Deuteronomy 31 5

Deuteronomy 31:5 kjv

And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 31:5 nkjv

The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 31:5 niv

The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 31:5 esv

And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 31:5 nlt

The LORD will hand over to you the people who live there, and you must deal with them as I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 31 verses

Deuteronomy 31 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 31:5 conveys a two-part divine assurance and command: first, the certainty of the LORD's direct intervention in granting Israel victory over the inhabitants of the land, emphasizing His power and faithfulness in covenant fulfillment; and second, the unwavering imperative for Israel to meticulously and completely obey all specific instructions previously given by God through Moses concerning the handling of these nations, particularly the ordinances of "kherem" or devoted destruction.

Deuteronomy 31 5 Context

Deuteronomy 31:5 is nestled within Moses' valedictory address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before his death and their impending entry into the Promised Land. The immediate context of chapter 31 involves Moses reassuring the people and commissioning Joshua as his successor. Moses reminds them that just as the LORD defeated Sihon and Og, He will do the same to all the kingdoms of the Canaanites (Deut 31:4). This verse thus transitions from the promise of divine victory to the subsequent human responsibility of carrying out God's specific instructions. Historically, the Israelites were about to engage in a unique period of "holy war" or kherem, unlike typical ancient Near Eastern conflicts. Their obedience was crucial to maintaining covenant fidelity and preventing defilement from the land's morally corrupt practices. This period of conquest served both as a judgment upon the Canaanite nations for their grievous sins (such as child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, and depravity) and as a means to establish Israel as a holy nation dedicated solely to YHWH.

Deuteronomy 31 5 Word Analysis

• And: This conjunction links the present promise to the preceding divine actions against Sihon and Og (Deut 31:4), highlighting continuity in God's faithfulness and power.
• the LORD: The Hebrew term is YHWH (יְהוָה), the covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent nature and unwavering faithfulness to His promises. It emphasizes that this is not a human undertaking but a divine act facilitated by the God who made the covenant.
• will deliver: The Hebrew word is ve'natan (וְנָתַן), meaning "to give, put, set, place," but in this context signifies "to hand over" or "to surrender," guaranteeing their defeat and placement into Israel's power. It expresses the absolute certainty of God's future action and total victory, underscoring His sovereignty as the Divine Warrior.
• them over: Refers specifically to the Canaanite inhabitants of the land Israel was about to possess, as detailed in previous chapters of Deuteronomy.
• to you: Refers to the collective body of Israel, indicating a communal promise and responsibility. The victory is for their benefit as God's chosen people.
• and you shall do: The Hebrew is va'asitem (וַעֲשִׂיתֶם), a verb form carrying an imperative force. It signifies that Israel is commanded to actively participate and execute the divine instructions. This demonstrates human accountability and required obedience as a response to God's enablement.
• to them: Again, referring to the defeated Canaanite nations. The "doing" is specifically directed at them.
• according to every commandment: The Hebrew phrase is ke'chol-hamitzvah (כְּכָל־הַמִּצְוָה).
  • ke'chol: "according to all," "exactly as every." This emphasizes absolute totality and precision; no exceptions or deviations are allowed.
  • hamitzvah: "the commandment." This singular form, preceded by "every/all," refers collectively to the entire body of specific divine decrees previously given, particularly those concerning the extermination of the Canaanite nations and the destruction of their altars and idols (e.g., Deut 7:1-5; Deut 20:16-18; Num 33:50-53). It leaves no room for partial obedience or compromise.
• which I have commanded you: This specifies the divine origin of the commandments, highlighting Moses as the mediator through whom YHWH conveyed these non-negotiable instructions. The past tense "commanded" signifies that these are established, clear precepts.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the LORD will deliver them over to you": This phrase asserts God's initiative and decisive power. It signifies divine agency in securing victory for Israel, underscoring that their conquest is not by their own strength but by God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. It eliminates human boasting and grounds success in divine enablement.
• "and you shall do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you": This is a direct command requiring complete and unreserved obedience. It links divine provision directly to human responsibility. Israel's role is to act precisely according to God's detailed instructions for holy war (kherem), ensuring they cleanse the land of its pagan defilement and avoid syncretism. This was crucial for Israel's spiritual purity and continued fellowship with YHWH in the land.

Deuteronomy 31 5 Bonus Section

• Divine-Human Cooperation: This verse perfectly illustrates the biblical tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God delivers them, yet Israel does. The victory is initiated and guaranteed by God, but its outworking demands active, faithful, and precise human obedience. This pattern recurs throughout biblical narratives, emphasizing that while salvation and spiritual power come from God, His people are called to participate in His plans through acts of faith and obedience.
• The Unique Nature of Kherem: The "every commandment" specifically points to the controversial concept of kherem. Scholarly discussions highlight that this was not a blueprint for all future wars or a blanket command for genocide, but a limited, specific divine judgment in a unique historical context, intended for the moral purification of a holy land and a holy people, distinct from surrounding pagan practices. It also foreshadows ultimate divine judgment against evil.
• Joshua's Empowerment: This assurance given by Moses was critical for Joshua's leadership. It affirmed that the divine support Moses experienced would transition directly to Joshua and the new generation, removing any doubt about their capacity to fulfill the monumental task before them.
• Application for Spiritual Warfare: While the direct application of physical warfare and kherem is specific to Old Testament Israel, the spiritual principles endure. Believers are assured that God has delivered victory over spiritual enemies (Eph 6:10-18, Col 2:15) but are simultaneously commanded to "do to them" by standing firm in faith, putting on the full armor of God, and obeying His every command in spiritual warfare.

Deuteronomy 31 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:5 is a foundational verse for understanding the Israelite conquest of Canaan, marrying God's omnipotent promise with His unwavering requirement for obedience. Moses here affirms to the nascent generation that their forthcoming victories will be God's doing, echoing earlier promises that YHWH Himself fights for Israel. This promise is not a license for Israel to act autonomously, however; it immediately entails a strict command to perform every divine instruction concerning the inhabitants of the land. This included the specific and often challenging laws of kherem, or devoted destruction, applied to certain Canaanite populations. These commands were neither arbitrary nor a mere embrace of contemporary warfare ethics; rather, they represented a holy judgment from YHWH upon the profound moral decay and idolatry of the Canaanite cultures, simultaneously serving to protect Israel from spiritual contamination. The divine delivery of the enemy empowers Israel's human responsibility to execute the specific, stringent boundaries of God's justice, thereby preserving their distinct identity and covenant relationship with a holy God.