Deuteronomy 11 15

Deuteronomy 11:15 kjv

And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

Deuteronomy 11:15 nkjv

And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.'

Deuteronomy 11:15 niv

I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

Deuteronomy 11:15 esv

And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full.

Deuteronomy 11:15 nlt

He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat.

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 15 Meaning

God promises a generous provision of nourishment, specifically lush pasture for livestock, which in turn leads to human prosperity and contentment. This blessing is directly contingent upon Israel's faithful obedience to His covenant, signifying God's comprehensive care for both the created order and human welfare within that sacred relationship.

Deuteronomy 11 15 Context

Deuteronomy 11:15 is situated within Moses' second discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the promised land of Canaan. This chapter functions as an exhortation to love and obey God. Specifically, verses 13-17 articulate the crucial choice before Israel: thorough obedience (loving God, serving Him wholeheartedly) will bring divine blessings, including timely rain leading to abundant harvests for people and fodder for their livestock. Conversely, disobedience would lead to a lack of rain, barrenness, and expulsion from the land. The verse emphasizes that Canaan is a land utterly dependent on rain from God's hand, unlike the Nile-fed Egypt they had left, underscoring that their future prosperity in this new land is entirely contingent on their covenant relationship with YHWH. This teaching directly challenges the prevailing pagan beliefs of surrounding cultures, which attributed agricultural fertility to idols like Baal, presenting YHWH as the sole and supreme provider.

Deuteronomy 11 15 Word analysis

• And I will give (וְנָתַתִּ֤י - v'natatî): This phrase opens with the Hebrew waw consecutive, emphasizing the direct action and certainty of the Lord. The verb natán (to give) is used in its perfect form, underscoring divine initiative and sovereignty. It unequivocally states that provision is a direct gift from God, not a natural phenomenon independent of His will or the result of human effort alone, nor the beneficence of pagan deities.
• grass (יֶ֥רֶק - yereq): Literally "green herb" or "greenery." It specifically denotes lush, verdant vegetation suitable for grazing. In the semi-arid climate of the Levant, abundant grass symbolized life, fertility, and divine blessing, ensuring the health and sustenance of herds and flocks vital for the ancient Israelite economy.
• in thy fields (בְּשָׂדְךָ֙ - b'sadeka): This specifies that the provision will be in their cultivated or pastured lands. It highlights a personal, covenantal blessing on their own territory, implying God's active involvement in the productivity of their land, confirming their possession and well-being.
• for thy cattle (לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֔ךָ - livhemteka): Refers to domestic animals or livestock (flocks and herds). These animals were essential for milk, meat, wool, hides, and labor for plowing and transport. God's provision for the animals indicates His holistic care for the entire economic and agricultural system that supported human life.
• that thou mayest eat (וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ - v'akhálta): "And you will eat." While the grass is for the cattle, the pronoun "thou" refers directly to the Israelite people. This demonstrates the symbiotic relationship: the flourishing of the livestock directly translates into human sustenance, whether through animal products (milk, meat), or through the economic benefits derived from healthy herds. It confirms the blessing flows through the entire system to human consumption.
• and be full (וְשָׂבָעְתָּֽ - v'sava'ta): "And be satisfied/filled." This signifies complete satiation and abundance, not merely subsistence. It implies security, contentment, and a state of flourishing. This state of "fullness" contrasts sharply with the famine and hunger that would result from disobedience, emphasizing God's desire for His people's total well-being.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "And I will give grass... for thy cattle": This phrase underscores God's direct, sovereign action as the source of natural provision, which directly sustains Israel's livestock, a crucial economic asset in an agrarian society. It highlights the divine initiative in ensuring agricultural productivity.
  • "that thou mayest eat and be full": This segment connects the initial divine blessing upon nature (grass for cattle) to its ultimate impact on human life—sustenance and complete satisfaction. It signifies God's purpose to bless His people comprehensively, moving beyond mere survival to a state of peace and abundance, provided through the interconnected web of His creation and covenant.

Deuteronomy 11 15 Bonus section

• This verse contains a direct, albeit implicit, polemic against the Canaanite deity Baal, who was worshipped as the god of rain and fertility. By promising grass for cattle and human sustenance, YHWH asserts His exclusive sovereignty over weather and agricultural bounty, demonstrating the futility of relying on other gods.
• The phrase "eat and be full" is a recurring motif in Deuteronomy and reflects a core aspect of covenant blessing. It speaks not just to physical satiation but to a sense of security, well-being, and absence of want, which were signs of God's favor and peace in ancient Israel.
• This promise reveals God's meticulous care for His creation, showing that His provision extends even to the animals, knowing their well-being is intrinsically linked to human flourishing. It highlights the interconnectedness of all life under God's provident hand.
• The verse serves as a crucial theological foundation for understanding "land theology" in Israel—the idea that the land's fruitfulness is not inherent or based on natural forces alone, but is a direct spiritual barometer of Israel's faithfulness to YHWH.

Deuteronomy 11 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:15 profoundly articulates God's active, covenantal care for Israel, demonstrating His control over all aspects of their life. It illustrates that YHWH is the singular source of provision, capable of supplying the most fundamental needs: food for livestock (essential for agrarian livelihood) leading directly to sustenance and ultimate satisfaction for humanity. This verse solidifies the conditional nature of the Old Covenant, where obedience results in a flourishing land and people, echoing the principle that divine blessings manifest practically when the relationship with God is honored. It serves as a stark theological statement against the regional worship of nature deities by explicitly showing that genuine abundance comes from the true God, ensuring that their daily bread, and even their cattle's fodder, becomes a tangible reminder of their commitment to Him. Practically, this implies a call to stewardship and gratitude, recognizing that all provision flows from God's generous hand and trusting His power rather than human effort or false gods.