Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 31:14-23

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

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

15Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.

16And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them.

17On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’

18And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.

19Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.

20When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant.

21And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”

22So that very day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.

23Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularBeholdהֵ֣ןH2005Interjectionthe timeיָמֶיךָ֮H3117Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularof your deathלָמוּת֒H4191Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructis nearקָרְב֣וּH7126Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralCallקְרָ֣אH7121Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularand present yourselvesוְהִֽתְיַצְּב֛וּH3320Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine pluralat the Tentבְּאֹ֥הֶלH168Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof Meetingמוֹעֵ֖דH4150Noun - masculine singularso that I may commission himוַאֲצַוֶּ֑נּוּH6680Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularSo Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularand Joshuaוִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֔עַH3091Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwentוַיֵּ֤לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand presented themselvesוַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּH3320Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralat the Tentבְּאֹ֥הֶלH168Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof Meetingמוֹעֵֽד׃H4150Noun - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularappearedוַיֵּרָ֧אH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularat the tentבָּאֹ֖הֶלH168Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularin a pillarבְּעַמּ֣וּדH5982Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof cloudעָנָ֑ןH6051Noun - masculine singularand the cloudהֶעָנָ֖ןH6051Article | Noun - masculine singularstoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֛דH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .עַמּ֥וּדH5982Noun - masculine singular constructoverעַל־H5921Prepositionthe entranceפֶּ֥תַחH6607Noun - masculine singular constructto the tentהָאֹֽהֶל׃סH168Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularYou will soonהִנְּךָ֥H2009Interjection | second person masculine singularrestשֹׁכֵ֖בH7901Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwithעִם־H5973Prepositionyour fathersאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָH1Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularand theseהַזֶּ֜הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularpeopleהָעָ֨םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwill rise upוְקָם֩H6965Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularand prostitute themselvesוְזָנָ֣ה׀H2181Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularwithאַחֲרֵ֣י׀H310Prepositionthe foreignנֵֽכַר־H5236Noun - masculine singular constructgodsאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof the landהָאָ֗רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativetheyה֤וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularare enteringבָא־H935Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .שָׁ֙מָּה֙H8033Adverb | third person feminine singular. . .בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularThey will forsake Meוַעֲזָבַ֕נִיH5800Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularand breakוְהֵפֵר֙H6565Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe covenantבְּרִיתִ֔יH1285Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI have madeכָּרַ֖תִּיH3772Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularwith themאִתּֽוֹ׃H854Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

On thatהַ֠הוּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַיּוֹם־H3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularMy angerאַפִּ֣יH639Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwill burnוְחָרָ֣הH2734Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularagainst themב֣וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularand I will abandon themוַעֲזַבְתִּ֞יםH5800Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluraland hideוְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨יH5641Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularMy faceפָנַ֤יH6440Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularfrom themמֵהֶם֙Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralso that they will beוְהָיָ֣הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularconsumedלֶֽאֱכֹ֔לH398Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructand manyרַבּ֖וֹתH7227Adjective - feminine pluraltroublesרָע֥וֹתH7451Noun - feminine pluraland afflictionsוְצָר֑וֹתH6869Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralwill befall themוּמְצָאֻ֛הוּH4672Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singularOn thatהַה֔וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthey will sayוְאָמַר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularHave notהֲלֹ֗אH3808Adverb - Negative particletheseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃H428Article | Pronoun - common pluraldisastersהָרָע֥וֹתH7451Article | Noun - feminine pluralcome upon usמְצָא֖וּנִיH4672Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularbecauseעַ֣לH5921Preposition. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionour Godאֱלֹהַי֙H430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularis noאֵ֤יןH369Adverblonger with usבְּקִרְבִּ֔יH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 18

Original words

Andוְאָנֹכִ֗יH595Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularon thatהַה֔וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularI will surely hideהַסְתֵּ֨רH5641Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute. . .אַסְתִּ֤ירH5641Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularMy faceפָּנַי֙H6440Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularbecause ofעַ֥לH5921Prepositionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe evilהָרָעָ֖הH7451Article | Adjective - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethey have doneעָשָׂ֑הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .כִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionby turningפָנָ֔הH6437Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionotherאֲחֵרִֽים׃H312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Noun - masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

