוּלְאַרְצָ֑םH776Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill deliver them overוּנְתָנָ֥םH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralto youלִפְנֵיכֶ֑םH6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland you must doוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣םH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralto themלָהֶ֔םPreposition | third person masculine pluralexactly asכְּכָל־H3605Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַמִּצְוָ֔הH4687Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI have commandedצִוִּ֖יתִיH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularyouאֶתְכֶֽם׃H853Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

Be strongחִזְק֣וּH2388Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraland courageousוְאִמְצ֔וּH553Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraldo notאַל־H408Adverbbe afraidתִּֽירְא֥וּH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .וְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbor terrifiedתַּעַרְצ֖וּH6206Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralof themמִפְּנֵיהֶ֑םH6440Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralforכִּ֣י׀H3588Conjunctionit is the LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֗יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwhoה֚וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singulargoesהַהֹלֵ֣ךְH1980Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwith youעִמָּ֔ךְH5973Preposition | second person masculine singularHe will neverלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleleave youיַרְפְּךָ֖H7503Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular[nor]וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleforsake youיַעַזְבֶֽךָּ׃פH5800Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Hebrews 13:5; here and in verse 8
Verse 7

Original words

Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularcalledוַיִּקְרָ֨אH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfor Joshuaלִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֗עַH3091Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto himאֵלָ֜יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularin the presenceלְעֵינֵ֣יH5869Preposition-l | Noun - cdcof allכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֘לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularBe strongחֲזַ֣קH2388Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularand courageousוֶאֱמָץ֒H553Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyouאַתָּ֗הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularwill goתָּבוֹא֙H935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularwithאֶת־H854Prepositionthisהַזֶּ֔הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularpeopleהָעָ֣םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landהָאָ֕רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsworeנִשְׁבַּ֧עH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto their fathersלַאֲבֹתָ֖םH1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralto giveלָתֵ֣תH5414Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthemלָהֶ֑םPreposition | third person masculine pluraland youוְאַתָּ֖הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularshall give it to them as an inheritanceתַּנְחִילֶ֥נָּהH5157Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular-אוֹתָֽם׃H853Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Verse 8

Original words

The LORDוַֽיהוָ֞הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularHimselfה֣וּא׀H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singulargoesהַהֹלֵ֣ךְH1980Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularbefore youלְפָנֶ֗יךָH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularHeה֚וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill beיִהְיֶ֣הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwith youעִמָּ֔ךְH5973Preposition | second person masculine singularHe will neverלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleleave youיַרְפְּךָ֖H7503Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularnorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleforsake youיַֽעַזְבֶ֑ךָּH5800Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularDo notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe afraidתִירָ֖אH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular[or]וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlediscouragedתֵחָֽת׃H2865Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

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.