Deuteronomy 3:25 kjv
I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
Deuteronomy 3:25 nkjv
I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.'
Deuteronomy 3:25 niv
Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan?that fine hill country and Lebanon."
Deuteronomy 3:25 esv
Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.'
Deuteronomy 3:25 nlt
Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.'
Deuteronomy 3 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:8-12 | ...but ye rebelled against my commandment... he shall not bring forth this congregation into the land... | Moses' sin at Meribah, the reason for the prohibition. |
| Num 27:12-14 | Get thee up into this mount Abarim... for ye rebelled against my word... | God reiterates the command for Moses to view the land and die. |
| Deut 1:37 | Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou shalt not go in thither. | Moses himself acknowledges God's anger as the cause. |
| Deut 3:26 | But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee... | God's immediate refusal to Moses' request in the next verse. |
| Deut 4:21-22 | For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath; there is none else. | God's absolute sovereignty in denying Moses' plea. |
| Deut 32:49-52 | Get thee up into this mountain Abarim... and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel... thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give... | The final instruction for Moses to ascend Nebo/Pisgah to view the land. |
| Josh 3:17 | And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan... | Joshua leading Israel across Jordan, fulfilling the promise. |
| Ex 3:8 | I am come down to deliver them... unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey... | God's initial promise and description of the land. |
| Deut 8:7-9 | For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills... | Further rich descriptions of the Promised Land. |
| Deut 11:11-12 | ...a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it... | The land's reliance on God's rain, showing divine care. |
| Ps 27:4 | One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life... | Expressing a deep, single-minded desire, echoing Moses' plea. |
| Ps 42:1-2 | As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God... | Demonstrating profound spiritual longing for God's presence, mirroring Moses' earthly desire for the promise. |
| Ps 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. | Underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty and immutability. |
| Heb 4:8 | For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. | Implicitly contrasting Joshua's partial rest with the ultimate rest, alluding to Moses' limitation. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off... | Connects to Moses viewing the land but not entering, as part of a greater pattern of faith. |
| Heb 11:39-40 | And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us... | Highlighting that the earthly promise points to a greater heavenly one. |
| Jas 1:12 | Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life... | Endurance and steadfastness even in denied desires lead to heavenly reward. |
| 1 Cor 10:11-12 | Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition... Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. | Emphasizes that past events, including Moses' sin and its consequences, are warnings for believers. |
| Rev 21:1-4 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. | The ultimate "promised land" and perfect inheritance for God's people. |
| Phil 3:13-14 | Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize... | Similar determined pursuit of a goal, but with an emphasis on Christ. |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. | The hope for a future, perfect inheritance, surpassing earthly promises. |
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Deuteronomy 3 25 Meaning
Deuteronomy 3:25 conveys Moses' heartfelt and desperate plea to God, requesting permission to cross the Jordan River and personally enter the Promised Land—the beautiful and fertile territory God promised to Israel, including its central goodly mountain region and the rich northern area of Lebanon. This earnest desire arises from his lifelong commitment to lead God's people to their inheritance, despite having been previously forbidden to enter due to his sin at Meribah.
Deuteronomy 3 25 Context
Deuteronomy is Moses' final testament to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land. Chapter 3 specifically recounts Israel's victories east of the Jordan, leading to Moses' final prohibition from entering Canaan. This verse captures Moses' desperate and poignant appeal to God, a request born out of his fervent desire to complete his life's mission and personally experience the fulfillment of God's covenantal promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His plea immediately follows the narrative of God's stern declaration that Moses would not cross the Jordan (Deut 3:23-24). The historical context is of a transitional generation on the verge of claiming their inheritance, while their long-time leader faces the consequences of an earlier disobedience (Num 20:8-13).
Deuteronomy 3 25 Word analysis
- I pray thee: (וָאֶתְחַנַּן va'etḥannan) This Hebrew term is a Hithpael form of חָנַן (ḥanan), meaning "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to beg for mercy/favor." Here, it expresses an earnest, humble, and intense supplication or plea. It reflects Moses' profound humility and reliance on God's grace, despite the known prohibition.
- let me go over: (אֶעְבְּרָה e'evrah) From עָבַר ('avar), meaning "to pass over," "to cross over." Moses is requesting permission to physically traverse the Jordan River into the promised land. It implies more than just a fleeting visit, but an active, participatory entry.
- and see: (וְאֶרְאֶה v'er'eh) From רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to experience," "to understand." Moses desired not merely a distant glimpse but a personal, close-up experience of the land, to visually and sensorially perceive its beauty and reality. This verb can convey deep understanding, implying Moses wanted to fully comprehend God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise.
- the good land: (הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה ha'aretz hatovah) "The land, the good." This is a frequently used epithet for Canaan, emphasizing its fertility, beauty, and suitability for life and abundance. It signifies God's blessing and covenant faithfulness. It directly contrasts with the wilderness journey, highlighting the promised prosperity.
- that is beyond Jordan: (אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן asher b'ever hayyardan) From Moses' vantage point on the east bank, "beyond Jordan" means to the west, where the main portion of the Promised Land lay. This specific geographical marker reinforces the immediacy and reality of his desired destination.
- that goodly mountain: (הָהָר הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה hahâr hattov hazzeh) Literally, "this good mountain." This could refer generally to the fertile hill country of Canaan, which formed its spiritual and cultural heart (including Jerusalem, Zion, Bethlehem). It conveys the pleasant and desirable nature of the elevated terrain, suitable for dwelling and agriculture, contrasting with flat desert lands.
- and Lebanon: (וְהַלְּבָנוֹן v'hallevanon) Refers to the majestic mountains and cedar forests of Lebanon, traditionally considered the northern extent of the Promised Land, famous for its beauty and valuable timber. Its inclusion signifies the land's vastness, richness, and beauty from end to end. It completes the geographical sweep of the desired territory.
Deuteronomy 3 25 Bonus section
The phrase "goodly mountain" likely refers to the central spine of mountains in Canaan (e.g., Ephraim, Judah), where key future events and the spiritual heart of Israel would reside. Moses' request encapsulates a fundamental tension: the Law, personified by Moses, can bring the people to the edge of the promise, but cannot fully bring them into the divine rest and inheritance due to its limitations and the nature of human sin. It necessitated a new leader, Joshua (meaning "Yahweh is salvation"), who would foreshadow Jesus Christ. Moses, as a mediator of the Old Covenant, saw the ultimate promise (Christ and the heavenly inheritance) from afar, reflecting a broader biblical theme of an earthly shadow pointing to a greater spiritual reality. His yearning also emphasizes the inherent desirability of God's covenant blessings and His fulfilled promises.
Deuteronomy 3 25 Commentary
Deuteronomy 3:25 reveals a poignant moment in Moses' life: a desperate plea to enter the Promised Land, a culmination of his prophetic mission. Despite being divinely forbidden due to his prior disobedience, his earnest supplication ("I pray thee") highlights a deep human longing and the emotional burden of leadership. The specific geographical markers—"the good land beyond Jordan," "that goodly mountain," and "Lebanon"—underscore his profound familiarity with God's promise and his desire for a personal stake in its fulfillment, beyond just leadership. This verse, preceding God's definitive denial in the following verse, illustrates the unwavering justice and sovereignty of God, who holds even His most esteemed servants accountable. Moses' experience teaches us that divine decrees, even when difficult, serve a greater purpose, often pointing to a need for a new leadership or covenant that can achieve what the former cannot—foreshadowing Joshua leading Israel into rest, and ultimately, Christ bringing true spiritual rest and inheritance. It emphasizes the profound connection between obedience and covenant blessing, even for leaders.