Deuteronomy 31:30 kjv
And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.
Deuteronomy 31:30 nkjv
Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:
Deuteronomy 31:30 niv
And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
Deuteronomy 31:30 esv
Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:
Deuteronomy 31:30 nlt
So Moses recited this entire song publicly to the assembly of Israel:
Deuteronomy 31 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Public Proclamation of God's Word | ||
| Ex 24:7 | ...Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people... | Moses reading covenant publicly. |
| Dt 6:7 | ...You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them... | Command to teach God's words to generations. |
| Jos 8:34-35 | ...Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written... | Public reading of the Law after settlement. |
| 2 Kgs 23:2 | ...Then the king went up to the house of the Lord... and read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant... | Josiah reads the newly found Law. |
| Neh 8:3 | ...He read from it in the open square... from morning until midday... in the hearing of all who could understand... | Ezra publicly reading the Law to the people. |
| Neh 8:8 | They read from the Book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense... | Clarity in public teaching of God's word. |
| Ps 22:22 | I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. | Declaration in the midst of the congregation. |
| Acts 20:27 | For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. | Paul's completeness in delivering truth. |
| Song as Instruction and Witness | ||
| Dt 31:19 | "Now therefore, write this song for yourselves and teach it to the children of Israel..." | Divine command for the Song of Moses. |
| Dt 32:46 | "...he said to them: 'Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children...'" | Command to take the song seriously and teach it. |
| Ps 78:5-7 | For He established a testimony in Jacob... That they may set their hope in God... | Statutes established for instruction to children. |
| Ps 105:2-5 | Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Remember His wonderful works... | Singing God's works for remembrance. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. | The enduring nature of God's word and witness. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs... | Role of songs in teaching and admonition. |
| Eph 5:19 | speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, | Edification and worship through spiritual songs. |
| Rev 15:3 | They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb... | The enduring legacy of the Song of Moses. |
| Israel's Covenant and Future Apostasy (Theme of the Song) | ||
| Dt 4:26 | ...you shall soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan... | Forewarning of consequences for disobedience. |
| Dt 32:15-18 | But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked... Then he forsook God who made him... | The song's specific prophecy of Israel's apostasy. |
| Judg 2:11-13 | Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals... | Israel's historical fulfillment of apostasy. |
| 2 Kgs 17:7-18 | For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God... | Description of Israel's persistent idolatry. |
| Jer 2:13 | "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters..." | Prophetic lament over Israel's spiritual rebellion. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God... | General human suppression of truth. |
Deuteronomy 31 verses
Deuteronomy 31 30 Meaning
Deuteronomy 31:30 marks a significant moment in the life of Israel, where Moses, divinely appointed leader, publicly addressed the entire congregation. He delivered "the words of this song," referring to the prophetic Song of Moses found in Deuteronomy 32. This public recitation ensured that all Israelites heard the complete message, which was intended to serve as a witness against them in future generations, reminding them of God's faithfulness and their covenant obligations.
Deuteronomy 31 30 Context
Deuteronomy 31 occurs as Moses nears the end of his life and ministry. Having recounted the Law and exhorted Israel, he commissions Joshua as his successor (Dt 31:7-8) and gives final instructions to the Levites concerning the storage and reading of the Law (Dt 31:9-13). Directly preceding verse 30, God Himself instructs Moses to write down "this song" (Dt 31:19), specifically stating its purpose: "it shall be a witness for Me against the children of Israel" because He knows they will act corruptly and forsake the covenant. Thus, verse 30 describes Moses' obedient act of publicly delivering this divinely inspired song, ensuring its deep implantation into the communal memory of the nation. It serves as both a final prophetic warning and a permanent testimonial record, given Israel's inevitable future rebellion. This public address underscored the weight and solemnity of the covenant promises and their dire warnings.
Deuteronomy 31 30 Word analysis
- Then Moses spoke: This phrase indicates the continuation and completion of Moses' divine commission. It signifies his final, authoritative address to the entire assembly, underscoring his faithfulness as a messenger of the Lord.
- in the hearing of: (Hebrew: be-ozne, בְּאָזְנֵי - "in the ears of"). This emphasizes the public, audible, and personal reception of the message. It was not a private instruction but a full, open declaration, making everyone individually and collectively accountable. The deliberate auditory focus means the message was accessible to all.
- all the assembly of Israel: (Hebrew: qahal Israel, קָהָל יִשְׂרָאֵל). Qahal signifies a convened multitude, a formal congregation or assembly of God's people. It refers to Israel as the chosen community of God, highlighting the corporate nature of the covenant and the universal scope of the message within the nation. This term lays the groundwork for the New Testament concept of the "Ekklesia" (church), a called-out assembly.
- the words of this song: (Hebrew: divre ha-shira ha-zot, דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת). "Words" (davarim) refers to a message or matter of great significance, not merely casual talk. "Song" (shirah) here is not merely for entertainment; in ancient Near Eastern contexts, songs often served as powerful mnemonic devices and profound theological, historical, or legal documents. This specific song (Deuteronomy 32) is prophetic, instructional, and a binding legal witness (Dt 31:19). It captures key covenant principles, God's character, Israel's history, and foretells their future apostasy and God's ultimate vindication.
- until they were finished: This conveys the completeness and meticulousness of Moses' delivery. He withheld nothing from the message entrusted to him, fulfilling his commission fully and faithfully. It also implies the duration and the attentive posture required from the hearers until the entire prophetic warning was given.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel": This phrase establishes the authority of the speaker (Moses, God's prophet) and the collective, public, and deliberate nature of the message's delivery. It highlights the importance of the assembly understanding and internalizing the upcoming words as God's message for their entire corporate body. The public nature meant there was no excuse for ignorance.
- "the words of this song, until they were finished": This points to the specific form and comprehensive nature of the message. The song form made it memorable and deeply impactful, while "until they were finished" guarantees that Moses, as a faithful servant, delivered the entirety of God's revealed truth concerning their future and their relationship with Him. This full delivery underscores the future accountability of Israel, for they received the complete witness.
Deuteronomy 31 30 Bonus section
The composition and public recitation of the Song of Moses stand in stark contrast to the common pagan practices of the time. While other nations relied on shifting oracles and rituals, Israel received a meticulously composed and publicly proclaimed divine word designed for long-term communal memory and spiritual accountability. The choice of a "song" for this profound message was not incidental; it facilitated memorization, communal repetition, and thus, its preservation across generations, enabling the message to serve its purpose as a witness. This demonstrates God's profound pedagogical wisdom and His desire for His people to remember His character and covenant faithfulness even amidst their predicted backsliding. The song's enduring legacy is echoed in Revelation 15:3, where the redeemed sing "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb," highlighting its continuing relevance in salvation history.
Deuteronomy 31 30 Commentary
Deuteronomy 31:30 serves as the direct introduction to one of the Bible's most profound prophetic poems, the Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32). It marks a pivotal transition: Moses, the aged prophet and faithful shepherd of Israel, dedicates his final strength to ensuring that God's last warning—a prophetic song detailing their future unfaithfulness and God's justice and ultimate faithfulness—is deeply ingrained in the collective memory of the nation. By reciting it publicly "in the hearing of all the assembly," Moses meticulously fulfills God's command (Dt 31:19), creating an inescapable record. This act transforms the song into a perpetual "witness" that would testify against Israel when they inevitably departed from the Lord. It signifies God's complete foreknowledge of Israel's disobedience, yet His compassionate provision of a warning and a path back. This passage illustrates the weight of God's Word, delivered with utmost clarity and diligence by His chosen servant, intended not just for instruction, but as a standing testimony.