Deuteronomy 3:23 kjv
And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,
Deuteronomy 3:23 nkjv
"Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying:
Deuteronomy 3:23 niv
At that time I pleaded with the LORD:
Deuteronomy 3:23 esv
"And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying,
Deuteronomy 3:23 nlt
"At that time I pleaded with the LORD and said,
Deuteronomy 3 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:12 | "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy... you shall not bring this assembly into the land..." | God's judgment on Moses' disobedience. |
| Num 20:23-24 | "Aaron shall be gathered to his people... because you rebelled against my command..." | Aaron also barred from the land due to disobedience. |
| Num 27:12-14 | The Lord said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain... and see the land... for you rebelled against my word." | Moses is shown the land but still forbidden entry. |
| Deut 1:37 | "Even with me the Lord was angry on your account and said, ‘You shall not go in there.’" | God's anger at Moses is tied to the people. |
| Deut 3:26 | "But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; speak no more to me of this matter.’" | God's direct refusal to Moses' plea. |
| Deut 4:21-22 | "But the Lord was angry with me on your account and swore that I should not cross the Jordan..." | Reinforces the divine oath and Moses' exclusion. |
| Psa 106:32-33 | They angered him at the waters of Meribah... For they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips. | Poetical reflection on Moses' sin at Meribah. |
| Deut 9:18-19 | Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights... for the Lord was very angry with you... | Moses' intercession for Israel's sin. |
| Exo 32:11 | But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot..." | Moses' earlier intercessory prayer. |
| 1 Sam 7:5 | Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." | A prophet interceding for his people. |
| Psa 6:9 | The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. | Confidence in God hearing prayer. |
| Psa 116:1 | I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. | Affirmation of God hearing personal cries. |
| Psa 141:1-2 | O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! | Expresses urgent appeal to God. |
| Jer 3:21 | A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and pleading of the children of Israel... | Pleading due to consequences of disobedience. |
| Joel 2:17 | Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar and say, "Spare your people, O Lord..." | Collective plea for mercy in crisis. |
| 1 Ki 8:28 | Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you today. | Solomon's prayer requesting God to hear. |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | General encouragement to pray and plead. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Access to God's grace through Christ. |
| Rom 8:26 | Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us... | The Spirit's role in prayer. |
| Gen 18:23-32 | Abraham pleaded for Sodom regarding the righteous. | Example of earnest, persistent intercession. |
| Jas 5:16 | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Emphasizes the power of fervent prayer. |
| Isa 65:24 | Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. | God's attentiveness to prayer. |
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Deuteronomy 3 23 Meaning
Deuteronomy 3:23 marks a significant moment in Moses' recount of Israel's journey, transitioning from the nation's triumphs to his deeply personal struggle. This verse states Moses' earnest supplication to the Lord, pleading for the opportunity to enter the Promised Land, Canaan. It reveals the prophet's profound desire and the intensity of his prayer directed to the Sovereign God.
Deuteronomy 3 23 Context
Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell discourse to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. Chapters 1-4 recap the history of their forty-year wilderness wandering, serving as a reminder of God's faithfulness and Israel's past rebellions. In Deut 3:1-22, Moses recounts the decisive victories over Og and Sihon and the subsequent division of the Transjordanian territory among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It underscores God's mighty power in battle and His fulfillment of promises. Immediately following this account of national success and inheritance, verse 23 marks a personal pivot. Moses reveals his earnest personal petition to the Lord, directly linking his personal fate to the greater divine plan, explaining why he, their revered leader, would not be crossing the Jordan with them.
Deuteronomy 3 23 Word analysis
- At that time / And I pleaded (וָאֶתְחַנַּן, va'et'ḥannān): The Hebrew text begins directly with this single word, a waw consecutive perfect form of the verb. It combines the idea of sequential action ("And then...") with the core meaning. The root is חנן (ḥānan), meaning "to be gracious," "to show favor." The Hithpael conjugation (marked by the prefixed ’et and duplicated middle radical) denotes a reflexive, intensive, or reciprocal action. Here, it signifies "to seek grace for oneself," "to implore favor earnestly," or "to beseech intensely." It speaks to the deeply personal, desperate, and humble nature of Moses' appeal, a heartfelt desire for grace. The verb's intensity indicates that Moses was pouring out his soul.
- I pleaded (implied from וָאֶתְחַנַּן): This action is a direct, personal appeal, not merely a casual request. Moses, as the primary mediator between God and Israel, frequently interceded on behalf of the people, but here he intercedes for himself, revealing a deeply human yearning that underscores his love for God and the Promised Land.
- with the Lord (אֶל-יְהוָה, ʾel YHWH / ʾel Adonai): Moses directs his plea specifically to YHWH, the covenant Name of God, revealing the intimate and personal relationship he shared with the Divine. It underscores the recognition of God's absolute sovereignty and authority, the One who is both just and merciful. This highlights that his appeal was to the ultimate authority and not just any deity, emphasizing monotheism.
Words-group analysis
- "At that time I pleaded with the Lord": This phrase introduces a profound moment of personal prayer by Moses. It immediately follows the successful recounting of conquests east of Jordan, creating a dramatic contrast between God's fulfilled promises to the nation and the personal restraint placed upon Moses. It highlights the directness of communication between Moses and YHWH and the prophet's unyielding devotion, even in a position of perceived injustice or restriction.
Deuteronomy 3 23 Bonus section
Moses' fervent prayer, though denied in its specific request to enter Canaan, underscores several theological truths. It highlights God's unyielding justice and the consequences of even momentary disobedience for those in positions of great responsibility, as seen at the waters of Meribah (Num 20:12). Yet, even in denial, God showed grace; He did not abandon Moses but allowed him to see the land from afar (Deut 34:1-4) and provided a spiritual "burial" performed by God Himself (Deut 34:5-6). Moses' experience also foreshadows that while human leaders have limits, God's plan of redemption continues, with Joshua stepping in to lead Israel into the land, and ultimately, with the Messiah, Jesus, being the true and perfect leader who brings His people into their eternal inheritance. This verse showcases the paradox of earnest prayer met by divine "no," reinforcing God's sovereignty over human desires.
Deuteronomy 3 23 Commentary
Deuteronomy 3:23 marks the solemn moment when Moses turns from recounting Israel's history to disclose his own heartfelt plea concerning the Promised Land. This intensely personal prayer underscores the deep yearning Moses had to complete the journey with his people. His appeal, expressed with the intense Hithpael verb va'et'ḥannān, signifying an earnest, deeply personal begging for favor, reveals his humility and submission, even when facing a divinely imposed restriction. It emphasizes that no one, regardless of their position or devotion, is exempt from God's holy standards. This verse serves as a preamble to God's subsequent firm refusal, showcasing the divine decree as final, yet also highlighting Moses' persistence and intimate relationship with YHWH. It is a powerful illustration of fervent prayer alongside submission to a sovereign will.