Deuteronomy 31 2

Deuteronomy 31:2 kjv

And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

Deuteronomy 31:2 nkjv

And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.'

Deuteronomy 31:2 niv

"I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.'

Deuteronomy 31:2 esv

And he said to them, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.'

Deuteronomy 31:2 nlt

he said, "I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has told me, 'You will not cross the Jordan River.'

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 2 Meaning

This verse marks Moses' final public declaration to the Israelite assembly before his death, announcing that he is 120 years old and can no longer fulfill his role as their leader by going "out and in." He explicitly attributes this limitation not to physical infirmity, but to the direct command of the LORD, who has forbidden him from crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This statement sets the stage for the leadership transition to Joshua and confirms the fulfillment of God's prior decree regarding Moses' sin at Meribah.

Deuteronomy 31 2 Context

Deuteronomy 31 takes place on the plains of Moab, immediately before the Israelites are to cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan. Moses has completed the long addresses comprising most of Deuteronomy, recounting God's law, reviewing Israel's history, and preparing the people for life in the Promised Land. This specific verse initiates the final farewell and commissioning phase of Moses' leadership. Historically, Israel is poised at a momentous threshold, transitioning from the wilderness generation to the conquering generation. Moses' declaration of his age and mandated cessation serves to officially pass the mantle of leadership to Joshua (as detailed in verses 31:3-8). This also reinforces the truth that no human leader is indispensable or immortal; leadership is by divine appointment and for a specific season, implicitly standing against any pagan notions of eternal kingship or inherent, unlimited human authority. Moses' own mortality underscores God's sovereignty and unchanging nature, proving God alone is eternal and omnipotent, the true and constant leader of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31 2 Word analysis

• And he said unto them: Connects this statement directly to Moses, initiating his direct address to the assembly. It emphasizes the collective audience, Israel, who were the recipients of the law and would now witness this major leadership transition.
• I am an hundred and twenty years old this day: (Hebrew: Me'ah ve'esrim shanah hayom - מאה ועשרים שנה היום). This age is significant. Moses' life is often seen as divided into three periods of forty years: forty in Pharaoh's court, forty in Midian, and forty leading Israel. 120 years may have symbolized a divinely ordained completion or perfect lifespan for the man chosen by God to mediate the Old Covenant, possibly echoing the "120 years" mentioned in Gen 6:3 before the flood as a period of grace. His advanced age highlights a life fully lived in God's service.
• this day: (Hebrew: Hayom - היום). Emphasizes the immediate present and the timeliness of the announcement. It signifies that this precise moment marks a critical turning point and the formal conclusion of his era of leadership.
• I can no more go out and come in: (Hebrew: Lo' 'ukhāl lātse't vālābo' - לא אוכל לצאת ולבוא). This is a Hebraic idiom referring to the full capacity and authority for leadership, especially in military command and civil administration. It doesn't imply physical feebleness (Deut 34:7 states his "eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated"), but rather a divine decree limiting his authority to continue in his role. He retains his physical strength, yet his divinely sanctioned function as the active leader has concluded. It's a statement of jurisdictional boundaries, not physical inability.
• the LORD hath said unto me: (Hebrew: YHWH 'āmar 'elai - יהוה אמר אלי). This clarifies the ultimate source of Moses' cessation from leadership. It is not his own weariness or choice, but a direct, immutable decree from God Himself. This underscores God's sovereignty over His chosen servants and their appointments. It roots the upcoming transition in divine will.
• Thou shalt not go over this Jordan: (Hebrew: Lo' ta'avor 'et hayyardēn hazzeh - לא תעבור את הירדן הזה). This specific prohibition refers back to the incident at Meribah (Num 20:12) where Moses and Aaron disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. The Jordan River serves as a concrete, geographical barrier, symbolizing the divinely imposed boundary of Moses' earthly ministry. He had faithfully led them to the edge, but not into the ultimate fulfillment of the land promise. This consequence, while severe, upheld God's holiness and the necessity of complete obedience.

Deuteronomy 31 2 Bonus section

• Moses' final year of life was a period of intense theological instruction and preparation for Israel, recorded primarily in the book of Deuteronomy. His personal inability to enter the land underscored the limitations of the Old Covenant itself, which, though good, could not bring people into perfect rest or freedom from sin. The new leadership of Joshua, whose name (Yehoshua) means "the LORD saves" and is the Hebrew form of Jesus, foreshadows the ultimate entry into true rest through a greater mediator.
• The phrase "go out and come in" in ancient Near Eastern contexts was often associated with kingly or military leadership, denoting the ability to command troops into battle and manage national affairs. Moses' statement is therefore a formal resignation from all such active duties.
• Moses, though barred from entering the earthly Promised Land, was later seen with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat 17:3), signifying his entry into a greater, heavenly glory, overcoming the earthly restriction imposed by sin.

Deuteronomy 31 2 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:2 presents Moses, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, in a profound moment of humility and surrender to God's will. At 120 years old, he declares the conclusion of his earthly mission. His physical vitality remained, yet God had placed an unalterable limit on his active leadership. This verse teaches several core truths: God's servants, no matter how mighty or effective, are mortal and subject to God's ultimate plan and boundaries. God raises leaders and removes them, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled, not through human indispensable prowess, but through His sovereign appointment. Moses' inability to cross the Jordan highlights the immutable consequences of disobedience, even for those in privileged positions (referencing the sin at Meribah), yet simultaneously reveals God's faithfulness in raising Joshua to continue the covenant journey. This prepares Israel to rely not on any single human leader, but on the enduring power and presence of God Himself. It sets a powerful precedent for all leadership transitions within God's people: human tenure is temporary, but God's plan and faithfulness are eternal.