Deuteronomy 27:9 kjv
And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 27:9 nkjv
Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, "Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:9 niv
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:9 esv
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:9 nlt
Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: "O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:5-6 | "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed... you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests..." | Israel's initial calling as God's special people. |
| Dt 4:20 | "...the LORD has taken you... to be unto him a people of inheritance..." | God chose Israel for His own possession. |
| Dt 5:1 | "Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes..." | Call to hear and obey the Law. |
| Dt 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." | The "Shema" command to hear and obey. |
| Dt 26:16-19 | "This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes..." | Affirmation of the covenant on "this day." |
| Dt 29:10-15 | "You stand this day all of you before the LORD your God..." | Covenant made with both present and future generations. |
| Josh 24:15 | "...choose you this day whom you will serve..." | Joshua's call for Israel to choose allegiance. |
| 2 Sam 7:23-24 | "...one nation in the earth whom God went to redeem for a people to himself..." | David acknowledges God's unique choice of Israel. |
| Isa 43:21 | "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." | God's purpose in creating His people. |
| Jer 7:23 | "...Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people..." | Conditional promise of relationship based on obedience. |
| Jer 30:22 | "And you shall be my people, and I will be your God." | New covenant promise of intimate relationship. |
| Hos 2:23 | "...And I will say to them that were not my people, You are my people..." | Future inclusion of gentiles and renewed covenant. |
| Ezek 37:27 | "My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | God's presence and new covenant with His people. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth..." | Priests' role as keepers and teachers of the Law. |
| Mt 17:5 | "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." | God's command to hear Christ's authoritative word. |
| Lk 8:21 | "...My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it." | Spiritual family defined by hearing and doing God's word. |
| Jn 8:47 | "He that is of God heareth God’s words..." | Those belonging to God hear and respond to His word. |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is unto you, and to your children..." | The continuation of God's covenant promises. |
| Acts 13:33 | "God has fulfilled this to us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you." | "This day" in context of Jesus' resurrection and fulfillment. |
| Rom 9:25-26 | "I will call them my people, which were not my people..." | Application to Gentile inclusion into God's people. |
| Tit 2:14 | "...a peculiar people, zealous of good works." | Believers as God's specially acquired people. |
| Heb 5:1 | "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God..." | Role of priests in mediating God's covenant. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only..." | Emphasizes active obedience following hearing. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people..." | Believers' new covenant identity as God's people. |
Deuteronomy 27 verses
Deuteronomy 27 9 Meaning
This verse serves as a solemn command from Moses and the Levitical priests to all Israel, demanding profound silence and attentive listening. It declares that "this day" marks a pivotal moment where Israel collectively reaffirmed, entered, or formally established themselves as the distinct, chosen people of the LORD their God through the covenant. It signifies a fresh and deliberate act of commitment and recognition of their unique relationship with the Creator, requiring a receptive heart and obedient spirit.
Deuteronomy 27 9 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 27 is set as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, serving as a climactic moment of covenant renewal and commitment. Moses, before his death, is delivering his final addresses to the new generation of Israelites. This specific verse (27:9) immediately follows instructions to erect large, plaster-covered stones on Mount Ebal, inscribed with the words of the Law (27:1-8). The command "Keep silence and hear" underscores the solemnity and critical importance of the covenant ceremony that is about to unfold—a dramatic public declaration of blessings and curses contingent on obedience to God's Law, to be pronounced from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (27:11-26). Historically, it reflects ancient Near Eastern treaty structures where an overlord (God) reaffirmed his covenant with a vassal nation (Israel), often requiring a public affirmation of allegiance. This entire sequence is designed to embed God's laws deeply within the national consciousness before they settle in the land, serving as a constant reminder of their covenant identity and responsibility.
Deuteronomy 27 9 Word analysis
- Then Moses and the Levitical priests: This pairing highlights the dual leadership of Israel – the prophetic/governmental authority represented by Moses, and the priestly/religious authority of the Levitical priests. This underscores that the message carried both divine inspiration and religious legitimacy. It signifies that the instructions were given with full spiritual and civic backing.
