Deuteronomy 31 16

Deuteronomy 31:16 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 nkjv

And the LORD said to Moses: "Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 niv

And the LORD said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 nlt

The LORD said to Moses, "You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 31:16 contains a profound and somber prophetic declaration from God to Moses. It foretells that soon after Moses' death, the nation of Israel will abandon their exclusive covenant with the Lord, turning to worship the false deities of the lands they are about to inhabit. This act is metaphorically described as "prostituting themselves," signifying spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and a betrayal of their divine marriage covenant with God. The verse highlights God's foreknowledge of their future apostasy and the deliberate breaking of the sacred relationship He established with them.

Deuteronomy 31 16 Context

This verse is located within Deuteronomy chapter 31, which marks a significant transition point in the historical narrative of Israel. Moses, knowing his death is imminent, is preparing to pass the leadership mantle to Joshua and deliver his final instructions to the Israelite nation before they enter the Promised Land. The chapter emphasizes the importance of courage for Joshua and for the people, and the perpetual reading of the Law as a covenant requirement.

Historically and culturally, Israel was on the cusp of entering Canaan, a land inhabited by various pagan peoples who practiced polytheism, fertility cults, and forms of worship that included ritualistic prostitution and child sacrifice. The term "prostitute themselves" (zânâ in Hebrew) carries profound theological weight here, polemically contrasting the fidelity required in the covenant relationship with YHWH (conceived as a marriage) against the promiscuous, unholy worship of "foreign gods." It highlights the stark spiritual choice facing Israel between absolute devotion to their one true God and assimilation into the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, which would constitute a complete betrayal of their divine covenant. God's declaration reveals His omniscient foresight, anticipating their propensity for sin despite all His warnings and provisions.

Deuteronomy 31 16 Word analysis

• And the Lord said (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, wayyōʾmer YHWH): This phrase emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the prophecy. It is a direct word from YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, affirming His absolute sovereignty and foreknowledge.
• to Moses: Moses is the immediate recipient of this profound and somber prophecy, positioning him as the key intermediary for God's message to Israel before his death.
• 'Behold' (הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An emphatic interjection signaling the critical importance and immediate relevance of what follows. It draws Moses' full attention to the forthcoming divine declaration.
• 'you are about to lie down with your fathers' (שֹׁכֵב עִם־אֲבֹתֶיךָ, shōkhēv ‘im-ʾăvōteyḵā): This is a common Hebrew euphemism for dying and being gathered to one's ancestors in death. It underscores the certainty and imminent nature of Moses' passing, setting the stage for the prophetic warning concerning Israel's future actions after his leadership ends.
• 'and this people' (הָעָם הַזֶּה, hā‘ām hazzēh): Refers specifically to the nation of Israel, emphasizing the corporate nature of their future apostasy.
• 'will rise' (וְקָם, wəqām): Signifies an action initiated, an emergence or commencement. It implies that after Moses' death, the people will 'get up' or begin this predicted behavior.
• 'and prostitute themselves' (וְזָנָה, wəzānâ): The Hebrew verb zânâ primarily means "to commit fornication," but in this biblical context, it almost invariably refers to spiritual infidelity and idolatry. It vividly portrays Israel's turning away from YHWH as an act of adultery or prostitution, breaking the sacred marriage-like covenant relationship they have with God. This term carries strong polemical force against the prevalent Canaanite fertility cults, which often involved literal temple prostitution and ritualistic immorality as part of their worship.
• 'with the foreign gods' (אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵי נֵכָר, ’aḥărê ’ĕlōhê nēkhār): Literally "after gods of foreignness." These are deities worshipped by other nations, alien to YHWH and forbidden to Israel. This highlights the illegitimate nature of their future objects of worship, contrasting them with the one true God who brought Israel out of Egypt and made a covenant with them.
• 'of the land into which they are going': Specifies the very land promised by God as their inheritance will ironically become the locus of their temptation and sin. It points to the immediate environmental influence and temptation they would face upon entering Canaan.
• 'and will forsake Me' (וַעֲזָבַנִי, wa‘ăāzāvanî): The verb ‘āzav means "to abandon" or "leave." This indicates a deliberate, active decision by Israel to turn away from God, portraying a breach of their relational loyalty and devotion. It signifies a personal turning away from their divine benefactor and Husband.
• 'and break My covenant' (וְהֵפֵר אֶת־בְּרִיתִי, wəhēfēr ’et-bĕrîtî): The verb pārar (Hifil) means "to break," "nullify," or "violate." This refers to the Mosaic Covenant, the sacred legal agreement established at Mount Sinai, which governed Israel's life as God's chosen people. Breaking this covenant implies a formal abrogation of the stipulations and obligations they had agreed to, nullifying the terms of their special relationship with God and incurring the severe consequences outlined within the covenant (e.g., in Deut 28).
• 'that I have made with them': This phrase reiterates that the covenant was initiated by God, emphasizing His steadfast faithfulness and gracious choice of Israel. This further highlights the severity of Israel's impending betrayal, as it would be against the very God who loved and redeemed them.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers": This phrase succinctly conveys the imminent conclusion of Moses' life and leadership, marking the pivotal moment when Israel's propensity to stray would manifest more fully without his immediate guidance.
• "and this people will rise and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going": This powerfully connects Israel's entry into Canaan with their spiritual downfall. It foretells not just a passive wandering, but an active turning towards forbidden foreign worship, utilizing strong imagery of betrayal within a sacred relationship.
• "and will forsake Me and break My covenant that I have made with them": These two actions specify the dual nature of Israel's apostasy: a personal and relational abandonment of God ("forsake Me") and a formal, legal breach of the divine agreement ("break My covenant"). Both aspects highlight the depth of their transgression against a God who faithfully initiated and sustained their relationship.

Deuteronomy 31 16 Bonus section

This prophecy from God to Moses also explains the purpose and significance of the "Song of Moses" recorded in Deuteronomy 32. Because God knew Israel would abandon Him, He specifically instructed Moses to teach this song to the Israelites (Deut 31:19) so it would serve as a witness against them in future generations. This divine act demonstrates God's righteousness: He provided both warning and a perpetual reminder of His truth and their obligation, ensuring that their later backsliding would be without excuse. The phrase "lie down with your fathers" underscores a continuity of lineage and destiny among the patriarchs, despite Moses' unique role. It roots Moses' impending death firmly within the shared human experience and God's plan for His people through changing leadership.

Deuteronomy 31 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:16 is a tragic yet profoundly realistic divine prophecy that anchors much of the Old Testament's subsequent narrative. It reveals God's perfect foreknowledge, indicating that He was fully aware of Israel's propensity for idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness even before they fully entered the land of temptation. This foresight does not negate Israel's moral culpability; rather, it underscores their freedom of choice and the seriousness of their future actions. The prophecy delivered to Moses served not as a predetermined fate forcing their sin, but as a sober warning, a witness for generations to come, and a basis for the disciplinary actions God would subsequently undertake. It establishes the theological framework for the cyclical pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance seen throughout Judges and Kings, showing that God, despite knowing their failure, continually calls His people back to Him, preparing the way for future intervention through the prophets and ultimately a New Covenant where internal transformation would overcome such inherent unfaithfulness (Jer 31; Ezek 36). This verse reminds us that true worship demands exclusive devotion, for any compromise with foreign influences constitutes a grave betrayal of the covenant relationship.