Deuteronomy 3:19 kjv
But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you;
Deuteronomy 3:19 nkjv
But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall stay in your cities which I have given you,
Deuteronomy 3:19 niv
However, your wives, your children and your livestock (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you,
Deuteronomy 3:19 esv
Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you,
Deuteronomy 3:19 nlt
Your wives, children, and numerous livestock, however, may stay behind in the towns I have given you.
Deuteronomy 3 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 32:1 | "Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had very much livestock..." | Tribes request land east of Jordan due to livestock. |
| Num 32:4 | "Let this land be given to your servants as a possession..." | Request for Transjordanian inheritance. |
| Num 32:6-7 | "Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, 'Shall your brothers go to war while you remain here?'" | Moses' initial challenge to their request. |
| Num 32:16-18 | "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock... we will arm ourselves quickly... until every one of the people of Israel has inherited his portion." | The tribes' proposal and commitment to fight. |
| Num 32:20-22 | "And Moses said to them, 'If you do this... then afterward you shall return and be free...'" | Moses accepts their condition. |
| Deut 3:18 | "All your mighty men of valor shall pass over armed before your brothers..." | Context: Their men are to go before others. |
| Deut 3:20 | "Until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as to you, and they also take possession..." | Their military service aids brothers in gaining rest. |
| Josh 1:12-15 | "To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said... Remember the word that Moses... commanded you..." | Joshua reiterates the agreement to them. |
| Josh 4:12-13 | "The people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the people of Israel..." | Fulfillment of the promise, crossing Jordan. |
| Josh 22:1-4 | "Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh... and sent them away to their homes." | Their return after the conquest is complete. |
| Exod 12:37-38 | "About 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock." | Importance of families & livestock in Exodus. |
| Deut 6:10-11 | "When the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers... with great and good cities that you did not build..." | God gives inherited land and secure cities. |
| Deut 8:7-9 | "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water..." | Description of the promised, abundant land. |
| Judg 5:16-17 | "Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? In Reuben's divisions great searchings of heart!" | Contrast: Reuben's later lack of support, shows importance of commitment. |
| 1 Cor 10:24 | "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." | New Testament principle of putting others first. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition... but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Encouragement for selfless service, mirroring the tribes' commitment. |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | Call to assist and support fellow believers. |
| Heb 4:1 | "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it." | Entering God's rest through faith and obedience. |
| Heb 10:24-25 | "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together..." | Mutual encouragement in the Christian walk. |
| Luke 14:28-30 | "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost...?" | Foresight and commitment; the tribes planned for their families' security. |
| Eph 6:18 | "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." | Perseverance and mutual support in spiritual battle. |
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Deuteronomy 3 19 Meaning
Deuteronomy 3:19 specifies a crucial condition for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had settled land east of the Jordan River. Their families, including wives and children, and their substantial livestock were to remain securely in the newly conquered cities already allotted to them. This provision freed their armed men to cross the Jordan and assist the other Israelite tribes in conquering the land of Canaan, fulfilling their part of the covenant promise to share the burden of conquest.
Deuteronomy 3 19 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 3 is part of Moses' farewell address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He recounts the recent victory over King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, detailing how their territories east of the Jordan were conquered and subsequently allocated. Verse 19 specifically elaborates on the terms of this allocation to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They had requested this fertile Transjordanian land due to their large livestock herds, and Moses agreed on the strict condition that their fighting men would accompany the other tribes across the Jordan and participate fully in the conquest of Canaan until all Israel had received its inheritance and found "rest." The immediate verses (Deut 3:18-20) lay out this covenant, emphasizing shared responsibility and collective effort in realizing God's promises for the whole nation.
Deuteronomy 3 19 Word analysis
- But: (Hebrew: אך, akh) – Signals a strong contrast or qualification to the preceding instruction (Deut 3:18) about the armed men going first. It sets apart the segment of the population that is not to cross immediately.
- your wives: (Hebrew: נְשֵׁיכֶם, nesheykhem) – Refers to the women and female family members. In ancient Israelite society, women were vital to household stability and the continuation of the family line. Their security was paramount.
- and your little ones: (Hebrew: טַפְּכֶם, tappekhem) – Denotes young children, dependents, and those who cannot fend for themselves. This highlights vulnerability and the responsibility to protect them. Their safety underscores the seriousness of the agreement and the temporary separation for the men's mission.
- and your livestock: (Hebrew: מִקְנֵיכֶם, miqneykhem) – Encompasses all domestic animals, particularly cattle and flocks, which represented the primary wealth, livelihood, and sustenance of these pastoral tribes.
- I know that you have much livestock: (Hebrew: כִּי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי מִקְנֶה רַב לָכֶם, ki yadati ki miqneh rav lakhem) – This parenthetical clause emphasizes God's (and Moses' as His representative) acknowledgment and validation of the tribes' initial request (Num 32:1-5). It confirms their wealth in livestock was indeed the reason for their desire for the Transjordanian territory. It’s not just a statement of fact but a recognition of their prosperity as a blessing from God.
- shall remain: (Hebrew: יֵשְׁבוּ, yeshvu) – Literally, "they shall sit" or "they shall dwell." Implies establishing permanent residency, settling down securely. This contrasts with the temporary, active role of the men crossing for battle. It denotes a state of settled peace and security within their allocated cities.
- in the cities: (Hebrew: בֶּעָרֵיכֶם, b'arekhem) – Refers to the urban centers already captured from Sihon and Og and now allocated to these tribes. These cities would provide secure dwelling places and bases for their families and possessions during the ongoing conquest. The phrase "your cities" emphasizes their established right to the possession of these fortified places.
- that I have given you: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם, asher natatti lakhem) – Crucially, "I" refers to God, speaking through Moses. This phrase repeatedly underscores divine sovereignty and provision. It asserts that this land, like all of Canaan, is not merely acquired by military might but is a divine gift, establishing YHWH as the ultimate Giver and owner of the land.
Deuteronomy 3 19 Bonus section
The agreement detailed in this verse and surrounding passages was a significant test of the loyalty and unity of the Transjordanian tribes. Their willingness to leave their newly settled families and possessions, crossing the Jordan to aid their brethren, served as a powerful act of faith and corporate obedience to the LORD's command through Moses. This also prefigures the New Testament concept of serving others and bearing one another's burdens, even when one has already secured their own "rest" or blessing. The emphasis on the security of the families and livestock underlines God's provision and care, ensuring a secure base even as His people engaged in arduous tasks for the common good. This practical arrangement illustrates divine foresight, ensuring both strategic military advantage and the ongoing well-being of the covenant community.
Deuteronomy 3 19 Commentary
Deuteronomy 3:19 underscores a foundational principle in ancient Israel's conquest: shared responsibility under God's covenant. While the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh desired and received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan, their request came with a divine stipulation—their commitment to fight alongside their brethren until the entire Promised Land was secured for all tribes.
This verse specifically highlights what was to remain behind: the non-combatants and wealth of these tribes. By stipulating that their wives, little ones, and vast livestock "shall remain in the cities that I have given you," Moses ensured that the fighting men were unencumbered by their most vulnerable possessions and free to focus solely on the demanding military campaign. This demonstrated both divine wisdom in strategy and the essential requirement of unity within Israel. The parenthetical remark, "I know that you have much livestock," serves as a divine acknowledgement of their prosperity and the basis for their original request, validating God's prior permission for their settlement. Furthermore, "that I have given you" anchors their present possession and future efforts firmly in God's sovereign hand, reminding them that all blessings, including land and security, flow from Him. This established a critical precedent for brotherly aid, unity in purpose, and a holistic view of the national mission.