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

14 Then 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.

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

16 And 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.

17 On 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?’

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

19 Now 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.

20 When 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.

21 And 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.”

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

23 Then 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 LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Behold הֵ֣ן H2005 Interjection the time יָמֶיךָ֮ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular of your death לָמוּת֒ H4191 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct is near קָרְב֣וּ H7126 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Call קְרָ֣א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ H3091 Noun - proper - masculine singular and present yourselves וְהִֽתְיַצְּב֛וּ H3320 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine plural at the Tent בְּאֹ֥הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֖ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular so that I may commission him וַאֲצַוֶּ֑נּוּ H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular So Moses מֹשֶׁה֙ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Joshua וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ H3091 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular went וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and presented themselves וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ H3320 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural at the Tent בְּאֹ֥הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular appeared וַיֵּרָ֧א H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular at the tent בָּאֹ֖הֶל H168 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular in a pillar בְּעַמּ֣וּד H5982 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of cloud עָנָ֑ן H6051 Noun - masculine singular and the cloud הֶעָנָ֖ן H6051 Article | Noun - masculine singular stood וַיַּעֲמֹ֛ד H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . עַמּ֥וּד H5982 Noun - masculine singular construct over עַל־ H5921 Preposition the entrance פֶּ֥תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the tent הָאֹֽהֶל׃ס H168 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular You will soon הִנְּךָ֥ H2009 Interjection | second person masculine singular rest שֹׁכֵ֖ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition your fathers אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and these הַזֶּ֜ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular people הָעָ֨ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular will rise up וְקָם֩ H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular and prostitute themselves וְזָנָ֣ה׀ H2181 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular with אַחֲרֵ֣י׀ H310 Preposition the foreign נֵֽכַר־ H5236 Noun - masculine singular construct gods אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of the land הָאָ֗רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative they ה֤וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular are entering בָא־ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . שָׁ֙מָּה֙ H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular . . . בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular They will forsake Me וַעֲזָבַ֕נִי H5800 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular and break וְהֵפֵר֙ H6565 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the covenant בְּרִיתִ֔י H1285 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I have made כָּרַ֖תִּי H3772 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular with them אִתּֽוֹ׃ H854 Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

On that הַ֠הוּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַיּוֹם־ H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular My anger אַפִּ֣י H639 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will burn וְחָרָ֣ה H2734 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular against them ב֣וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular and I will abandon them וַעֲזַבְתִּ֞ים H5800 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural and hide וְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨י H5641 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular My face פָנַ֤י H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular from them מֵהֶם֙ Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural so that they will be וְהָיָ֣ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular consumed לֶֽאֱכֹ֔ל H398 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct and many רַבּ֖וֹת H7227 Adjective - feminine plural troubles רָע֥וֹת H7451 Noun - feminine plural and afflictions וְצָר֑וֹת H6869 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural will befall them וּמְצָאֻ֛הוּ H4672 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular On that הַה֔וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular they will say וְאָמַר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Have not הֲלֹ֗א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle these הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural disasters הָרָע֥וֹת H7451 Article | Noun - feminine plural come upon us מְצָא֖וּנִי H4672 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular because עַ֣ל H5921 Preposition . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction our God אֱלֹהַי֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular is no אֵ֤ין H369 Adverb longer with us בְּקִרְבִּ֔י H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 18

Original words

And וְאָנֹכִ֗י H595 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular on that הַה֔וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular I will surely hide הַסְתֵּ֨ר H5641 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute . . . אַסְתִּ֤יר H5641 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular My face פָּנַי֙ H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular because of עַ֥ל H5921 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the evil הָרָעָ֖ה H7451 Article | Adjective - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative they have done עָשָׂ֑ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction by turning פָנָ֔ה H6437 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition other אֲחֵרִֽים׃ H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

Now therefore וְעַתָּ֗ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb write down כִּתְב֤וּ H3789 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural for yourselves לָכֶם֙ Preposition | second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular song הַשִּׁירָ֣ה H7892 Article | Noun - feminine singular and teach וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ H3925 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker it to the Israelites בְּנֵי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular have them recite שִׂימָ֣הּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular it בְּפִיהֶ֑ם H6310 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural so that לְמַ֨עַן H4616 Conjunction [it] הַזֹּ֛את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular . . . הַשִּׁירָ֥ה H7892 Article | Noun - feminine singular may be תִּהְיֶה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular a witness לְעֵ֖ד H5707 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular for Me לִּ֜י Preposition | first person common singular against [them] בִּבְנֵ֥י H1121 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

When כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I have brought them אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular into אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition the land הָאֲדָמָ֣ה׀ H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative I swore נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular to give their fathers לַאֲבֹתָ֗יו H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular a land flowing זָבַ֤ת H2100 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct with milk חָלָב֙ H2461 Noun - masculine singular and honey וּדְבַ֔שׁ H1706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular they will eat וְאָכַ֥ל H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular their fill וְשָׂבַ֖ע H7646 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular and prosper וְדָשֵׁ֑ן H1878 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Then they will turn וּפָנָ֞ה H6437 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition other אֲחֵרִים֙ H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֤ים H430 Noun - masculine plural and worship them וַעֲבָד֔וּם H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural and they will reject Me וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי H5006 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular and break וְהֵפֵ֖ר H6565 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My covenant בְּרִיתִֽי׃ H1285 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 21

Original words

- וְ֠הָיָה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular And when כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction many רַבּוֹת֮ H7227 Adjective - feminine plural troubles רָע֣וֹת H7451 Noun - feminine plural and afflictions וְצָרוֹת֒ H6869 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural have come upon them תִמְצֶ֨אןָ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural - אֹת֜וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular this הַזֹּ֤את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular song הַשִּׁירָ֨ה H7892 Article | Noun - feminine singular will testify וְ֠עָנְתָה H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular . . . לְעֵ֔ד H5707 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular against them לְפָנָיו֙ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular because כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction vvv לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle it will not be forgotten תִשָּׁכַ֖ח H7911 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular from the lips מִפִּ֣י H6310 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of their descendants זַרְע֑וֹ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular For כִּ֧י H3588 Conjunction I know יָדַ֣עְתִּי H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their inclination יִצְר֗וֹ H3336 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative - ה֤וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular . . . עֹשֶׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . הַיּ֔וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular even before בְּטֶ֣רֶם H2962 Preposition-b | Adverb I bring them אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I swore to give them נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃ H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 22

Original words

So that very הַה֑וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁ֛ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker wrote down וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב H3789 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular song הַשִּׁירָ֥ה H7892 Article | Noun - feminine singular and taught it וַֽיְלַמְּדָ֖הּ H3925 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to the Israelites בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Then the LORD commissioned וַיְצַ֞ו H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ H3091 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בִּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Nun נ֗וּן H5126 Noun - proper - masculine singular and said וַיֹּאמֶר֮ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Be strong חֲזַ֣ק H2388 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular and courageous וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ H553 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you אַתָּ֗ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular will bring תָּבִיא֙ H935 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative I swore to give נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular them לָהֶ֑ם Preposition | third person masculine plural and I וְאָנֹכִ֖י H595 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular will be אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular with you עִמָּֽךְ׃ H5973 Preposition | 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.