- spoke: The Hebrew verb is wayəḏabbêr (וידבר), a common word for speaking, but in this context, it implies an authoritative and formal declaration, often used for divine pronouncements or solemn commands. It's not a casual conversation but a significant address.
- to all Israel: This emphasizes the corporate nature of the covenant. The call to silence, hearing, and the reaffirmation of identity was directed to the entire congregation, stressing collective responsibility and destiny. It indicates a communal and inclusive summons.
- saying, ‘Keep silence: The Hebrew word is Haskēṯ (הסכת), a strong, rarely used imperative that goes beyond mere physical quiet. It implies a demand for profound, reverent attention; to "be silent and give heed," "pay strict attention," or "listen with deep spiritual concentration." It conveys the gravity and sacredness of the moment, preparing the people's hearts and minds to receive divine truth.
- and hear, The Hebrew verb is shəmaʿ (שמע), which is central to Deuteronomic theology ("Shema, Israel"). It means not only to perceive with the ear but also to understand, to pay attention to, and, crucially, to obey. True "hearing" in the biblical sense always encompasses responsive action and internalizing the command.
- O Israel: Direct address to the corporate nation, serving as a foundational reminder of their identity as the chosen people of God.
- this day: The Hebrew phrase is hayyôm hazzeh (היום הזה). This phrase is very significant in Deuteronomy, marking pivotal moments of covenant renewal, divine action, and renewed commitment. It signifies a decisive, current, and fresh event, not just a remembrance of the past but a present reality that demands immediate engagement and responsibility. It is a moment of choice and fresh dedication.
- you have become: The Hebrew verb form nehyeh/nehĕyēṯ (נהיית) signifies a transformational and ongoing process, not merely a static state. While Israel was already "the people of God" by election at Sinai, "this day" they actively enter into or reaffirm that identity and relationship in a deeper, more committed way, signifying a new level of accountability and dedication. It implies a realization and active acceptance of their status.
- the people of the LORD your God.’ The phrase is ʿam YHWH ʾělōheyḵā. This title emphasizes Israel's unique, exclusive covenantal relationship. "LORD" (YHWH) is the personal covenant name of God, indicating His faithful commitment to Israel. "Your God" further personalizes this covenant to the nation. It highlights God's ownership of them, their distinct identity from all other nations, and the responsibilities that come with being in such an intimate and chosen relationship.
Deuteronomy 27 9 Bonus section
The strong command "Keep silence" (Haskēṯ) is an example of biblical pedagogy, preparing the mind and spirit for the reception of profound truth, often used just before a weighty declaration (e.g., Job 33:31; Amos 8:3 - implying a silence of solemn judgment; Is 41:1). It highlights that true learning and spiritual engagement demand an initial quietness and humility of heart, setting aside distractions to fully absorb what is being taught or commanded. This verse also implicitly warns against spiritual complacency. While Israel had been chosen at Sinai, their status as "God's people" needed active, current re-affirmation in their generation, showing that salvation is a dynamic relationship and discipleship is an ongoing journey of "becoming."
Deuteronomy 27 9 Commentary
Deuteronomy 27:9 is a pivotal call to covenant renewal and identity affirmation. Moses and the priests summon Israel to a profound moment of attentiveness (haskēṯ) and receptive obedience (shəmaʿ). It underscores that being "the people of the LORD your God" is not merely an inherited status but a living, dynamic relationship requiring continuous and conscious affirmation, particularly at key junctures like entering the Promised Land. "This day" marks a fresh initiation or recommitment to the covenant, binding them more fully to God's commands. The verse highlights the foundational truth that a true relationship with God necessitates reverent listening, active hearing that leads to obedience, and a personal identification with His covenant purpose. It sets the stage for the solemn responsibilities that accompany God's choice and their unique privilege as His cherished possession. For believers today, this echoes the call to attentive hearing of God's Word, a daily choice to live out our identity as His redeemed people, and the significance of personal and communal commitment to Christ as our Lord.