Deuteronomy 11:21 kjv
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:21 nkjv
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:21 niv
so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:21 esv
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:21 nlt
so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 11 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:40 | You shall therefore keep His statutes... that it may be well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land... | Longevity from obedience in the land |
| Deut 5:16 | Honor your father and your mother... that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. | Fifth commandment's promise of long life in the land |
| Exod 20:12 | Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land... | Parental honor brings long life |
| Lev 26:3-5 | If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and observe them, then I will give you your rains in their season... and you will eat your food to the full... | Blessings of obedience, including agricultural abundance |
| Josh 23:15 | But it shall come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the threats... | God's word (blessings/curses) is dependable |
| Prov 3:1-2 | My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. | Wisdom/obedience brings long life |
| Prov 10:27 | The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened. | Fear of God brings longer life |
| Ps 91:16 | With long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation. | Promise of long life for those who trust God |
| Gen 12:7 | To your descendants I will give this land. | Initial promise of land to Abraham's offspring |
| Gen 13:15 | For all the land which you see, to you I will give it, and to your descendants forever. | Covenant promise of land |
| Gen 26:3 | ...for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. | God confirms oath of land to Isaac |
| Gen 28:13 | ...The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. | God confirms land promise to Jacob |
| Exod 6:4 | I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan... | Covenant re-established with Moses for Israel |
| Deut 7:12-13 | Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant... He will also bless the fruit of your womb... | Blessings of covenant for obedience |
| Ps 105:8-11 | He has remembered His covenant forever... the oath which He swore to Isaac... a statute for Jacob, a perpetual covenant for Israel, to say, "To you I will give the land of Canaan..." | God's eternal covenant for the land |
| Ps 89:29 | So I will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven. | Davidic covenant permanence as enduring as heavens |
| Ps 89:36-37 | His dynasty shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful. | Enduring covenant like sun and moon |
| Ps 72:5 | May they fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. | Enduring generations |
| Ps 119:89-90 | Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. | God's word and faithfulness are eternal and sustain creation |
| Jer 33:25-26 | Thus says the Lord, "If My covenant for day and night and the fixed orders of heaven and earth are not established, then I would reject the descendants of Jacob..." | God's covenant is as fixed as natural laws |
| Isa 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth... | God's word is reliable and brings fruit |
| Eph 6:1-3 | Children, obey your parents in the Lord... so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. | New Testament reiteration of the Fifth Commandment's promise for longevity |
| Matt 5:5 | Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. | Spiritual inheritance of the "earth" for the meek (eschatological echo) |
Deuteronomy 11 verses
Deuteronomy 11 21 Meaning
This verse promises Israel an exceptionally long and multi-generational lifespan within the land that the Lord solemnly pledged to their ancestors. This blessing of enduring existence and multiplication in the Promised Land is contingent upon their sustained obedience to God's commandments, its duration being likened to the permanence of the heavens themselves above the earth, symbolizing ultimate stability and longevity.
Deuteronomy 11 21 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 11 concludes a major section of Moses' address to Israel, reiterating the terms of the Mosaic Covenant as the Israelites stand poised to enter the Promised Land. This chapter functions as a pivotal exhortation, contrasting the blessings that follow obedience to God's commandments with the curses that result from disobedience. Moses reviews God's mighty acts in the past, urging the current generation to learn from their fathers' mistakes and steadfastly love the Lord, diligently observing His statutes. He commands them to "lay up" God's words in their hearts, teach them to their children, and even write them on their doorposts, thereby permeating every aspect of life with divine truth. Verse 21, therefore, serves as the promised culmination of this diligent, generation-spanning obedience—an extended, stable life of flourishing within the land God swore to give them. It emphasizes the foundational connection between righteous living and communal longevity and prosperity within God's covenantal promises, distinguishing Yahweh's dependable promises from the capricious whims of pagan deities in the surrounding cultures.
Deuteronomy 11 21 Word analysis
- that (למען lema'an): This conjunctive particle signifies purpose or consequence. It directly links the preceding call to obedience (Deut 11:18-20) with the resulting blessing described in this verse. The long life and generations are a direct result or purpose of heeding God's commands.
- your days (יְמֵיכֶם yemeikhem): Refers to the duration of life for the current generation, indicating longevity for the individuals listening to Moses.
