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

8Concerning 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.

9He 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.

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

11Bless 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 28:30Classic cross-references Exodus 17:7Classic cross-references John 6:6Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 28:6Classic cross-references Numbers 20:13Classic cross-references

Original words

Concerning Leviוּלְלֵוִ֣יH3878Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularhe saidאָמַ֔רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular[Give] Your Thummim [to Levi]תֻּמֶּ֥יךָH8550Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularand Your Urimוְאוּרֶ֖יךָH224Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularto Your godlyחֲסִידֶ֑ךָH2623Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularoneלְאִ֣ישׁH376Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularwhomאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativeYou testedנִסִּיתוֹ֙H5254Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularat Massahבְּמַסָּ֔הH4532Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularand contestedתְּרִיבֵ֖הוּH7378Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularatעַל־H5921Prepositionthe watersמֵ֥יH4325Noun - masculine plural constructof Meribahמְרִיבָֽה׃H4809Noun - 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 14:26Classic cross-references Psalms 45:10Classic cross-references Matthew 10:37Classic cross-references Luke 18:29Classic cross-references Mark 10:29Classic cross-references

Original words

He saidהָאֹמֵ֞רH559Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularof his fatherלְאָבִ֤יוH1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand motherוּלְאִמּוֹ֙H517Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularI do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleconsider themרְאִיתִ֔יוH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerHe disregardedלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .הִכִּ֔ירH5234Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerhis brothersאֶחָיו֙H251Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand did notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknowיָדָ֑עH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularhis own sonsבָּנוֹH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularforכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionhe keptשָֽׁמְרוּ֙H8104Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralYour wordאִמְרָתֶ֔ךָH565Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand maintainedיִנְצֹֽרוּ׃H5341Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralYour covenantוּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖H1285Conjunctive 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 7:10Classic cross-references Leviticus 10:11Classic cross-references Psalms 51:19Classic cross-references Romans 12:7Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 35:3Classic cross-references

Original words

He will teachיוֹר֤וּH3384Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralYour ordinancesמִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙H4941Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularto Jacobלְיַעֲקֹ֔בH3290Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand Your lawוְתוֹרָתְךָ֖H8451Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularto Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularhe will setיָשִׂ֤ימוּH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralincenseקְטוֹרָה֙H6988Noun - feminine singularbefore Youבְּאַפֶּ֔ךָH639Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand whole burnt offeringsוְכָלִ֖ילH3632Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularonעַֽל־H5921PrepositionYour altarמִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃H4196Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 11

Cross-references

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

Original words

Blessבָּרֵ֤ךְH1288Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularhis substanceחֵיל֔וֹH2428Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand acceptתִּרְצֶ֑הH7521Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe workוּפֹ֥עַלH6467Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof his handsיָדָ֖יוH3027Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singularSmashמְחַ֨ץH4272Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularthe loinsמָתְנַ֧יִםH4975Noun - mdof those who rise against himקָמָ֛יוH6965Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularand of his foesוּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יוH8130Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularso they canמִן־H4480Prepositionrise [no more]יְקוּמֽוּן׃סH6965Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun

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