Deuteronomy 31 27

Deuteronomy 31:27 kjv

For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

Deuteronomy 31:27 nkjv

for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death?

Deuteronomy 31:27 niv

For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!

Deuteronomy 31:27 esv

For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death!

Deuteronomy 31:27 nlt

For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Even now, while I am still alive and am here with you, you have rebelled against the LORD. How much more rebellious will you be after my death!

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 27 Meaning

Deuteronomy 31:27 encapsulates Moses' poignant, prophetic warning to the Israelites concerning their innate tendency towards disobedience. It reveals his deep understanding of their rebellious nature, affirming that even in his presence, they had been resistant to the Lord's commands. The verse emphasizes that this rebellion, observed during his lifetime, would undoubtedly intensify after his death, highlighting their intrinsic stubbornness and inclination to depart from God's ways despite the covenant and His faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 31 27 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 31 marks a significant transition in the story of Israel. Moses, having led the people for forty years and delivered God's Law, is now old and knows he will not enter the promised land (Deut 31:2). In this chapter, he commissions Joshua as his successor, reminds the people and Joshua to be strong and courageous, and instructs them to regularly read the Law. Verse 27, in particular, comes at a moment when Moses has delivered the Song of Moses (which itself foretells Israel's future apostasy) and given the Levites charge of the Ark of the Covenant, placing the book of the Law beside it "as a witness against you" (Deut 31:26). This specific verse serves as Moses' direct, final, and most forceful accusation of the Israelites' chronic inclination to rebel, asserting that their past and present behavior is but a precursor to even greater future apostasy once his restraining influence is removed. It's a lament born of long experience and a stark prophetic truth concerning human nature and Israel's consistent failure to uphold their covenant responsibilities.

Deuteronomy 31 27 Word analysis

• For I know your rebellion:

  • I know: Moses speaks from profound experience, not mere suspicion. Forty years of leadership revealed their true hearts.
  • your rebellion (מֶרִי meri): This term signifies open revolt, a stubborn refusal to submit to authority. It is a direct act of insubordination, not accidental sin, but a chosen path. It encapsulates their repeated challenging of God's authority through Moses.

• and your stubborn neck:

  • stubborn neck (קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף q'sheh-oreph): A vivid Hebrew idiom. It literally means "hard of neck" or "stiff-necked." It pictures an ox or draft animal refusing to submit to the yoke, pulling against its master's guidance. Spiritually, it denotes extreme obstinacy, resistance to instruction, discipline, or God's will. It’s an inherent refusal to humble oneself and obey.

• behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord:

  • behold (hinneh): An interjection drawing immediate attention to the self-evident truth that follows.
  • alive with you today: Emphasizes the immediate, ongoing, and persistent nature of their rebellion, even in the presence of God's appointed leader and eyewitness to the mighty acts of God. It points to their defiance occurring despite his instruction and leadership.
  • you have been rebellious against the Lord (maritem YHWH): Reinforces the direct opposition to God (YHWH) Himself. Their rebellion isn't just against Moses, but against the divine authority he represents. This is not past, but an continuous attitude.

• and how much more after my death!:

  • how much more: A rhetorical question underscoring the intensification of their rebellious tendency. Moses' presence, his prayers, his intercession, and his strong leadership acted as a certain restraint. His departure means the removal of this earthly, direct oversight, exposing the full depth of their rebellious heart.
  • after my death: A sobering prophetic utterance. It acknowledges the inevitable future apostasy, showing God's foresight (through Moses) and humanity's inherent leaning away from God without constant divine grace and intervention.

Words-group analysis:

• "your rebellion and your stubborn neck": This pairing links two key aspects of Israel's disobedience: the outward act of "rebellion" and the inward character trait of "stubbornness" or resistance to submission. The neck being "hard" or "stiff" graphically portrays an unwillingness to bend or humble oneself to God's will.
• "while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious... how much more after my death!": This creates a potent contrast and escalation. It serves as Moses' final, desperate plea and a stark prophetic declaration. Their behavior during his leadership, a time of direct miracles and covenant establishment, was already deeply flawed; their descent into disobedience would only accelerate without his direct moral authority and presence.

Deuteronomy 31 27 Bonus section

The insight expressed in this verse speaks not only to Israel's historical context but to the universal human condition. It underscores the concept of original sin – the inherited fallen nature that inclines humanity towards disobedience. Moses, like a discerning spiritual father, perceives this inherent corruption in the people he led. This verse establishes the foundation for understanding why a physical, written law (like the Torah) alone could not achieve full obedience or righteousness; it required a witness against human rebellion, exposing the inability of the flesh to perfectly keep God's commands. It subtly foreshadows the New Testament concept that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor 3:6), implying that true obedience stems not from external pressure but from an internal transformation facilitated by God's Spirit. This prophetic declaration by Moses thus sets the stage for the unfolding narrative of Israel's repeated backsliding throughout Judges, Kings, and the Prophets, ultimately highlighting the profound need for a Messiah who would provide both redemption from sin and the spiritual capacity for a new, obedient heart.

Deuteronomy 31 27 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:27 is Moses' lament and prophecy, deeply rooted in his intimate knowledge of the Israelites gained over forty years in the wilderness. It’s not an outburst of frustration but a statement of hard, unvarnished truth about human nature, specifically the Israelite disposition. Moses foresees that without his immediate, authoritative presence – the human figure through whom God's voice had been directly heard and mediated – their inherent inclination to stray from the covenant would manifest fully. The verse serves as a crucial theological insight: the Law and even miraculous signs, without a heart transformed by God, cannot fundamentally alter human rebellion. It explains the necessity of the written Law being placed as a witness against them (Deut 31:26), testifying to their failures, and ultimately pointing to the need for God's divine intervention through a new covenant (Jer 31) and a new heart (Ezek 36) to enable true obedience. This verse underscores humanity's deep-seated propensity to reject divine authority, even when immensely blessed and directly led, making salvation entirely dependent on God's grace, not human effort.Example: A parent, after years of gentle correction and witnessing a child's consistent willfulness, anticipates that without their direct oversight, the child might further deviate from expected behavior. This isn't a prediction born of malice, but an informed understanding of character.