Deuteronomy 3:26 kjv
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; speak no more unto me of this matter.
Deuteronomy 3:26 nkjv
"But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: 'Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.
Deuteronomy 3:26 niv
But because of you the LORD was angry with me and would not listen to me. "That is enough," the LORD said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.
Deuteronomy 3:26 esv
But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, 'Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.
Deuteronomy 3:26 nlt
"But the LORD was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. 'That's enough!' he declared. 'Speak of it no more.
Deuteronomy 3 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:10-12 | "...you rebelled against My command...Therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land..." | Moses' sin at Meribah and its consequence |
| Deut 1:37 | "The Lord was also angry with me on your account, and swore that I would not cross over this Jordan." | Moses reiterates the reason and oath |
| Deut 3:23-25 | "Then I pleaded with the Lord... 'Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan...'" | Moses' earnest intercession (immediate context) |
| Ps 106:32-33 | "They angered Him at the waters of Meribah...so that Moses spoke rashly with his lips." | Acknowledges Moses' fault at Meribah |
| Num 14:34-35 | "...you shall bear your guilt forty years...you shall by no means enter the land..." | God's unyielding judgment on a rebellious generation |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you..." | God's promise to Joshua, who replaces Moses |
| Deut 31:7-8 | "Then Moses called Joshua and said... 'for you shall go with this people to the land...'" | Passing leadership to Joshua |
| Deut 34:1-4 | "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo... And the Lord showed him all the land..." | Moses allowed to see, but not enter the land |
| Heb 3:1-6 | "...Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things... Christ as a Son..." | Moses' faithful servant contrasted with Christ |
| Heb 4:1 | "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it." | Warning about missing God's rest due to unbelief |
| Heb 12:28-29 | "...let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire." | God's righteous character and holy judgment |
| Jer 7:16 | "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you." | God commands cessation of prayer in specific circumstances |
| Jer 11:14 | "So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or petition for them, for I will not hear them in the time of their trouble..." | Divine refusal to hear intercession due to severe rebellion |
| Jer 14:11 | "Then the Lord said to me, 'Do not pray for this people for their good.'" | Reiterates limitations on intercessory prayer |
| Exod 32:10-14 | "Now therefore, let Me alone...that I may consume them...Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God..." | Moses was heard on prior occasions of intercession |
| Num 27:12-14 | "...you also shall be gathered to your people... because you rebelled against My command..." | Confirmation of Moses' death without entering Canaan |
| Deut 32:49-51 | "...from there you shall see the land...but there you shall not go, because you trespassed..." | Further reiteration of the judgment on Moses |
| Prov 3:12 | "For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." | God's judgment can be an act of love for His chosen |
| Heb 12:6 | "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." | Reinforces the principle of divine discipline |
| Jas 1:5-7 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask... But let him ask in faith, with no doubting... he will receive nothing." | Illustrates conditions for answered prayer and rejection for doubting |
| 1 John 5:14-15 | "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us..." | Prayer's effectiveness tied to God's will; here, it was against it |
| Gen 6:3 | "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever..." | A principle of God setting limits on grace or forbearance |
| Deut 18:15-19 | "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst...you shall listen to Him." | Prophecy of the ultimate Prophet (Christ), whom Israel must hear |
Deuteronomy 3 verses
Deuteronomy 3 26 Meaning
Deuteronomy 3:26 reveals a solemn divine decree to Moses concerning his inability to enter the Promised Land. Despite Moses' heartfelt pleas, the Lord expressed His righteous indignation, stemming from the Israelites' rebellion which ultimately led to Moses' sin at Meribah. God's response was definitive and final: Moses was commanded to cease his petitioning regarding this matter, emphasizing the unchangeable nature of the divine judgment and the boundaries of even a great intercessor's influence when God's mind is set.
Deuteronomy 3 26 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 3 is part of Moses' farewell addresses to the generation poised to enter the Promised Land. He recounts key historical events, reminding them of God's faithfulness, their own rebellion, and the consequences of their actions. Verses 23-25 immediately precede this verse, where Moses describes his fervent prayer to God, begging to be allowed to cross the Jordan and enter the good land. Verse 26 is God's direct and resolute answer, an expression of finality regarding Moses' personal desire. This decree underscores God's holiness and His adherence to covenant justice, even when it involves a cherished servant like Moses, whose punishment stemmed from his lack of sanctifying God at Meribah (Num 20:12).