- and the days of your children (וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם viyemei veneikhem): Expands the blessing to future generations. This is crucial for the covenant, as it ensures the continuity of the people and the perpetuation of the inheritance within the land. It speaks of an enduring family line, reflecting the patriarchal promises.
- may be multiplied (יִרְבּוּ yirbu): From the Hebrew root רבה (rabah), meaning "to become many," "to be great," "to increase," "to multiply." It implies an abundance and extension, not just simply living long, but a flourishing, growing, and extended period of existence and progeny within the land. This term aligns with the covenant promise to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the stars (Gen 15:5).
- in the land (עַל הָאֲדָמָה 'al ha'adamah - specifically "upon the land"): This phrase specifies the geographical context of the blessing—the promised land of Canaan. It's not a generic longevity, but a secured existence within the very inheritance God granted. The stability and life given were uniquely tied to their relationship with this specific divine gift.
- which the Lord swore (אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה asher nishba' YHWH): The "Lord" is YHWH, God's covenant name. "Swore" (nishba') signifies a solemn, unbreakable oath. This highlights the absolute certainty and reliability of God's promise. The promise of the land is not merely a suggestion or a temporary arrangement but a divine commitment ratified by oath, emphasizing God's steadfastness (Num 23:19).
- to your fathers (לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם la'avoteikhem): Refers specifically to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This connects the present promise directly back to the foundational covenants made with them (Gen 12:7; 15:18; 26:3; 28:13). It underlines the enduring faithfulness of God across generations.
- to give them (לָתֶת לָהֶם latet lahem): Reinforces the divine initiative and nature of the land as a gift. It's not earned by human effort, but received as a direct bestowal from God's hand based on His covenant.
- as the days of the heavens above the earth (כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ kiyemei hashshayim 'al ha'arets): This is a powerful and significant simile. "Heavens" (shamayim) and "earth" ('arets) represent the created order, universally understood as symbols of enduring permanence and stability (Ps 89:36-37; Jer 33:25-26). It serves as a strong hyperbolic expression of eternal or unending duration. It does not literally mean immortality but a life so long and stable that it appears perpetual within the earthly realm, secured by the very order of creation established by God. This phrase acts as a divine guarantee, assuring Israel that God’s faithfulness is as fixed as the cosmos itself, offering a strong polemic against the instability and caprice associated with the Canaanite deities who were thought to govern nature erratically.
Deuteronomy 11 21 Bonus section
- The phrase "as the days of the heavens above the earth" is not just hyperbole; it represents the maximum possible duration imaginable in the physical world. It emphasizes that the divine oath is underwritten by the stability of the entire created order, showcasing God's sovereignty over creation as a guarantee of His covenant promises.
- While framed as a conditional blessing based on obedience, the divine guarantee implicit in "which the Lord swore" and "as the days of the heavens" also speaks to the steadfastness of God's character. His faithfulness does not wane, ensuring His commitment to His word.
- This promise points to more than mere physical existence; it implies a state of well-being, prosperity, and peace ("shalom") for the generations, which is the full scope of biblical blessing associated with remaining in covenant with God in the land.
- The emphasis on multi-generational continuity ("your days and the days of your children") is foundational to God's plan for His people. It stresses the importance of passing on faith and obedience from one generation to the next as crucial for the community's sustained well-being and inheritance of divine blessings.
Deuteronomy 11 21 Commentary
Deuteronomy 11:21 provides a profound articulation of God's covenantal blessing: an abundant and enduring life within the promised land, extended through successive generations. This longevity is portrayed not as a mere extension of years but as a vibrant, multiplying existence—a continuation of the nation's life and heritage. The promise is firmly rooted in God's prior sworn oath to the patriarchs, underscoring His unwavering faithfulness and the reliability of His divine word. The culminating phrase, "as the days of the heavens above the earth," elevates this promise to an ultimate level of certainty and stability. It conveys a duration so immense and dependable that it parallels the perceived permanence of the cosmos, which Yahweh Himself established and maintains. This assures Israel that as long as the natural order exists, God's promise, conditioned on their obedience, will stand firm. The verse powerfully connects Israel's active obedience with their communal flourishing, presenting God's covenant as both foundational and perpetual. It serves as an encouragement to faithful living, demonstrating that adherence to divine commands results in God's abundant provision and steadfast blessing for all time within their divinely appointed home.