Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 33:8-11

Moses Blesses the Tribes Under the LORD's Eternal Refuge

Moses blesses Israel before his death by first presenting the LORD as the covenant King who came from Sinai with instruction, then speaking tribe-specific blessings, and finally declaring Israel blessed because the eternal God is their refuge, help, shield, and sword.

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

8 Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.

9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.

10 He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.

11 Bless his substance, O LORD, and accept the work of his hands. Smash the loins of those who rise against him, and of his foes so they can rise no more.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Cross-references

Exodus 28:30 Classic cross-references Exodus 17:7 Classic cross-references John 6:6 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 28:6 Classic cross-references Numbers 20:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Concerning Levi וּלְלֵוִ֣י H3878 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular he said אָמַ֔ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular [Give] Your Thummim [to Levi] תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ H8550 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and Your Urim וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ H224 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to Your godly חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ H2623 Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular one לְאִ֣ישׁ H376 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular whom אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative You tested נִסִּיתוֹ֙ H5254 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular at Massah בְּמַסָּ֔ה H4532 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular and contested תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ H7378 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular at עַל־ H5921 Preposition the waters מֵ֥י H4325 Noun - masculine plural construct of Meribah מְרִיבָֽה׃ H4809 Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

DSS and LXX; MT does not include to Levi; literally Let Your Perfections and Your Lights be to Your godly one.
Massah means testing; see Exodus 17:7.
Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.

Verse 9

Cross-references

Luke 14:26 Classic cross-references Psalms 45:10 Classic cross-references Matthew 10:37 Classic cross-references Luke 18:29 Classic cross-references Mark 10:29 Classic cross-references

Original words

He said הָאֹמֵ֞ר H559 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular of his father לְאָבִ֤יו H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and mother וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ H517 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular I do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle consider them רְאִיתִ֔יו H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker He disregarded לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . הִכִּ֔יר H5234 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker his brothers אֶחָיו֙ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and did not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle know יָדָ֑ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular his own sons בָּנוֹ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular for כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction he kept שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ H8104 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Your word אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ H565 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and maintained יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ H5341 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Your covenant וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ H1285 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew they kept, most likely referring to Levi in the plural; similarly twice in verse 10

Verse 10

Cross-references

Ezra 7:10 Classic cross-references Leviticus 10:11 Classic cross-references Psalms 51:19 Classic cross-references Romans 12:7 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 35:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

He will teach יוֹר֤וּ H3384 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Your ordinances מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ H4941 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to Jacob לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Your law וְתוֹרָתְךָ֖ H8451 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular to Israel לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular he will set יָשִׂ֤ימוּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural incense קְטוֹרָה֙ H6988 Noun - feminine singular before You בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ H639 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and whole burnt offerings וְכָלִ֖יל H3632 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular on עַֽל־ H5921 Preposition Your altar מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃ H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 11

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 19:2 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 24:23 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 20:40 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 43:27 Classic cross-references

Original words

Bless בָּרֵ֤ךְ H1288 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular his substance חֵיל֔וֹ H2428 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular O LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and accept תִּרְצֶ֑ה H7521 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the work וּפֹ֥עַל H6467 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of his hands יָדָ֖יו H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular Smash מְחַ֨ץ H4272 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the loins מָתְנַ֧יִם H4975 Noun - md of those who rise against him קָמָ֛יו H6965 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and of his foes וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו H8130 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular so they can מִן־ H4480 Preposition rise [no more] יְקוּמֽוּן׃ס H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun

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