Deuteronomy 3 26 Word analysis
- But the LORD: Signals a divine pronouncement. Emphasizes God's sovereign authority in delivering the decision. The "LORD" (YHWH, יְהוָה) signifies God's personal, covenantal name, underscoring the weight and unchangeableness of His decree.
- was wroth: (Hebrew: וַיִּתְאַנַּף, wayyitʼannaf from אָנַף, anaph). This verb means "to be angry," "to be displeased," or "to vent indignation." It describes God's righteous anger, not an irrational outburst, but a settled divine judgment against disobedience, even Moses'. This anger implies a deeply held grievance against the sin.
- with me: Directing the divine anger toward Moses personally. This highlights the severe consequence of Moses' action (and implicitly, the nation's provocation) on his own fate.
- for your sakes: (Hebrew: בִּגְלַלְכֶם, biglal-khem). This is critical. It implies that Moses' sin, striking the rock instead of speaking to it (Num 20:7-12), was intrinsically linked to the Israelites' rebellion and provocation. His failure to sanctify God's name before the people contributed to the consequences that fell upon him, effectively making him a co-sufferer of the rebellious spirit. It illustrates how the leader's fate can be tied to the led, and how leadership bears heavy accountability.
- and would not hear me: God’s definitive rejection of Moses' fervent plea. This indicates the matter was closed, a stark contrast to earlier instances where Moses' intercession successfully averted God's wrath (e.g., Exod 32). It marks a boundary in divine patience or an irreversible divine decision based on prior infractions.
- and the LORD said unto me: A direct, personal divine communication, underscoring the finality and authority of the decree.
- Let it suffice thee: (Hebrew: רַב־לָךְ, rav-lakh). Meaning "enough for you," "that is sufficient for you," or "too much for you." It's a command to desist. It conveys divine patience reaching its limit regarding this specific request. God is telling Moses to accept the unchangeable verdict.
- speak no more unto me: An absolute prohibition on further petition regarding this particular issue. This shows God's sovereign decision is final and not subject to further argument or persuasion. It indicates divine closure on the topic.
- of this matter: Specifies the precise subject of the cessation: Moses' entrance into the Promised Land. It narrows the prohibition to this one specific request, not broadly restricting Moses' general access to God.
Deuteronomy 3 26 Bonus section
The concept of "suffice thee" (rav-lakh) suggests a profound truth: there are moments in God's sovereign plan when the time for pleading is over. This is not due to a lack of compassion on God's part but points to the definitive nature of certain divine decisions that move His larger plan forward. For Moses, it was the ultimate lesson in humble submission to God's higher will, despite personal desire and earnest prayer. His denial of entry into the earthly Promised Land pointed forward to the spiritual reality that even great prophets point beyond themselves to the ultimate leader and mediator, the Messiah. Moses' death before entering Canaan, though a punishment, also completed his role as the leader of the Exodus and law-giving, allowing for the transition to a new covenant era leader, Joshua, who would be the 'bringer of salvation' or 'Yehoshua'.
Deuteronomy 3 26 Commentary
Deuteronomy 3:26 stands as a profound revelation of God's uncompromising justice and holiness, even towards His most favored servant. It serves as a somber reminder that sin carries inescapable consequences, impacting not only the transgressor but potentially others (as Moses' fate was partly "for your sakes," referencing Israel's rebellion). God's unwavering resolve ("would not hear me," "speak no more unto me") highlights His sovereign will and the finality of His judgments once rendered. Moses, despite his unparalleled intimacy with God and previous success as an intercessor, faced an unchangeable divine "No." This judgment, however, was not arbitrary but rooted in Moses' specific disobedience at Meribah, which undermined God's holiness before the people. Ultimately, God's decision facilitated His larger redemptive plan, ensuring a new leader (Joshua) would bring the next generation into the land, symbolizing new beginnings and faithful leadership required for entry into God's promises. This principle holds that divine "no" often serves a greater purpose in God's eternal design.