Deuteronomy 31 20

Deuteronomy 31:20 kjv

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 nkjv

When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 niv

When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 esv

For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 nlt

For I will bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors ? a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will become prosperous, eat all the food they want, and become fat. But they will begin to worship other gods; they will despise me and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 20 Meaning

This verse is a prophetic warning delivered by Moses to the Israelites. It foretells that once God brings them into the abundant land promised to their ancestors, and they experience full provision and prosperity, their response will paradoxically be to abandon the Lord. They will turn to worship other gods, actively serving them, thereby despising their true God and definitively breaking the covenant they made with Him.

Deuteronomy 31 20 Context

Deuteronomy 31 takes place in Moses' final discourse before his death and the Israelites' entry into the Promised Land. This chapter highlights God's commissioning of Joshua as the new leader, Moses' final encouragement to the people, and the divine revelation that Israel would inevitably forsake God after entering and prospering in the land. This specific verse introduces a prophetic song (Deuteronomy 32) that God commands Moses to teach the people. This song serves as a "witness" against Israel, providing a solemn prediction of their future unfaithfulness. The historical and cultural context is one of a transitioning generation poised to inherit immense blessings, yet with an ingrained human tendency towards idolatry, deeply influenced by the polytheistic practices of surrounding Canaanite cultures. Moses' prophecy here prepares Israel for understanding the covenantal curses that will follow their foreseen apostasy.

Deuteronomy 31 20 Word analysis

• When I have brought them: God's initiation and faithfulness in fulfilling His promise, demonstrating His commitment despite foreknowing Israel's future actions.
• land flowing with milk and honey: (Hebrew: ’eretz zavath chalav udevash) A metaphorical description of extraordinary fertility, abundance, and wealth. It symbolizes the fullness of God's blessing and the fulfillment of His ancient promise.
• which I swore to give to their fathers: (Hebrew: nishba’ti) Emphasizes the foundational Abrahamic Covenant, God's unchangeable oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 12, 15, 17). It underscores God's unwavering faithfulness as contrasted with Israel's future disloyalty.
• and they have eaten and are full and grown fat: (Hebrew: va’akhalu, vayisba’u, vayishmanu)
  • eaten (‘ākal): Simple act of consumption.
  • full (śāḇa‘): Refers to being sated, having abundant provision, indicative of prosperity.
  • grown fat (šāman): Beyond physical size, this metaphorically denotes complacency, self-satisfaction, spiritual dullness, arrogance, and independence from God. This critical phrase often foreshadows spiritual rebellion, implying that material comfort would lead to a false sense of security and a forgetting of God (cf. Deut 32:15, Hos 13:6).
• then they will turn to other gods: (Hebrew: ufana el elohim acherim) A complete reorientation of allegiance, indicating spiritual idolatry and defection from the One true God to pagan deities of surrounding nations, particularly Canaanite Baals and Asherahs.
• and serve them: (Hebrew: va’avdum) Denotes active, intentional worship and devotion to these false gods, including participating in their rites and rituals, thus transferring loyalty and obedience.
• and despise Me: (Hebrew: vene’atzuni) To scorn, disdain, treat with contempt, or reject as insignificant. This highlights a deep ingratitude and a willful spurning of the gracious God who had blessed them so profusely.
• and break My covenant: (Hebrew: veheferu et beriti) A severe breach of the Mosaic Covenant, the binding agreement between God and Israel. This act would signify a rejection of its terms, particularly the first and second commandments against idolatry, severing their faithful relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 31 20 Bonus section

This verse provides profound insight into God's omniscience and foreknowledge, as He explicitly reveals Israel's future actions even before they occur. This divine foretelling does not remove Israel's responsibility for their choices, but rather underscores God's perfect understanding of human fallenness and the persistent pull towards idolatry. The historical outworking of this prophecy in Israel's experience, from the period of the Judges through the monarchy and eventually to the Babylonian exile, stands as a testament to its accuracy and the tragic reality of human ingratitude. It emphasizes the chronic need for humanity to be continually reminded of God's goodness and covenant fidelity, particularly in times of abundance. Furthermore, this prophecy implicitly points towards the necessity of a "new covenant" (as spoken of in Jer 31) where God would sovereignly enable His people to keep His law, fundamentally addressing the problem of the rebellious human heart described here.

Deuteronomy 31 20 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:20 presents a stark and sober prophecy: Israel's future unfaithfulness, paradoxically, will not be triggered by hardship but by the very blessings God bestows. The progression "eaten and are full and grown fat" highlights the subtle danger of prosperity leading to complacency and spiritual arrogance. When people become comfortable and feel self-sufficient, they tend to forget their reliance on God. This spiritual amnesia inevitably leads to idolatry, as Israel turns to "other gods" in pursuit of what they wrongly believe will sustain their prosperity or simply out of spiritual wanderlust. Their actions signify a deliberate act of "despising" God—treating Him with contempt and ingratitude—and a clear "breaking of My covenant." This passage serves as a theological foundation for understanding Israel's cyclical apostasy throughout its history (e.g., Judges, Kings). It powerfully illustrates the inherent human tendency toward rebellion even when bathed in divine favor, thus underscoring the necessity of persistent remembrance and obedience to God in all circumstances.