Deuteronomy 30 13

Deuteronomy 30:13 kjv

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

Deuteronomy 30:13 nkjv

Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

Deuteronomy 30:13 niv

Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"

Deuteronomy 30:13 esv

Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

Deuteronomy 30:13 nlt

It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?'

Deuteronomy 30 verses

Deuteronomy 30 13 Meaning

Deuteronomy 30:13 proclaims that God's commandment (Torah/Word) is not impossibly distant or requiring monumental human effort to acquire, such as a perilous journey across the sea. It assures the Israelites that divine truth and the path to righteousness are not obscure or out of reach, but are readily available and comprehensible to them. This verse emphasizes the accessibility and proximity of God's revealed will, making obedience a matter of choice rather than an unattainable struggle or excuse.

Deuteronomy 30 13 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 30 forms a crucial part of Moses' concluding address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter functions as an exhortation to covenant fidelity, following extensive review of the Law and the consequences of obedience and disobedience (chapters 12-29). Moses presents a stark choice between "life and good" or "death and evil." Verses 11-14 specifically clarify that God's commandment is neither inherently difficult nor physically out of reach, countering any future excuse for neglecting it. The entire chapter serves as a passionate plea for Israel to choose life by loving God, walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments, emphasizing that this choice is readily available to them, as God's will is clearly revealed and understandable.

Deuteronomy 30 13 Word analysis

• Nor is it beyond the sea (וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם - ve'lo me'ever layam):
  • Nor (וְלֹא - ve'lo): "And not." This connects the clause directly to the preceding assertion in verse 12 that the commandment is not in heaven. It highlights a comprehensive negation, implying no remote or hidden location keeps God's word from them.
  • beyond (מֵעֵבֶר - me'ever): Signifies "from across," "on the other side," or "beyond." It conveys the idea of a distant, separated, and therefore challenging or dangerous location to reach.
  • the sea (לַיָּם - layam): Yam (sea) historically represented formidable barriers, the unknown, or sources of chaos and danger in the ancient world. A journey across the sea was perceived as a great, life-threatening endeavor. This explicitly refutes the notion that divine wisdom is obtained through hazardous, epic quests or from esoteric sources. It stands against the prevailing pagan ideas that one must travel to a mythical or dangerous locale to find truth or receive divine revelation.
• that you should say (כִּי תֹאמַר - ki tomar): This phrase indicates a common human tendency to rationalize or create excuses for inaction. It anticipates the potential human excuse of the divine word being too elusive or requiring a search beyond human capability, thus absolving themselves from the responsibility of obedience.
• 'Who will cross the sea for us (מִי יַעֲבָר לָנוּ אֶל־הַיָּם - mi ya'avar lanu el-hayam)':
  • Who will cross (מִי יַעֲבָר - mi ya'avar): "Who will pass over/through." This rhetorical question emphasizes the perceived need for a heroic figure or extraordinary effort to bridge the conceptual or physical gap to divine truth.
  • for us (לָנוּ - lanu): "For us" highlights that such a demanding task would be undertaken vicariously, underscoring their imagined inability or unwillingness to perform it themselves.
• to get it for us (וִילִיאֶנָּה לָּנוּ - vilienna lanu):
  • to get it: vilienna (and bring it/fetch it). Refers to the commandment or word. This suggests that the "it" is considered external, lost, or unobtainable without significant effort to "retrieve" it, implying its current absence.
• and make us hear it (וְיַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ - ve'yashmi'enu otah):
  • make us hear: ve'yashmi'enu (and cause us to hear/proclaim it to us). The ultimate aim of obtaining the "word" is not merely possession, but active comprehension and instruction. "Hearing" (shama) in Hebrew context signifies not only auditory reception but also internalizing and preparing for obedience. This negates the idea that God's word is obscure or requires deciphering.
• that we may observe it (וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה - ve'na'asennah):
  • that we may observe it: ve'na'asennah (and we may do/make it). This final clause identifies the ultimate purpose of knowing and hearing the commandment: practical action, living out the commands, and active obedience. It reinforces that accessibility leads directly to accountability; if it's near, there's no excuse for not doing it.

Deuteronomy 30 13 Bonus section

This verse directly addresses the human propensity to seek justification for spiritual idleness or disobedience by inventing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Moses effectively removes any intellectual or practical excuse. The contrast with "heaven" (v. 12) and "sea" (v. 13) covers all perceived impossibilities – whether ascending to divine realms or crossing earthly barriers. The polemical tone against seeking truth from the chaotic "sea" aligns with ancient Near Eastern motifs where the sea was associated with primordial chaos, powerful monstrous entities, or a source of unpredictable danger; Moses declares that YHWH's truth comes from above and is accessible on solid ground, not from hidden, perilous depths. This declaration foreshadows the New Covenant reality where God's law is internally written (Jer 31), rendering external questing entirely superfluous. It's a testament to God's heart: He makes Himself knowable, removing all human alibis for rebellion or apathy.

Deuteronomy 30 13 Commentary

Deuteronomy 30:13 is a profound assertion of God's desire for an open, unhindered relationship with His people, one founded on clearly revealed truth. Moses forcefully counters any human inclination to obscure divine wisdom or invent excuses for failing to obey. By declaring that the commandment is not "beyond the sea," he debunks the notion that God's will is some arcane secret or elusive treasure to be obtained through a perilous, monumental quest. This stands in stark contrast to pagan religions of the era, which often shrouded divine knowledge in mystery, requiring special initiations, arduous pilgrimages, or reliance on select mystics. Instead, YHWH's law is accessible, public, and already within their reach, heard, understood, and therefore ready for immediate observation. This principle of accessibility resonates throughout Scripture, most notably when Paul applies it in Romans 10, highlighting that righteousness by faith, manifested in Christ, is likewise not a distant truth to be earned by human endeavor but a word of salvation made near through proclamation and belief. The simplicity and clarity God offers leave no room for pretexts of inability; rather, they demand a choice for obedience rooted in love.