Deuteronomy 31 19

Deuteronomy 31:19 kjv

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:19 nkjv

"Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:19 niv

"Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.

Deuteronomy 31:19 esv

"Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:19 nlt

"So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 19 Meaning

Deuteronomy 31:19 is a divine command to Moses, conveyed by God, to record a specific prophetic song. This song is to be diligently taught to all the children of Israel and ingrained into their collective memory ("put it in their mouths"). The primary purpose of this song is to serve as an enduring witness, testifying against the people of Israel when they inevitably abandon their covenant with God and turn to idolatry or disobedience in the future. It demonstrates God's foreknowledge of their apostasy and establishes a clear basis for His righteous judgment, showing that His people were fully aware of His expectations and warnings.

Deuteronomy 31 19 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 31 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. Moses, aged 120, is nearing the end of his life and his leadership tenure. The command to write this song occurs in the shadow of the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua, as Israel stands poised to enter the Promised Land. Chapters 29 and 30 contain the solemn renewal of the covenant in Moab, emphasizing the choice between blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Immediately preceding verse 19, God prophesies to Moses that after his death, the 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" (Dt 31:16). It is precisely because of this divinely foreseen future apostasy that the command to write and teach the song is issued. The song (found in chapter 32) will thus serve as God's proactive measure, a legal and historical record, proving His knowledge of their future actions and their full prior instruction regarding His will. Historically, this setting is crucial: the generation of wilderness wanderers is replaced by those about to inherit Canaan, emphasizing the transmission of faith and warnings to new generations before confronting new temptations.

Deuteronomy 31 19 Word analysis

• Now therefore (וְעַתָּה): A transitional phrase, connecting God's preceding declaration of Israel's future apostasy (Dt 31:16-18) to the immediate command. It signals a divine response or consequence based on foreknowledge.
• write ye (כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם): The imperative plural verb kith'vu from kāṯaḇ (כתב), meaning "to write." While Moses is the primary scribe (Dt 31:22), the "ye" likely extends to all responsible parties (e.g., Levites, future leaders) in preserving and transmitting God's word. The inclusion of lakhem (לָכֶם - "for yourselves/for you") indicates this song is written for Israel's own benefit and ownership.
• this song (הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת): Ha-shirah (השירה) means "the song," specifically identifying the unique composition that follows in Dt 32. Hazōṯ (הזאת - "this") points to its immediate prophetic context and specific content. Songs are a memorable and engaging form for instruction and testimony, culturally effective for oral transmission in ancient societies. This particular song is not just a general hymn but a didactic and prophetic oracle.
• for you (לָכֶם): As mentioned above, it emphasizes the song's relevance and possession by Israel. It is meant for their benefit, even though it ultimately testifies against their unfaithfulness.
• and teach it (וְלַמְּדָהּ): The imperative lammeḏah from lamad (למד), meaning "to learn," but in the Hiphil stem here, "to teach" or "to cause to learn." This highlights the crucial act of deliberate instruction and pedagogy. It's an active mandate to transmit divine truth.
• the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל): Refers to the entire collective nation, all descendants of Jacob, indicating the song's universal applicability and necessity for all members of the covenant community, regardless of age or social standing.
• put it in their mouths (שִׂימָה בְּפִיהֶם): A potent idiom (from siyma b'fihem). It means far more than just "to make them read it." It implies complete memorization, constant recitation, habitual public declaration, and profound internalization. It suggests the song should be a natural and ever-present part of their speech and thought, something they know by heart and vocalize.
• that this song may be a witness (לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה לִּי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לְעֵד): The purpose clause. Ləmaʿan introduces the purpose ("in order that," "so that"). Tihyeh is "it may be," and ləʿēḏ (לְעֵד) means "for a witness," or "as a testimony." The song itself is personified as a legal witness, bearing truthful testimony. God anticipates that He will call this song to witness His faithfulness and their lack of it.
• for Me (לִי): Literally "to Me" or "for Me." The witness is for God's purposes, vindicating His righteousness and foresight. It affirms His justice when judging them later.
• against the children of Israel (בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל): The preposition bî (בִי), commonly translated as "against," here functions as a direct legal challenge or accusation against the people. It specifies the accusatory nature of the song, not simply as a general reminder, but as specific evidence that they were warned.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "Now therefore write ye this song for you": This segment establishes the divine origin and specific command. The "for you" underscores that despite its eventual condemnatory role, the song is initially given as a resource for Israel. Its existence is an act of God's preventive grace, an opportunity to remember and avert disaster.
• "and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths": These twin commands emphasize the active and deep assimilation of the song. "Teaching" implies formal instruction, while "putting it in their mouths" speaks to organic memorization and continuous oral tradition. This ensured the song's persistence through generations, even those who might not read the written Law. It shows God's intent for the truth to permeate their daily lives.
• "that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel": This phrase articulates the dual purpose of the song. It is for God (vindicating His righteousness, demonstrating His foreknowledge and patience) and against Israel (serving as irrefutable evidence of their covenant betrayal). It highlights God's justice and Israel's accountability. It preempts any claims of ignorance or misunderstanding from future generations, ensuring their culpability is self-evident when compared to the contents of the song. This is a powerful demonstration of divine foresight and a strategic preparation for judgment.

Deuteronomy 31 19 Bonus section

The act of writing down this song foreshadows the comprehensive writing of all God's commandments (Dt 31:24). The Law and this song stand as a perpetual testament. The prophetic nature of this song is extraordinary; it serves as a self-fulfilling prophecy and a pre-emptive legal declaration, setting the terms of engagement and the consequences for future generations. The enduring power of song in ancient cultures as a medium for transmitting history, law, and theology made it the ideal vehicle for this message, ensuring its longevity beyond specific scribal or priestly functions. The song would serve as both an instructional tool during times of faithfulness and a convicting echo during times of rebellion, demonstrating that God had done all He could to prevent their departure. This practice resonates with the New Testament emphasis on guarding and teaching sound doctrine (2 Tim 1:13-14, 2:2) as a continuous witness to God's truth, reminding believers that truth spoken and taught remains a witness whether obeyed or disregarded.

Deuteronomy 31 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:19 reveals God's omniscient foresight regarding Israel's future disobedience and His deliberate provision for accountability. Knowing His chosen people would eventually abandon His covenant, He did not simply wait for their apostasy but commanded a specific prophetic song to be composed. This song, intrinsically tied to the covenant, serves multiple layers of divine purpose. Primarily, it's a profound act of divine pedagogy: written for enduring record, meticulously taught to all generations, and intended for deep internalization through continuous recitation. The act of "putting it in their mouths" transcends mere intellectual understanding, aiming for ingrained remembrance and habitual confession of God's ways and their own propensities. Ultimately, this foresight, combined with His instruction, establishes the song as an irrefutable witness against Israel. When they inevitably break faith, the song's existence and their familiarity with it will testify that they were warned, educated, and thus culpable, vindicating God's righteous judgment. It underscores the severity of covenant obligation and the consequences of intentional departure from God, yet simultaneously highlights God's grace in providing constant reminders and warnings, desiring repentance rather than condemnation.