Deuteronomy 29:14 kjv
Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;
Deuteronomy 29:14 nkjv
"I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone,
Deuteronomy 29:14 niv
I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you
Deuteronomy 29:14 esv
It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant,
Deuteronomy 29:14 nlt
"But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses.
Deuteronomy 29 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Intergenerational Covenants & God's Faithfulness | ||
| Gen 17:7 | "I will establish my covenant between me and you... for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you." | Abrahamic covenant is perpetual for descendants. |
| Psa 105:8 | "He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations," | God's faithfulness to His covenant endures eternally. |
| Exo 12:24 | "You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever." | The Passover ordinance is for all generations. |
| Lev 26:45 | "But I will remember for their sake the covenant with their ancestors..." | God remembers His covenant with past generations. |
| Isa 59:21 | "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words... shall not depart... from your offspring’s offspring, from this time forth and forevermore." | God's word and Spirit abide with future generations. |
| Eze 37:26 | "I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them." | Prophecy of an everlasting covenant of peace. |
| The Scope of the Mosaic Covenant's Inclusion | ||
| Deut 29:15 | "but with whoever is not here with us this day." | Direct continuation; covenant includes absent and future generations. |
| Josh 24:25 | "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem." | Covenant established for the current generation. |
| 2 Kin 17:35 | "...The Lord made a covenant with them and commanded them, 'You shall not fear other gods...'" | Reminder of God's command not to forget His covenant. |
| Neh 9:38 | "Because of all this we make a firm covenant and write it," | Renewal of covenant by written agreement. |
| Binding Nature of Oaths & Covenants | ||
| Num 30:2 | "If a man makes a vow to the Lord... he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." | Emphasis on the binding nature of vows/oaths. |
| Heb 6:13-18 | "When God made a promise to Abraham... He swore by Himself, so that by two unchangeable things... we might have strong encouragement." | God's oath provides unshakeable certainty to His promise. |
| Prophetic Extensions & The New Covenant (Broader "You") | ||
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel..." | Prophecy of a New Covenant, written on hearts. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | God's servant as a light for broader humanity. |
| Isa 42:6 | "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand... a covenant for the people, a light for the nations," | Covenant for Israel, with a universal mission. |
| New Covenant Fulfillment & Broader Inclusion | ||
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." | The promise extends universally through the Spirit. |
| Rom 4:13-16 | "The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." | Promise based on faith, for all Abraham's offspring (believers). |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." | Believers in Christ inherit Abraham's promise. |
| Eph 2:12-13 | "...you were at that time separated from Christ... having no hope... But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near..." | Gentiles are now brought into God's people. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," | Unity of believers (Jew and Gentile) in Christ. |
| Heb 8:8-12 | "For he finds fault with them when he says: 'Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel...'" | Explains the New Covenant's superiority. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Believers, the spiritual Israel, now belong to God. |
Deuteronomy 29 verses
Deuteronomy 29 14 Meaning
Deuteronomy 29:14 clarifies that the covenant Moses is establishing on the plains of Moab is not limited to those physically present at that specific moment. This divine agreement, including its solemn commitments and the accompanying blessings and curses, extends its binding authority and promises to future generations of Israel, even those yet unborn or geographically distant. It signifies God’s enduring faithfulness and the enduring responsibilities of His chosen people across time.
Deuteronomy 29 14 Context
Deuteronomy 29:14 is situated within Moses's final address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This section, particularly chapters 29-30, marks a solemn covenant renewal ceremony. It serves as a reinforcement and expansion of the Mosaic Covenant originally established at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses recounts God’s mighty deeds from Egypt to that very moment, reminding the people of their covenant obligations. Critically, verses 10-15 meticulously outline who is included in this renewed covenant: "all of you stand today before the Lord your God, your chiefs... all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp..." (vv. 10-11). Verse 14 specifically highlights the expansive, enduring nature of this covenant, ensuring it transcends the present assembly. This address carries the weight of God's authoritative word and sets the stage for their future life in the land, outlining the terms of their continued relationship with Him, characterized by both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
Deuteronomy 29 14 Word analysis
- It is not with you alone: This phrase directly challenges a limited, short-sighted perception of God’s covenant. The Hebrew "לֹא אִתְּכֶם לְבַדְּכֶם" (lo’ itkem levadkem) emphatically negates exclusivity.