Now thereforeוְעַתָּ֗הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbwrite downכִּתְב֤וּH3789Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralfor yourselvesלָכֶם֙Preposition | second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularsongהַשִּׁירָ֣הH7892Article | Noun - feminine singularand teachוְלַמְּדָ֥הּH3925Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerit to the Israelitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularhave them reciteשִׂימָ֣הּH7760Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularitבְּפִיהֶ֑םH6310Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralso thatלְמַ֨עַןH4616Conjunction[it]הַזֹּ֛אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singular. . .הַשִּׁירָ֥הH7892Article | Noun - feminine singularmay beתִּהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singulara witnessלְעֵ֖דH5707Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularfor Meלִּ֜יPreposition | first person common singularagainst [them]בִּבְנֵ֥יH1121Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Whenכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionI have brought themאֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּH935Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularintoאֶֽל־H413Prepositionthe landהָאֲדָמָ֣ה׀H127Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI sworeנִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּיH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularto give their fathersלַאֲבֹתָ֗יוH1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singulara land flowingזָבַ֤תH2100Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular constructwith milkחָלָב֙H2461Noun - masculine singularand honeyוּדְבַ֔שׁH1706Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthey will eatוְאָכַ֥לH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulartheir fillוְשָׂבַ֖עH7646Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularand prosperוְדָשֵׁ֑ןH1878Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularThen they will turnוּפָנָ֞הH6437Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionotherאֲחֵרִים֙H312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsאֱלֹהִ֤יםH430Noun - masculine pluraland worship themוַעֲבָד֔וּםH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine pluraland they will reject Meוְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִיH5006Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularand breakוְהֵפֵ֖רH6565Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMy covenantבְּרִיתִֽי׃H1285Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 21

Original words

-וְ֠הָיָהH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularAnd whenכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionmanyרַבּוֹת֮H7227Adjective - feminine pluraltroublesרָע֣וֹתH7451Noun - feminine pluraland afflictionsוְצָרוֹת֒H6869Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralhave come upon themתִמְצֶ֨אןָH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural-אֹת֜וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularthisהַזֹּ֤אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularsongהַשִּׁירָ֨הH7892Article | Noun - feminine singularwill testifyוְ֠עָנְתָהH6030Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular. . .לְעֵ֔דH5707Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularagainst themלְפָנָיו֙H6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularbecauseכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionvvvלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleit will not be forgottenתִשָּׁכַ֖חH7911Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularfrom the lipsמִפִּ֣יH6310Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof their descendantsזַרְע֑וֹH2233Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularForכִּ֧יH3588ConjunctionI knowיָדַ֣עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir inclinationיִצְר֗וֹH3336Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relative-ה֤וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singular. . .עֹשֶׂה֙H6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .הַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singulareven beforeבְּטֶ֣רֶםH2962Preposition-b | AdverbI bring themאֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּH935Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landהָאָ֖רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI swore to give themנִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃H7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 22

Original words

So that veryהַה֑וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֛הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwrote downוַיִּכְתֹּ֥בH3789Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularsongהַשִּׁירָ֥הH7892Article | Noun - feminine singularand taught itוַֽיְלַמְּדָ֖הּH3925Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerto the Israelitesבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Then the LORD commissionedוַיְצַ֞וH6680Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבִּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Nunנ֗וּןH5126Noun - proper - masculine singularand saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularBe strongחֲזַ֣קH2388Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularand courageousוֶֽאֱמָץ֒H553Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyouאַתָּ֗הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularwill bringתָּבִיא֙H935Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landהָאָ֖רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI swore to giveנִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּיH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularthemלָהֶ֑םPreposition | third person masculine pluraland Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יH595Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularwill beאֶֽהְיֶ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularwith youעִמָּֽךְ׃H5973Preposition | 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.