Deuteronomy 31 11

Deuteronomy 31:11 kjv

When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Deuteronomy 31:11 nkjv

when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Deuteronomy 31:11 niv

when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.

Deuteronomy 31:11 esv

when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Deuteronomy 31:11 nlt

you must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the LORD your God at the place he chooses.

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 11 Meaning

This verse commands that during the designated Feast of Booths (Sukkot) in the Sabbatical year, the entire community of Israel – men, women, children, and foreigners – must gather at the central sanctuary chosen by the LORD. There, the entirety of the Deuteronomic Law is to be publicly read aloud to them, ensuring every individual hears and internalizes its instructions. This act served as a vital, regular renewal of the covenant between God and His people, fostering obedience and a continued remembrance of His statutes.

Deuteronomy 31 11 Context

Deuteronomy 31 occurs as Moses nears the end of his life, preparing Israel for his imminent departure and their entrance into the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, reinforcing the covenant, and instituting key practices for maintaining faithfulness. Verses 9-13 specifically introduce the command for the public reading of the Law, establishing a foundational act of covenant renewal and communal instruction. This regular reading every seven years, coinciding with the Feast of Booths during the Sabbatical year of release, underscored the vital importance of the Law for all generations in maintaining their relationship with the LORD and living righteously in the land He was giving them.

Deuteronomy 31 11 Word analysis

• when all Israel: כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (kol-Yisra'el). This emphasizes the inclusivity of the command. It signifies that not just the leaders or priests, but every member – men, women, children, and the sojourner – was required to be present. This highlights God's direct covenant with the entire community and underscores collective responsibility under His Law.

• comes to appear before the LORD your God: לִרְאוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (lir'ot et-p'ney YHWH Eloheykha). Literally, "to see the face of the LORD your God." This idiom refers to making a pilgrimage and presenting oneself in His holy presence at His designated sanctuary for worship and fellowship. It signifies a solemn, intentional gathering centered on divine communion.

• in the place that he will choose: בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר (bammaqom 'asher yivchar). This refers to the singular, central sanctuary that God Himself would designate, which would eventually be Jerusalem. This established a unified place of worship and learning, countering the decentralized, often idolatrous, worship practices of surrounding nations and reinforcing the exclusive worship of the one true God.

• you shall read: תִקְרָא (tiqra'). The verb signifies an authoritative, public proclamation, not merely a silent, private study. It implies a loud, clear vocalization intended for widespread audibility, ensuring that the words of the covenant reached every ear in the assembled community.

• this law: הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת (hatTorah haZot). This refers to the Deuteronomic code and, by extension, the broader body of God's covenant instructions. It stresses the unchanging, divinely revealed nature of these commands as the foundational standard for Israel's life.

• before all Israel in their hearing: בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם (b'ozneyhem). The reassertion of "all Israel" reinforces inclusivity. "In their hearing" (literally "in their ears") underscores that the reading was to be not only audible but also attentive and receptive by everyone present. It highlights the imperative for the message to be absorbed, understood, and personally acted upon, preventing mere physical presence without comprehension.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place that he will choose": This phrase details the required setting – a specified pilgrimage by the entire community to God's chosen central sanctuary during a particular time. This regular assembly reinforced communal identity, exclusive devotion to the one God, and the importance of His designated worship center. It profoundly integrates worship with covenant instruction, demonstrating that living for God necessitates intentional, collective engagement with His revealed will in His presence.
  • "you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing": This phrase outlines the core action and its ultimate purpose. The authoritative public reading ensures that every generation is consistently re-immersed in the foundational covenant stipulations. The strong emphasis on "hearing" implies not just passive listening, but active understanding, internalization, and personal accountability to the divine words. This act highlights the inherent power of God's spoken word to transform and sustain the covenant community, while the direct and unambiguous proclamation of "this law" ensures purity of doctrine and guides righteous living for the entire nation.

Deuteronomy 31 11 Bonus section

In Jewish tradition, this commandment is known as Hakhel (הַקְהֵל), meaning "assemble!" and signifying a grand national assembly for spiritual renewal. The institution of Hakhel prevented the Law from becoming merely the isolated domain of priests or legal scholars; instead, it remained central to the lived experience and identity of the entire nation, fostering a profound, corporate sense of shared responsibility and spiritual vitality. Although the physical performance of Hakhel with the Temple is not possible today, its spirit is powerfully perpetuated through the ongoing, systematic reading of the Torah in synagogues worldwide every Sabbath, and through consistent, intentional study of God's Word within homes and believing communities. This ongoing engagement with Scripture echoes the ancient command's emphasis on the continuous need for God's people to hear, understand, and respond to His divine voice and covenant.

Deuteronomy 31 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:11 institutes a vital, cyclical practice for Israel: the septennial public reading of the Law at the Feast of Booths in God's chosen sanctuary. This divine command underscores God's commitment to continuously instruct and shape His people, alongside their ongoing need to remain faithful to His covenant. Far more than a mere educational exercise, this event was a profound act of national covenant renewal, deeply affirming Israel's identity as God's peculiar people. The required presence of "all Israel," encompassing men, women, children, and foreign residents, powerfully conveys the comprehensive reach and inclusive nature of God's Word; no one within the community was exempt from hearing and understanding His demands and promises. The mandate for a single, central location for this assembly served to counter pervasive polytheistic influences and emphasized the absolute unity of God and His unified people. This consistent re-exposure to the foundational Law was strategically crucial for preventing spiritual apathy, discouraging idolatry, and ensuring the accurate transfer of covenant truths and a right fear of God to successive generations. It exemplifies God's wisdom in establishing tangible, communal means for His people to perpetually remember, obey, and reverence Him, fostering a resilient community firmly rooted in His divine and revealed will.