Deuteronomy 29 25

Deuteronomy 29:25 kjv

Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

Deuteronomy 29:25 nkjv

Then people would say: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt;

Deuteronomy 29:25 niv

And the answer will be: "It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 29:25 esv

Then people will say, 'It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt,

Deuteronomy 29:25 nlt

"And the answer will be, 'This happened because the people of the land abandoned the covenant that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 25 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:25 states the reason that future generations and nations will discern for the desolation of the land and the dispersion of the Israelites: it is because they (the Israelites) willfully turned away from or abandoned the covenant relationship they had with the LORD, their ancestral God, a covenant which He established with them immediately after liberating them from the bondage of Egypt. This highlights divine justice for covenant infidelity.

Deuteronomy 29 25 Context

This verse is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy chapter 29 begins a renewed covenant ceremony, emphasizing the solemn obligations of the new generation to the LORD. This specific passage (Deut 29:22-28) is a prophetic warning of the dire consequences—total desolation and exile—that will befall Israel if they forsake the covenant. The "then people will say" serves as a divinely inspired explanation for what observers from other nations will inevitably conclude when they witness the land's ruin, emphasizing God's justice and vindication. Historically, this prophecy found fulfillment centuries later in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where the land was indeed left desolate and the people scattered among the nations. The covenant being discussed is the Mosaic Covenant, initially made at Mount Sinai (Horeb), which detailed the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, establishing Israel's unique relationship and responsibilities to the one true God.

Deuteronomy 29 25 Word analysis

• Then people will say (אָז יֹאמְרוּ אֲנָשִׁים - az yomru anashim):
  • אָז (az): "Then, at that time," indicating a future event when the desolation prophesied in verses 22-24 will occur.
  • יֹאמְרוּ (yomru): From אָמַר (amar), "to say, speak." Implying a confident declaration.
  • אֲנָשִׁים (anashim): "People," generally referring to others, often outsiders or gentiles, implying universal recognition. It highlights that God's judgment will be so evident that even those who are not His covenant people will understand its divine cause.
• 'Because they abandoned (עַל אֲשֶׁר עָזְבוּ - al asher ‘azvu):
  • עַל אֲשֶׁר (al asher): "Because, on account of what." Connects the effect (desolation) to its cause (abandonment).
  • עָזְבוּ (‘azvu): From the root עָזַב (azav), "to leave, forsake, abandon, desert." This term denotes a deliberate, conscious act of turning away, a breach of fidelity and loyalty. It signifies more than neglect; it's an active relinquishing of a relationship or commitment. It often implies a turning to other gods, a stark violation of the first commandment.
• the covenant of the LORD (בְּרִית יְהוָה - berit YHWH):
  • בְּרִית (berit): "Covenant, treaty, agreement." This refers to the Mosaic covenant established at Sinai, a binding legal and theological relationship between God and Israel, where God made promises and imposed obligations. This was the foundation of Israel's national existence and identity.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God, often transliterated as LORD (in all caps) in English Bibles. This emphasizes that Israel abandoned their unique relationship with the one true God who had revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.
• the God of their fathers (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתָם - Elohei avotam):
  • אֱלֹהֵי (Elohei): From אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), "God," in construct form, meaning "God of."
  • אֲבוֹתָם (avotam): "Their fathers," referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase links the current covenant with the earlier Abrahamic covenant, highlighting God's faithfulness across generations and Israel's long-standing, chosen status. To abandon this covenant is to reject the legacy and faithfulness of their own ancestry.
• which he made with them (אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת עִמָּם - asher karat immam):
  • כָּרַת (karat): "To cut," often used with בְּרִית (berit) to mean "to cut a covenant," reflecting the ancient practice of ritually cutting animals as part of covenant ceremonies (e.g., Gen 15). It signifies the solemn, irreversible, and binding nature of the agreement God initiated with Israel.
• when he brought them out of the land of Egypt (בְּהוֹצִיאוֹ אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - behotzio otam me’eretz Mitzrayim):
  • This phrase references the defining historical act of God's redemption for Israel, the Exodus. It serves as the primary ground for Israel's covenant obligations and Yahweh's authority over them. The covenant was not arbitrary; it was based on God's prior saving act. To abandon the covenant is thus to repudiate their own liberation and identity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then people will say... God of their fathers": This section emphasizes the public nature of Israel's failure and the widespread recognition of divine judgment. The judgment will be so clear that even outsiders ("people") will correctly attribute the catastrophe to Israel's abandonment of their ancestral God and His covenant. This also functions as a polemic against pagan beliefs that would attribute misfortune to other deities or capricious fate; here, the explanation is morally clear and connected directly to YHWH's covenant justice.
• "abandoned the covenant... when he brought them out": This phrase encapsulates the profound unfaithfulness of Israel. The covenant was foundational, a binding agreement initiated by God who powerfully redeemed them from slavery. Their act of "abandoning" it was not passive forgetting but an active renunciation of this profound, liberating relationship and the adoption of false worship (as seen in Deut 29:26).

Deuteronomy 29 25 Bonus section

• Predictive Prophecy: This passage, spoken by Moses centuries before the events, became tragically accurate during the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. The observation of "people" and the clear explanation provided (because they abandoned...) is found reiterated in later historical accounts and prophetic laments, such as 1 Kings 9:8-9 and Jeremiah 9:12-16. This validates Moses as a true prophet of God and underlines the inerrancy of Scripture.
• Polemics against Paganism: The clear, cause-and-effect explanation of Israel's plight serves as a powerful theological counter-narrative to surrounding pagan cultures. Unlike polytheistic beliefs where gods might be appeased by rituals or misfortunes are attributed to fate or arbitrary divine whims, this passage firmly declares that Israel's disaster is due to their deliberate moral failing against a singular, holy, and just God. This asserted YHWH's absolute sovereignty and moral governance over His people and creation.
• Covenant Framework: This verse operates within the established Suzerain-Vassal treaty framework, common in the Ancient Near East. Yahweh is the Great King (Suzerain) who offers protection and blessings, and Israel is the vassal obligated to exclusive loyalty and obedience. Failure to adhere to the treaty's terms (the covenant) incurs specific, stated penalties. The questioning from outsiders (Then people will say) reflects an understanding of such treaty protocols, where the breaking of terms by the vassal justifies punitive action by the Suzerain.

Deuteronomy 29 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:25 delivers a concise yet powerful theological explanation for the potential future desolation of the Promised Land and the scattering of Israel among nations. Moses prophesies that observers, both Israelite and foreign, will correctly attribute this catastrophic outcome to Israel's blatant act of abandoning the solemn covenant made with Yahweh, the God who dramatically rescued them from Egyptian bondage. This forsaking implied a deliberate turning away from His laws and worship towards other deities.

The verse underscores several critical truths: Firstly, God's actions are just and rational. He is not capricious, and His judgment is directly proportional to Israel's covenant infidelity. Secondly, the privileged position of Israel comes with great responsibility. Their unique relationship, rooted in divine redemption (Exodus), demanded unwavering loyalty. Thirdly, it vindicates God's character before the world. Even gentiles will recognize that the nation’s calamity is not due to divine weakness or the triumph of other gods, but to the righteous wrath of the one true God against sin. It also serves as a potent warning against spiritual apathy and idolatry, stressing that God remembers His covenant but also judges its breach.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that blessings are contingent on obedience, and spiritual decay, particularly forsaking God's established path, inevitably leads to detrimental consequences. It encourages careful adherence to God's revealed will and to continually remember the depth of His redemptive love and His calls to fidelity.