Deuteronomy 30 11

Deuteronomy 30:11 kjv

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

Deuteronomy 30:11 nkjv

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.

Deuteronomy 30:11 niv

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.

Deuteronomy 30:11 esv

"For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.

Deuteronomy 30:11 nlt

"This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.

Deuteronomy 30 verses

Deuteronomy 30 11 Meaning

Deuteronomy 30:11 asserts that the divine commandment, or the totality of God's revealed law, is neither obscure, mysterious, nor physically unattainable. It is presented as a clear, comprehensible, and readily accessible revelation to the people, implying that its requirements are fully knowable and achievable.

Deuteronomy 30 11 Context

Deuteronomy 30:11 appears within Moses' final discourse to the second generation of Israelites gathered on the plains of Moab, just before entering the Promised Land. This chapter serves as a profound conclusion to Moses' covenant exhortations, emphasizing the possibility of return and restoration after disobedience (even exile). Verses 1-10 speak of God's faithfulness in bringing His people back from dispersion if they repent. Verse 11 introduces the immediate accessibility and understandability of the commandments. It logically leads into the crucial verses 12-14, which explicitly state that the command is "not in heaven" nor "beyond the sea" but "very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it." This entire passage culminates in the stark choice presented in verses 15-20: choose life and blessing by loving and obeying the Lord, or choose death and curses by turning away. The historical context positions these words at a critical juncture: the old generation had perished due to disobedience, and the new generation was on the cusp of fulfilling God's promise, but only if they committed to obey the clear, accessible commands.

Deuteronomy 30 11 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kî): An introductory particle, often meaning "for," "because," or "indeed." It signals that what follows is an explanation or a reason for the preceding context, providing a basis for the ensuing statements about the nature of the commandment.
• this commandment (הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת, hammitzva hazzō’th):
  • הַמִּצְוָה (hammitzva): Refers to "the commandment," representing the singular totality of God's law or instruction presented in the covenant. It signifies a divine precept, a moral duty, and a comprehensive code of conduct given by God.
  • הַזֹּאת (hazzō’th): "This." Points directly to the sum of the laws and statutes that Moses has just extensively declared, emphasizing its contemporary relevance and immediate application to the people presently before him.
• which I command thee (אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, ’ăšer ’ānōḵî məṣawwəkā): Underscores the divine authority behind the commandment and Moses' role as the direct conduit of God's instructions. It is not Moses' own words, but God's word conveyed through him.
• this day (הַיּוֹם, hayyôm): "Today," "this very day." Highlights the immediacy and urgency of the covenant commitment. The demands of the covenant are not for a distant future, but for their current life, reinforcing their present accountability.
• it is not hidden from thee (לֹא נִפְלֵאת הִוא מִמְּךָ, lō’ niplêṯ hî’ mimməkā):
  • נִפְלֵאת (niphlêṯ): From the root pālâ (פָּלָה), meaning "to be wonderful, difficult, incomprehensible, set apart as special or unique." Here, in the negative ("not niphlêth"), it signifies that the commandment is not too hard to understand, not too mysterious, not esoteric, not beyond ordinary human comprehension. It means the law is revealed, clear, and requires no supernatural or secret interpretation. This polemically counters the notion that divine will is reserved for an elite or is veiled in obscurity, unlike many ancient mystery religions.
• neither is it far off (וְלֹא רְחֹקָה הִוא, wəlo’ r'ḥōqāh hî’):
  • רְחֹקָה (r'ḥōqāh): "Distant," "remote," "far away." This word, negated, asserts that the commandment is not geographically or physically inaccessible. It does not require a perilous journey to heaven or across the sea, as specified in the subsequent verses (Deut 30:12-13). It is not beyond reach but is near to the people.
• Words-group by Words-group Analysis:
  • "For this commandment...this day": This phrase ties the clear and accessible nature of the command directly to the present moment of decision, emphasizing that God's revealed will is always current and relevant for immediate application. It dismisses any idea of historical or temporal irrelevance.
  • "it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off": This double negative constructs a powerful affirmation of complete transparency and immediate availability. It simultaneously dispels two potential excuses for non-compliance: ignorance (it's not hidden/mysterious) and impossibility (it's not far/unreachable). God's requirements are fully revealed, knowable, and situated within the reach and capacity of the people He addresses. This contrasts sharply with beliefs where divine communication is considered ambiguous, exclusive, or requiring extreme human effort to grasp.

Deuteronomy 30 11 Bonus section

This verse carries a profound anti-Gnostic undertone. While Gnosticism (both ancient and modern forms) posits that true spiritual understanding is hidden, secret knowledge accessible only to an initiated elite, Deuteronomy 30:11 proclaims that God's vital commands for life are neither obscure nor exclusively reserved for a few. They are for the entire covenant community, clear enough for children to learn and adults to live by (Deut 4:10, 6:7). Paul's interpretive application of this very passage in Romans 10:6-8 demonstrates that this principle of immediate accessibility and proximity finds its ultimate realization in the Word made flesh—Jesus Christ—and the "word of faith" which is the Gospel. The righteousness of faith does not require a dangerous ascent into heaven or descent into the abyss, because the Christ, the very embodiment of God's Word, has already accomplished the ultimate descent (incarnation, death, resurrection) and ascent (to heaven). Thus, the word (and salvation) is indeed "very near you, in your mouth and in your heart." This highlights the seamless continuity between the accessibility of God's law in the Old Covenant and the accessibility of His grace and salvation in the New Covenant through Christ.

Deuteronomy 30 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 30:11 establishes a fundamental truth about God's revelation: His will and commands are intentionally clear and readily accessible to humanity. Moses here assuages any potential apprehension or excuse that the Israelites might have regarding the comprehensibility or feasibility of obeying the Mosaic Covenant. The phrase "not hidden" counters the idea that God's ways are enigmatic, requiring a privileged few to decipher; instead, divine truth is laid bare for all to understand. Likewise, "neither is it far off" dispels the notion that fulfilling God's demands requires an arduous, unattainable journey or supernatural intervention from distant realms. Rather, God has brought His word near, implanting it within the very fabric of their communal life and their individual hearts (as elaborated in v. 14). This verse underscores God's character as a communicator who desires to be understood and obeyed, not someone who conceals truth. It forms the basis for their moral responsibility and accountability to choose "life and good, or death and evil." The profound implication, later echoed and fulfilled in the New Testament, is that God’s gracious design ensures that His saving truth and the means of obedience are never out of reach, but always proximate and perceivable to those who genuinely seek it.

Examples:

• Not Hidden: When faced with a moral dilemma clearly addressed by Scripture (e.g., integrity in business dealings, sexual purity), a believer cannot claim ignorance, as God's general principles are not mysterious.
• Not Far Off: Someone seeking God's will for their life's direction does not need to undertake extraordinary, self-devised quests or dangerous pilgrimages; instead, they are to study God's already revealed Word, which is close to them.