Deuteronomy 11 11

Deuteronomy 11:11 kjv

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:

Deuteronomy 11:11 nkjv

but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,

Deuteronomy 11:11 niv

But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.

Deuteronomy 11:11 esv

But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven,

Deuteronomy 11:11 nlt

Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain ?

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 11 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:11 explains that the land Israel was about to possess was fundamentally different from Egypt. Unlike the Nile-irrigated land they had left, Canaan, with its varied terrain of hills and valleys, would be sustained solely by water that "drinks from the rain of heaven." This highlights God's direct and essential provision for His people and underscores that their prosperity would be contingent on their faithful obedience to Him.

Deuteronomy 11 11 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 11 is a pivotal part of Moses' farewell address to the Israelites as they stand on the plains of Moab, prepared to enter the Promised Land. This chapter, specifically verses 10-17, draws a stark contrast between their past life in Egypt and their future in Canaan. Moses explains that Egypt, a flat land, depended on a human-managed irrigation system from the Nile, where watering required laborious "footwork." In contrast, he introduces Canaan as a "land of hills and valleys," naturally watered directly by "the rain of heaven." This vital distinction served to underscore a theological truth: in Canaan, Israel’s sustenance would not rely on human engineering but entirely on the divine, directly provided rainfall. This placed their economic survival and general well-being in constant, immediate dependence on God’s favor and, consequently, on their faithful obedience to His covenant. This understanding was foundational for the subsequent warnings of curses and promises of blessings detailed in chapters 28 and 30, emphasizing that prosperity in the new land was directly tied to their spiritual state and allegiance to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 11 11 Word analysis

• But the land: The Hebrew particle wəhā’āreṣ (וְהָאָ֕רֶץ) carries a strong adversative sense here, functioning as "but" to emphasize a direct contrast and radical difference between the land of Egypt described in the previous verse and the Promised Land.

• which you cross over to possess: The phrase incorporates ‘ōbərîm (עֹבְרִים, 'you are crossing over,' from ‘ābar, to cross) indicating an active, physical transition, and lārešet’āh (לָרֶשֶׁת, 'to possess it,' from yāraš, to inherit/possess), which signifies the divinely granted right to inherit the land that must still be actively taken and occupied. This emphasizes the responsibility Israel had in fulfilling God's promise.

• is a land of hills and valleys: The Hebrew ’ereṣ hārîm wūgā’ōt (אֶ֤רֶץ הָרִים֙ וּגְבָאֹ֔ת) accurately describes the diverse topography of Canaan. Hārîm (הָרִים) denotes hills or mountains, providing natural watersheds and elevation. Gā’ōt (גְבָאֹת) refers to low-lying areas, often fertile valleys between the hills. This varied terrain made broad, unified irrigation from a single large river impractical, intrinsically making the land reliant on widespread precipitation.

• which drinks water from the rain of heaven: This is the theological crux. The Hebrew limṭar haššāmayim tišteh-māyim (לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּֽיִם) contains profound imagery.

  • Limṭar (לִמְטַר): "from the rain," explicitly identifies precipitation as the exclusive water source.
  • Haššāmayim (הַשָּׁמַיִם): "the heavens" or "the sky," points to a divine, rather than terrestrial, origin for the water, signifying God’s direct hand in provision.
  • Tišteh-māyim (תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּיִם): "it will drink water," personifies the land as an active recipient, wholly dependent on this celestial input. It underscores the land's reliance directly on God's ongoing grace.

• Words-group by Words-group Analysis:

  • "But the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys": This phrase directly addresses the geographical reality of the Promised Land, presenting its distinctive, often rugged, topography. This is in sharp contrast to the flat, riverine environment of Egypt. This physical reality undergirds the theological message: because of its varied landscape, Canaan could not be reliably irrigated by human labor from a central source, thereby necessitating a different, divine water supply.
  • "which drinks water from the rain of heaven": This segment completes the essential contrast and delivers the core message of dependence. By stating that the land "drinks" directly "from the rain of heaven," the text underscores that God is the sole and sovereign provider for the land's fertility. Israel's well-being in Canaan would be tied not to human engineering or predictable river cycles, but to their covenant relationship with God, who held absolute control over the rain. This made their faith and obedience to God immediately and visibly tied to their daily sustenance.

Deuteronomy 11 11 Bonus section

• The dependence on "the rain of heaven" for "early rain" (in autumn, for planting) and "latter rain" (in spring, for harvest maturity) was critical for agricultural success. Failure of either would result in famine.
• This reliance cultivated a deep sense of national dependence on God and served as a tangible manifestation of His blessing or judgment throughout Israel's history. Prophets often used the withholding or sending of rain as a sign of God's covenant dealings.
• The varied topography also afforded natural defenses, making the land more defensible against invasions often carried out by chariot armies, which thrived on flat plains.
• The unique hydrological cycle of Canaan fostered diverse ecosystems (vineyards on hills, grain in valleys, olive groves) that contributed to its description as a "land flowing with milk and honey."

Deuteronomy 11 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:11 provides a succinct yet powerful theological explanation for Israel's future life in the Promised Land. Having established the familiar agricultural system of Egypt—reliant on human-intensive irrigation from the predictable Nile—Moses dramatically shifts focus to Canaan. He highlights its natural terrain of "hills and valleys," which inherently makes extensive human-managed irrigation impractical. Consequently, the land's very ability to yield produce depends entirely on "the rain of heaven." This is not merely a climatic description; it's a profound spiritual declaration. It means Israel's survival, its prosperity, and its very capacity to flourish in the land would be a constant, visible testimony to God's direct and sovereign provision. Their sustenance would be a daily, palpable gift from above, forging an unbreakable link between their obedience to God and the physical blessings of rain and harvest. Unlike Egypt where life was, in a sense, self-generated through labor, life in Canaan would always point beyond human effort to a covenant relationship with a God who literally controlled the skies, making dependence on Him a built-in necessity for their national existence. This truth demanded a continuous walk of faith and obedience, knowing that their security stemmed not from natural resources they could control, but from divine grace alone.