Deuteronomy 1:10 kjv
The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Deuteronomy 1:10 nkjv
The LORD your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude.
Deuteronomy 1:10 niv
The LORD your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Deuteronomy 1:10 esv
The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Deuteronomy 1:10 nlt
The LORD your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars!
Deuteronomy 1 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:5 | He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and count the stars... | Original promise to Abraham. |
| Gen 22:17 | I will surely bless you and multiply your offspring as the stars... | Covenant reaffirmed, great multitude. |
| Gen 26:4 | I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven... | Promise reaffirmed to Isaac. |
| Gen 28:14 | Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread... | Promise reaffirmed to Jacob (dust metaphor). |
| Gen 32:12 | For you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand... | Jacob recalls promise (sand metaphor). |
| Exod 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied... | Fulfillment begun in Egypt. |
| Exod 32:13 | "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore... | Moses appeals to God based on this promise. |
| Num 1:46 | all who were listed were 603,550. | Census data showing massive numbers. |
| Num 26:51 | These were the numbered people of Israel, 601,730. | Second census confirms large multitude. |
| Deut 10:22 | Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy persons, and now the LORD... | Contrasts small beginning with vast numbers. |
| Neh 9:23 | You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven... | Confirms the historical fulfillment. |
| Isa 10:22 | For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant... | Future reversal/remnant from vast numbers. |
| Hos 1:10 | Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea... | Prophetic promise of future multitude. |
| 1 Kgs 4:20 | Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank... | Fulfillment in Solomon's prosperous reign. |
| Heb 11:12 | Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars... | Abraham's faith and descendants. |
| Rom 4:18 | In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations... | Abraham's faith in the promise of multitude. |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring... | Spiritual heirs of Abraham's promise. |
| 1 Chr 27:23 | David had not counted those below twenty years of age, for the LORD... | Implies the uncountability of God's blessing. |
| Gen 13:16 | I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth... | Another early metaphor for multitude. |
| Isa 51:2 | Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one... | Remembering the singular origin and growth. |
| Matt 3:9 | do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’... | Spiritual lineage over mere physical descent. |
| Rom 9:6-8 | For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all... | Clarifies true lineage and fulfillment. |
Deuteronomy 1 verses
Deuteronomy 1 10 Meaning
Deuteronomy 1:10 declares God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promise to Abraham. It highlights that the LORD had abundantly multiplied the Israelite people, reaching a multitude comparable to the uncountable "stars of heaven" in that very generation. This verse celebrates the tangible realization of a divine covenant blessing, establishing Israel's vast numbers as evidence of God's power and loyalty.
Deuteronomy 1 10 Context
Deuteronomy begins with Moses addressing the Israelites on the plains of Moab, recounting the significant events of their wilderness journey. This is a foundational speech before their entry into the Promised Land, serving as a reminder of God's covenant, laws, and faithfulness. Verse 10 comes within Moses' recounting of the events at Horeb (Mount Sinai) when the sheer number of the people made it impossible for him to administer justice alone. Thus, the vast population is presented not just as a fulfilled promise, but also as the practical reason for establishing the judicial system and appointing leaders, illustrating a divine blessing that necessitated human organization.
Deuteronomy 1 10 Word analysis
- The LORD your God: (Hebrew: YHWH Elohim) This specific phrasing emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship God has with Israel. YHweh is God's personal name, emphasizing His unique and unchanging nature, while Elohim stresses His power and sovereignty as creator. This establishes the divine authority and intimate relationship behind the multiplication.
- has multiplied you: (Hebrew: rabah - רבה, meaning "to become great," "to multiply," "to increase"). This word highlights a supernatural, divine act of growth. It is not merely a natural population increase but God's direct agency in fulfilling His word, implying deliberate and abundant growth far beyond ordinary means.
- and behold: (Hebrew: hinneh - הנה, an interjection meaning "look," "behold," "pay attention"). This particle serves to draw immediate attention to the remarkable, undeniable present reality. It signals something striking and manifest, demanding recognition.
- you are today: (Hebrew: hayyom - היום, meaning "the day," "this day," "today"). This term emphasizes the present, concrete fulfillment of the promise. It underscores that what was prophesied for generations ago is now a visible reality for the current generation standing before Moses, lending credibility to God's words and Moses' authority.
- as the stars of heaven: (Hebrew: kokhvei ha-shamayim - כּכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם). This is a direct echo of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 15:5). The stars symbolize an immeasurable, uncountable, vast multitude. This imagery reinforces the immense scale of God's blessing and faithfulness. In contrast to ancient polytheistic beliefs where stars might represent deities or forces of fate, in the biblical context, stars are creation of YHWH, subject to His power (Ps 147:4), thereby amplifying God's control and singular authority in fulfilling such an incredible promise.
- in multitude: (Hebrew: larov - לרֹב, meaning "in abundance," "profusely," "many"). This reinforces the concept of vastness, complementing the "stars of heaven" imagery. It confirms that the quantity is not just "many," but an overflowing, superabundant number.
Words-group analysis:
- "The LORD your God has multiplied you": This phrase attributes Israel's growth directly to divine action and intervention. It underscores the covenantal faithfulness of God towards His chosen people, asserting that their present numerousness is a result of His deliberate blessing, not chance or human effort alone.
- "behold, you are today as the stars of heaven in multitude": This group vividly depicts the miraculous fulfillment of God's promise. The inclusion of "today" makes it a present, verifiable reality for the Israelites, not just a distant prophecy. The "stars of heaven" metaphor highlights the immensity and God-ordained nature of their population, testifying to God's omnipotence and covenant loyalty.
Deuteronomy 1 10 Bonus section
The "stars of heaven" motif transcends mere numerical increase; it carries profound theological significance. God not only multiplied them, but He transformed them from a struggling clan of seventy into a vibrant nation of hundreds of thousands, demonstrating His creative power and faithfulness in covenant. This also contrasts with human limitations in accounting, asserting that God's power is limitless in making His people fruitful. Furthermore, the explicit link back to the Abrahamic covenant implicitly elevates Israel's identity, asserting their unique status as the people specifically chosen and miraculously brought into existence by YHWH, thereby providing a robust identity rooted in divine promise.
Deuteronomy 1 10 Commentary
Deuteronomy 1:10 serves as a powerful declaration of God's fidelity to His covenant promises, specifically the Abrahamic promise of an innumerable offspring. Moses recalls this past event to remind the Israelites of the profound blessing they had received. Their immense population, symbolized by the "stars of heaven," was undeniable evidence that the God who spoke was also the God who acts and fulfills His word. This verse highlights divine enablement: the growth was not simply demographic but a supernatural multiplication orchestrated by God. This vast multitude also sets the stage for Moses' subsequent instruction on establishing judges, underscoring that divine blessing, while wonderful, also brings practical challenges and responsibilities for wise governance. The emphasis on "today" brings the promise out of abstract prophecy into tangible, present reality for the generation poised to enter the Promised Land, reinforcing their trust in God's continuing faithfulness.