- לֹא (lo'): "Not" – A simple but strong negation, immediately signaling that a common assumption is being corrected.
- אִתְּכֶם (itkem): "with you" – Refers to the entire assembled community on the plains of Moab. This plural "you" (masculine plural, common for general address) signifies the physical assembly gathered before Moses.
- לְבַדְּכֶם (levadkem): "alone" or "only yourselves" – This adverb emphasizes exclusivity, implying a potential for the people to think the covenant was solely for their present generation. Moses actively disabuses them of this narrow view. This word’s inclusion is crucial to the verse’s core message of extension.
- that I am making: The Hebrew "כֹּרֵת" (koret) is a present participle from the verb "כָּרַת" (karat), meaning "to cut." This verb is consistently used in the Old Testament for "cutting a covenant" (like cutting animal parts to symbolize division and a solemn agreement). The participle implies a covenant being established with immediate and ongoing effect. It denotes the gravity and permanence of the action initiated by God through Moses.
- this covenant and this oath: This refers to the specific divine agreement being renewed at Moab.
- הַבְּרִית (ha-brit): "the covenant" – The definite article "ha-" identifies it as the specific covenant initiated by God at Horeb (Sinai), now reaffirmed. "בְּרִית" (brit) is a foundational term in the Bible for a solemn agreement, bond, or treaty between God and His people, characterized by divine initiative, stipulations, and promises.
- וְהָאָלָה (ve-ha-alah): "and the oath" – "וְ" (ve-) means "and," linking the two. "אָלָה" (alah) refers to a sworn agreement that often includes a curse or imprecation upon the party that breaks it. Its inclusion alongside "covenant" emphasizes the serious, binding, and potentially dire consequences associated with disobedience to the covenant terms. It underscores both God’s steadfastness in the agreement and the severe consequences of infidelity.
Words-group Analysis
- "It is not with you alone that I am making": This entire phrase serves to widen the scope of God's covenant, revealing His comprehensive and enduring plan for His people across generations. It asserts divine foresight and continuity. The action is God's ("I am making"), not dependent on human initiation.
- "this covenant and this oath": The pairing of "covenant" (brit) and "oath" (alah) signifies the complete nature of the divine bond. "Covenant" highlights the relationship and stipulations, while "oath" stresses its unbreakability and the gravity of the attached blessings and curses. Together, they represent a binding legal and relational agreement established by divine decree, with self-imposed consequences for disobedience.
Deuteronomy 29 14 Bonus section
- Corporate Responsibility and Continuity: This verse underscores the concept of corporate responsibility within Israel. Future generations, even those unaware of the specific day Moses spoke, would still be bound by this covenant, highlighting the continuous identity and collective accountability of God's people.
- Divine Initiative and Foresight: God, through Moses, preemptively reveals His far-reaching plan, demonstrating that His commitment extends beyond the immediate human context. This foreshadows His divine strategy throughout history, culminating in Christ, whose work extends across all ages.
- Implications for Faith Transmission: The extension of the covenant to future generations places a profound emphasis on the importance of parents and community elders passing on the faith, knowledge of God’s laws, and the story of His saving acts to their children. This ensures the covenant's vitality and obedience continue across time.
Deuteronomy 29 14 Commentary
Deuteronomy 29:14 reveals a profound truth about God's covenantal nature: it is neither confined by time nor by the physical presence of participants. By declaring, "It is not with you alone," Moses emphasizes God's sovereign intent to forge an intergenerational relationship with His chosen people. This verse combats the natural human inclination to limit divine promises to a specific event or cohort. Instead, it asserts that the responsibilities, blessings, and curses of the covenant extended backward to their forebears (implied through historical recitation) and forward to all future generations of Israel. This truth lays the groundwork for understanding the continuity of God's relationship with His people throughout salvation history, providing the foundation for future prophecies about restoration and ultimately for the New Covenant in Christ, which expands the definition of God’s "offspring" to all who believe, transcending ethnic and temporal boundaries. It encourages an enduring faith and responsibility within the community of God's people, reminding each generation that they are inheritors of both promise and obligation.