Deuteronomy 3 22

Deuteronomy 3:22 kjv

Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

Deuteronomy 3:22 nkjv

You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.'

Deuteronomy 3:22 niv

Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."

Deuteronomy 3:22 esv

You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.'

Deuteronomy 3:22 nlt

Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the LORD your God will fight for you.'

Deuteronomy 3 verses

Deuteronomy 3 22 Meaning

Deuteronomy 3:22 delivers a crucial command and assurance: "Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you." It instructs the Israelites, who are poised to enter the Promised Land and confront powerful nations, to dismiss all trepidation. The underlying reason for this fearlessness is God's sovereign commitment and active intervention on their behalf. The verse emphasizes that their victory is not dependent on their own strength or numerical superiority, but entirely on the LORD (YHWH), who, as their covenant God, will engage in warfare for them, ensuring their success. It underscores divine protection and enablement in the face of daunting challenges.

Deuteronomy 3 22 Context

Deuteronomy 3:22 is found within Moses's extensive farewell discourse to the second generation of Israelites gathered on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter specifically recounts Moses's own failed plea to enter Canaan and God's response. Following the vivid remembrance of their recent victories over the formidable kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan (Deut 3:1-11), which demonstrated God's fighting power, Moses reassures the people. He assigns the transjordan lands to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh, instructing them to fight alongside their brethren until the entire land is secured (Deut 3:18-20). Against this backdrop of past divine victory and future military engagement, Moses, having been denied entry himself, emphasizes God's continued commitment to His people under Joshua's leadership. Verse 22, therefore, serves as a divine mandate to dispel fear, grounded in the unshakeable truth of God's active, personal, and decisive involvement in their upcoming battles, just as He had been in the past. It builds confidence in the face of future, larger conflicts.

Deuteronomy 3 22 Word analysis

• Ye (אֲלָכֶם – lachem / lit. "to/for you"): Implies the plural recipients, the entire assembly of Israel. It emphasizes that this instruction and promise apply to every individual within the covenant community, preparing them corporately for the challenging conquest ahead.
• shall not (לֹא – lo): A strong negative prohibition. This isn't just advice; it's a direct command from God, through Moses, indicating that fear in this context is an act of distrust or disobedience against the divine will and character.
• fear (תִירָאוּם – tir'a'um, from the root ירא – yare): While yare can mean both "to fear" and "to revere/stand in awe of," in this prohibitive context, it unequivocally means "to be afraid, intimidated, or terrified." It addresses an emotional state that hinders faith and action. The emphasis is on not succumbing to human dread or anxiety in the face of daunting adversaries.
• them (suffix attached to תִירָאוּם): Refers directly to the Canaanite inhabitants and the other strong nations inhabiting the Promised Land, explicitly mentioned as numerous and mighty in earlier verses and throughout Deuteronomy. It personalizes the source of the potential fear.
• for (כִּי – ki): Introduces the crucial reason or ground for the preceding command. It provides the theological basis for Israel's ability to obey the command not to fear—God's action. This causal conjunction highlights the foundation of their confidence.
• the LORD (יְהוָה – YHVH): The sacred, personal, covenant name of God, frequently translated as "LORD" (in capital letters). This name emphasizes God's unchangeable faithfulness, self-existence, and commitment to His promises to Israel. It highlights that their security rests on His divine nature, not mere power.
• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם – Eloheichem): Combines Elohim (God, referring to power and sovereignty) with the possessive suffix "your" (plural). This highlights the intimate, covenant relationship between God and Israel. He is not a generic deity but their specific, personal God, uniquely committed to them. This relationship implies obligation from God to act on their behalf and from Israel to trust Him.
• he (הוּא – hu): An emphatic pronoun. While YHWH Eloheichem already establishes identity, "He" further underscores that it is He Himself, personally and actively, who performs the action. It rules out any possibility of delegation or passive support.
• shall fight (הַנִּלְחָם – hanilcham, from the root לחם – lacham, a participle): A participle form, conveying continuous or ongoing action. It means "the one fighting" or "is fighting," signifying that God is actively engaged as a Divine Warrior, waging war on Israel's behalf. It denotes direct, personal, and current involvement in the battle, ensuring the outcome.
• for you (לָכֶם – lachem): Directly reiterates the benefit and target of God's action. It emphasizes that God's combat is specifically on Israel's behalf, for their benefit, protection, and the fulfillment of His promises to them. It underscores His benevolent purpose.

Words-group analysis:

• "Ye shall not fear them": This is a direct, imperative command, addressing the pervasive human tendency towards fear when facing overwhelming odds. It positions faith as an act of obedience and trust rather than an emotion. It suggests that fear of external threats is ultimately a lack of faith in God's power.
• "for the LORD your God": This phrase grounds the command in God's character and covenant relationship. It transforms the command from an arbitrary rule to a logical consequence of who God is to them. It’s an assurance based on His identity (YHWH) and His specific bond with them (their God).
• "he shall fight for you": This is the core promise and the definitive reason for the absence of fear. It highlights God's role as the "Divine Warrior" who intervenes directly. The emphasis is on His sovereign agency, shifting the burden of victory from Israel's might to God's omnipotence and faithfulness. This sets the theological framework for subsequent conquest narratives, where God's intervention is frequently pivotal.

Deuteronomy 3 22 Bonus section

The phrase "Divine Warrior" is a significant theological motif in the Old Testament, representing God's active participation in battle on behalf of His people. This motif sets Israel's God apart from the fickle and often weak deities of surrounding nations. While the ancient Near East often depicted gods in warfare, YHWH is unique because He is the one who fights, not merely commissioning humans. His battles are never in doubt, demonstrating His omnipotence and sovereignty over all creation, including the outcome of human conflicts. This theme is further developed in the New Testament with Christ's victory over sin and death, which is the ultimate "fighting for us," enabling believers to stand firm and "fear not" in spiritual struggles, knowing the decisive battle has already been won through Him.

Deuteronomy 3 22 Commentary

Deuteronomy 3:22 distills a profound theological truth essential for all of God's people: our security and success in the face of intimidating adversaries come not from our strength or strategizing, but from God's active intervention. Moses's command to "fear not" is neither a naive dismissal of real danger nor a call for reckless bravado. Instead, it's a divine mandate rooted in the certainty of God's commitment to His covenant people. Having just seen the Lord overcome kings Sihon and Og, a stronger and more populous generation is now poised to enter the Promised Land, which is inhabited by even mightier nations. The lesson is clear: just as God fought for their parents, He will fight for them. This negates the common reliance on human strength, military prowess, or numbers. For ancient Israel, this was polemical against surrounding pagan beliefs where human sacrifice or propitiation was needed to garner a deity's support; here, the living God, YHVH, freely and faithfully fights for His own because of His character and covenant. This principle transcends ancient battles, finding echoes throughout scripture. In spiritual warfare, Christians are called to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph 6:10), for the weapons of their warfare are not carnal but divine (2 Cor 10:4).