Deuteronomy 19:1 kjv
When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
Deuteronomy 19:1 nkjv
"When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses,
Deuteronomy 19:1 niv
When the LORD your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses,
Deuteronomy 19:1 esv
"When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses,
Deuteronomy 19:1 nlt
"When the LORD your God destroys the nations whose land he is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes.
Deuteronomy 19 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates," | Covenant expanded: specific boundaries of land. |
| Gen 15:16 | "And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." | Reason for delayed dispossession due to sin. |
| Ex 3:8 | "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up...a land flowing with milk and honey." | God's purpose to bring Israel into the land. |
| Ex 23:23 | "For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites...and I will cut them off." | God's divine aid in expelling nations. |
| Num 21:34 | "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand,'" | Example of God giving victory in conquest. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers." | Command to inherit the land. |
| Deut 7:1 | "When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you," | Parallel opening to other conquest instructions. |
| Deut 9:3 | "Understand, therefore, today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them..." | God actively fighting to clear the way. |
| Deut 11:31 | "For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to possess the land that the Lord your God is giving you..." | Confirms Israel's future possession. |
| Deut 12:29 | "When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you are going to dispossess, and you dispossess them..." | Direct parallel phrase, indicating conditions. |
| Josh 1:6 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law...you shall cause this people to inherit the land." | Joshua commanded to lead the land's inheritance. |
| Josh 3:10 | "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites," | Assurance of God's active removal of enemies. |
| Josh 11:23 | "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel." | Fulfillment of the promise by God's faithfulness. |
| Judg 2:23 | "So the Lord would not longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua had left when he died," | Consequence of Israel's failure to fully dispossess. |
| Neh 9:24 | "So the people went in and took possession of the land, and You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land," | Historical reflection on the successful conquest. |
| Ps 105:44 | "And He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the toil of the peoples," | God as the divine Giver of the nations' land. |
| Jer 32:22 | "You gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey." | Later prophetic affirmation of God's gift. |
| Matt 5:5 | "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." | New Covenant parallel: inheriting the earth. |
| Heb 4:1 | "Let us therefore fear lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest," | Spiritual inheritance and rest in Christ. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you," | Heavenly inheritance for New Testament believers. |
Deuteronomy 19 verses
Deuteronomy 19 1 Meaning
Deuteronomy 19:1 initiates a section of laws concerning life within the promised land, specifically highlighting the divine fulfillment of giving the land to Israel. It states that after the Lord, their God, has completely removed the existing pagan nations from the land He is granting to Israel, the Israelites will then actively dispossess them and permanently settle in their formerly occupied cities and houses. This verse establishes the precondition for the subsequent laws concerning justice and communal life in the settled land, emphasizing both God's sovereign action and Israel's obedient inheritance.
Deuteronomy 19 1 Context
Deuteronomy 19:1 serves as a pivotal transition within Moses' second speech, preparing Israel for their life as a settled nation in the land of Canaan. Chapters 12-26 outline specific laws relevant to a sedentary agrarian society, a stark contrast to their previous nomadic existence in the wilderness. This verse immediately precedes the establishment of the Cities of Refuge (Deut 19:2-13), a critical provision for justice regarding accidental death once Israel is dwelling throughout the land. It signals the foundational premise: the land will be conquered, God will clear the way, and Israel will occupy it. This fulfillment necessitates a new set of regulations for a secure and just society living by God's covenant within a permanent dwelling. The historical context is Israel on the brink of crossing the Jordan, looking out over the land, with the conquest imminent. The emphasis on God's "cutting off" the nations stands as a polemic against the strength of existing pagan nations and their gods, asserting Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty and power to deliver His people and execute judgment.
