Deuteronomy 31 25

Deuteronomy 31:25 kjv

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Deuteronomy 31:25 nkjv

that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying:

Deuteronomy 31:25 niv

he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

Deuteronomy 31:25 esv

Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,

Deuteronomy 31:25 nlt

he gave this command to the Levites who carried the Ark of the LORD's Covenant:

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 25 Meaning

This verse marks a significant milestone: the physical completion of Moses’ work in transcribing God’s comprehensive instructions for Israel. It affirms that the entirety of the Law, or Torah, given by God through Moses, was fully committed to a written form. This act solidified its divine authority, ensured its precise preservation, and established it as a permanent guide and witness for the covenant people. The emphasis is on the thoroughness and finality of this foundational act of writing the divine covenant requirements.

Deuteronomy 31 25 Context

Deuteronomy 31 occurs during the final days of Moses' life. Having led Israel for forty years in the wilderness, Moses is now preparing to hand over leadership to Joshua, as he himself will not enter the Promised Land. This chapter contains Moses' final charge to Joshua and to the people. Earlier in the chapter, Moses had publicly affirmed Joshua as his successor and encouraged the people (31:1-8). Following this, he writes the Law and instructs the priests to read it to the entire assembly every seven years (31:9-13). Verse 25, therefore, is immediately followed by Moses' command to the Levites to place this completed Book of the Law beside the Ark of the Covenant, where it would serve as a constant witness against a disobedient Israel (31:26). The broader context of Deuteronomy is Moses reiterating and expounding upon the Law given at Sinai, preparing a new generation for life in the land under God's covenant. This specific act of completing the writing solidifies the foundation of their national and religious identity before they enter a new chapter without Moses.

Deuteronomy 31 25 Word analysis

• So it was (וַיְהִי - wayhî): A common Hebrew narrative conjunction, often translated "And it came to pass." It introduces a consequential event or marks a shift in narrative, signifying the immediate follow-up to previous actions—in this case, the actual completion of writing after the general instruction to write.
• Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mōšeh): The divinely appointed mediator of God's covenant and law to Israel. His active role here underscores the human agent God used to transmit His revelation, validating the Law's origin.
• had finished writing (כְּכַלּוֹת - kəḵallōṯ, literally "at his finishing/completion"): This phrase emphasizes the absolute and thorough completion of the task. It's not a partial or ongoing work, but a finalized action. This suggests meticulousness and divine supervision in the process of putting God's words into a tangible form.
• the words (דִּבְרֵי - divrê): The plural of dāḇār, which means "word," "speech," "command," "matter," or "thing." Here, it refers comprehensively to all the commands, statutes, ordinances, and instructions God delivered through Moses. It signifies the totality and specific nature of God's spoken and revealed will.
• of this law (הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת - hatTōrāh hazzōṯ): "Torah" signifies divine instruction, teaching, or guidance, encompassing more than just legalistic rules; it points to God's blueprint for a flourishing covenant relationship. "This" (הַזֹּאת - hazzōṯ) emphatically points to the specific and complete body of instruction Moses has presented and written in the preceding chapters and overall Pentateuch. It stresses the unique and particular revelation given to Israel.
• in a book (עַל־סֵפֶר - ʿal-sēfer): "Sefer" denotes a scroll or volume, a durable physical medium. Writing "in a book" indicates its official status, permanence, and accessibility for future reference, study, and judicial appeal. It transfers divine oral tradition into a concrete, unalterable form.
• when they were completed (עַד־תֻּמָּם - ʿaḏ-tummām, literally "until their perfection/completion"): This reiterates the prior "had finished writing," emphasizing the entirety and finality of the written text. It implies nothing was left out and the recording was brought to its perfect state, confirming the comprehensive nature of the Law delivered through Moses. This phrase asserts the absolute sufficiency of the Torah given through Moses as complete divine instruction.

• "Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book": This entire phrase encapsulates the formal and authoritative documentation of God's covenant with Israel. It signifies the transition from oral revelation and Mosaic mediation to a fixed, written canon, setting the foundation for future generations to study and live by divine instruction. It establishes the Law as a foundational and enduring text, rather than a transient spoken word.
• "when they were completed": This concluding phrase reinforces the finality and exhaustive nature of the written Law. It underscores that Moses meticulously documented the full extent of God's will for Israel, leaving no part of the core covenant unwritten. This completeness is crucial for its role as a perfect guide and undeniable witness.

Deuteronomy 31 25 Bonus section

The concept of a "Book of the Law" being completed by Moses implies not just a collection of rules, but the formal canonization of foundational instruction for a people transitioning from wilderness wandering to settled nationhood. This written form served several critical purposes: for royal administration (kings to copy it, Deut 17:18), for public education and worship (to be read to all Israel, Deut 31:11), and as an unyielding standard of accountability before God. The placement of this completed "book" beside the Ark of the Covenant (Deut 31:26) physically symbolized its sacred authority, its intimate connection to God's presence, and its role as the covenant's witness. This act of writing also has typological significance, foreshadowing the written nature of all subsequent divine revelation culminating in the completed canon of Scripture, intended for all of God's people.

Deuteronomy 31 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:25 highlights the essential truth that God's covenant requirements and instructions were definitively put into written form by Moses. This act of "finishing writing the words of this law in a book" speaks to the divine imperative for preservation and permanence of God's revelation. It confirms that the Torah delivered by Moses was comprehensive and complete, establishing an unchangeable standard for Israel's conduct and worship. This written Law would serve as a constant reference point for justice, an educational text for future generations, and critically, a permanent witness against Israel should they stray from their covenant obligations. The emphasis on "completion" assures us that what Moses penned contained the full and perfect counsel God intended for His people at that time, foundational for their identity and relationship with Him.