Deuteronomy 19 1 Word analysis
When (כִּי, ki): A conditional particle, often rendered "when," "for," or "indeed." Here, it marks a future certainty, establishing the premise or time frame for the subsequent actions and laws. It signifies an inevitable, not just potential, event.
the Lord your God (יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH Eloheykha): The covenant name of God (YHWH) combined with "your God," emphasizing the personal, relational, and covenantal bond between God and Israel. It underscores that God is the active agent in fulfilling the promises and upholding His covenant.
cuts off (הַכְרִיתוֹ, hakhrîto): From the verb כָּרַת (karat), which commonly means "to cut," and can refer to "cutting a covenant" or "cutting off" in terms of destruction or extermination. Here, it denotes God's definitive action of removal, utterly destroying or expelling the existing inhabitants. This emphasizes divine judgment and sovereign power.
the nations (הַגּוֹיִם, hagoyim): Refers to the gentile, non-Israelite peoples of Canaan (e.g., Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites). They are to be dispossessed due to their spiritual depravity and abhorrent practices, fulfilling God's long-standing judgment.
whose land (אֲשֶׁר אַרְצָם, asher artzam): "Whose land" or "their land." This highlights the transfer of ownership; the land is inherently tied to its current pagan occupants, but it is about to change hands divinely.
the Lord your God is giving you (יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ, YHWH Eloheykha nothen lakh): "Giving you" uses the participle form (nothen), implying an ongoing or continuous action of granting the land. This underscores that the land is a divine gift, not merely conquered by human strength.
and you dispossess them (וְהוֹרַשְׁתָּם, vehorahtām): From the verb יָרַשׁ (yarash), "to inherit," "take possession," "dispossess." It signifies Israel's active role in expelling the nations and taking rightful, covenantal possession of the land that God has cleared for them. It is their mandated responsibility.
and dwell (וְיָשַׁבְתָּ, veyashābtā): From the verb יָשַׁב (yashav), "to sit," "dwell," "settle down." This signifies the establishment of permanent residence and stable communal life within the land.
in their cities and in their houses (בְעָרֵיהֶם וּבְבָתֵּיהֶם, be'areihem uvivatteihem): This specifies the completeness of the takeover. Israel will inhabit not just the land but also the pre-built infrastructure, symbolizing full and complete occupation and inheritance of their predecessors' established lives and resources.
Word-Groups Analysis:
- "When the Lord your God cuts off the nations": Emphasizes divine initiative and power. The removal of the nations is primarily God's work and judgment, establishing His sovereignty over all peoples. This is a covenant fulfillment driven by God.
- "whose land the Lord your God is giving you": Reiterates that the land itself is a gift from Yahweh to Israel. It's an act of grace and promise-keeping, ensuring Israel's legal and divine claim to the territory.
- "and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses": This sequence highlights Israel's commanded action following God's intervention. Israel's responsibility is to execute God's judgment by actively expelling and then taking full, physical possession and settling permanently. This complete occupation (cities and houses) signifies a transition from wandering to an established nationhood.
Deuteronomy 19 1 Bonus Section
This verse implicitly addresses Israel's future identity. By "dwelling in their cities and houses," Israel would assume an administrative and settled existence, necessitating laws pertaining to land tenure, justice, and community. This transition was not just physical but profoundly spiritual and legal, calling for a radical reorientation of their societal structure from a wandering camp to a divinely ordained nation state. The thoroughness of the "cutting off" and "dwelling" implies a comprehensive spiritual cleansing of the land from pagan influence, reflecting God's holy character and His desire for a consecrated people within a consecrated land. The contrast is stark: the idolatrous inhabitants are removed, and the people of the covenant will take their place, establishing a kingdom founded on Yahweh's laws rather than the detestable practices of the prior nations.
Deuteronomy 19 1 Commentary
Deuteronomy 19:1 is a programmatic statement, setting the stage for the specific judicial and ethical laws that follow, primarily concerning a settled nation in a land gifted by God. It fundamentally declares that the time for inheritance is at hand. The emphasis on "the Lord your God" performing the initial act of "cutting off" highlights His sovereign power and faithfulness to His covenant promises (e.g., Gen 12:7; 15:18). Israel's role of "dispossessing" and "dwelling" is the required, obedient response to God's prior divine action. This verse carries profound theological weight: the land is not earned by Israel's strength, but bestowed by God's grace, with Israel fulfilling the administrative aspect of occupation. It serves as a reminder that their dwelling in the land, and the ensuing laws of justice, are all contingent upon God's provision and their faithful obedience to His command. This transitional verse signals the establishment of civil society under Mosaic Law, no longer a nomadic camp but a permanent habitation where righteousness and justice are to prevail. For instance, the very next law regarding cities of refuge illustrates how Israel's settled status necessitated specific provisions for justice when occupying a developed land.