Deuteronomy 32 49

Deuteronomy 32:49 kjv

Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

Deuteronomy 32:49 nkjv

"Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession;

Deuteronomy 32:49 niv

"Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession.

Deuteronomy 32:49 esv

"Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession.

Deuteronomy 32:49 nlt

"Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own special possession.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 49 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:49 records a divine command from God to Moses. God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Abarim, specifically Mount Nebo, which overlooks the land of Canaan. From this vantage point, Moses is to behold the promised land that God is giving as an enduring possession to the children of Israel. This command is given shortly before Moses' death, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and Moses' unique but limited role in leading the people.

Deuteronomy 32 49 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 32 contains the "Song of Moses," a prophetic and historical recounting of God's faithfulness to Israel and Israel's recurrent unfaithfulness. The song warns Israel about the consequences of rebellion while reaffirming God's steadfast love and justice. Following this song (verses 1-43), the narrative shifts back to direct speech from God to Moses. Verse 49 immediately precedes God's instruction for Moses to die on the mountain, and it fulfills a prior pronouncement from God regarding Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land (Num 20:12; 27:12-14). Historically, this command marks the final stage of the forty years of wandering and the imminent entry of the Israelites into Canaan, with Moses observing it from a distance due to his sin at Meribah. The scene sets up the poignant farewell of the great leader Moses.

Deuteronomy 32 49 Word analysis

• Get thee up (עֲלֵה֙, ʻaleh): This is a direct command, an imperative verb, emphasizing the divine authority. It signifies movement from a lower to a higher place, both literally and figuratively in a sense of divine summons.
• into this mountain Abarim (הָהָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ עֲבָרִ֔ים, hahār hazzěh ʻavārîm):
  • Hahār hazzěh: "this mountain," indicating a specific, known location.
  • Abarim: A mountain range located in Moab, east of the Jordan River. The name likely means "regions beyond" or "across," indicating its position looking over Canaan. It points to the geographical location that God has pre-determined for this pivotal event.
• unto mount Nebo (הַר־נְב֖וֹ, har Nĕbō):
  • Har: "Mount."
  • Nĕbō: A specific peak within the Abarim range. It's significant as the precise point from which Moses views the land and where he subsequently dies. Its identification makes the command very concrete.
• which is in the land of Moab (אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב, asher bəʾereṣ Mōʾāḇ): Specifies the broader geopolitical location of the mountains. This was a non-Israelite territory where Israel was currently encamped.
• over against Jericho (אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י יְרֵח֔וֹ, asher ʿal-pənê Yərêḥō): "Facing" or "before" Jericho. Jericho was the first major city Israel would conquer upon entering Canaan. This phrase vividly describes the vantage point, looking directly towards the initial point of entry into the land. It underscores the visual proximity of the promised land.
• and behold (וּרְאֵה֙, urəʾēh): Another imperative command, instructing Moses to "see" or "look carefully." It implies a direct visual encounter with the land, contrasting with physical entry.
• the land of Canaan (אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן, et-ʾereṣ Kənāʿan): The long-promised territory. This is the culmination of generations of promise, anticipation, and the long journey through the wilderness.
• which I give (אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן, asher ʾănî nōṯēn):
  • Anî: "I," emphasizing divine agency – God Himself is the giver.
  • Nōṯēn: "Giving," present participle, indicating a present action with continuous effect, a current and ongoing gift. It asserts God's sovereign act of fulfilling His covenant promises.
• unto the children of Israel (לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, liḇnê Yiśrāʾēl): The recipients of the promise, Abraham's descendants, the chosen nation. This highlights God's covenant fidelity.
• for a possession (לַאֲחֻזָּֽה, laʾăḥuzzāh):
  • Aḥuzzah: "Possession," "inheritance," "property." It denotes a permanent, inherited land-holding. This emphasizes the security and permanence of God's gift to His people.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo": A precise, geographically specific command. God directs Moses to a particular vantage point, emphasizing His meticulous planning and sovereignty over the landscape and human destiny. This instruction immediately prefaces Moses' death, making the ascent a final pilgrimage.
• "which is in the land of Moab, over against Jericho": Provides essential geographical markers for clarity. The detail not only identifies the location but also frames it within the immediate historical context of the Israelites' encampment on the borders of the Promised Land and the upcoming conquest of Jericho. This proximity underscores the paradox of Moses being so close yet forbidden entry.
• "and behold the land of Canaan": The central command. Moses is granted the sight but denied physical entry. This emphasizes the limitations of Moses' mediatorial role and highlights the consequences of disobedience, even for God's chosen leader. Yet, it also affirms God's commitment to allowing Moses to witness the fulfillment of the long-standing promise.
• "which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession": Declares God's direct agency and ownership over the land, which He is bestowing as a permanent inheritance upon His people. The "I give" stresses divine prerogative and grace. It underscores the certainty of the covenant promise being fulfilled, even as its greatest human leader remains outside it. This act symbolizes that the land is not earned by Israel's merit but given by God's faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 32 49 Bonus section

• The Abarim range, and Nebo specifically, serves as a poignant symbol in Scripture: it is the place where a great leader completes his mission and sees the distant goal he cannot physically reach.
• The fact that God commands Moses to "see" the land emphasizes the assurance of the promise for Israel. It’s not a hypothetical future; it is already theirs in God's eyes, and Moses is witnessing this divine handover.
• Mount Nebo is identified in tradition as "Ras Siyagha," offering a panoramic view encompassing the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and various locations within the West Bank, consistent with the verse's description.
• The New Testament, particularly Hebrews 11:13, alludes to the experience of prophets and faithful individuals like Moses, who "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off." This verse thus serves as a powerful biblical illustration of seeing spiritual promises from a distance, foreshadowing the ultimate heavenly inheritance for believers.

Deuteronomy 32 49 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:49 is a deeply poignant verse that encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness, the consequences of disobedience, and the transition of leadership. It marks the culmination of the Israelites' desert journey and the approaching fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The command to Moses to ascend Mount Nebo to behold the land he will not enter is laden with meaning. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the precision of His decrees. Despite Moses' singular relationship with God and his exemplary leadership, his moment of distrust and striking the rock at Meribah (Num 20:12) barred him from leading the people into Canaan. Yet, in His mercy, God grants him the privilege of seeing the culmination of His promises. This vision is not just a glimpse but a divine presentation of the assured inheritance God bestows. It reminds Israel, and believers throughout time, that God fulfills His promises irrespective of human failing, often working through new means or leaders, but always holding to His covenant. This narrative teaches profound lessons on obedience, grace, and the transition of divine plans from one era/leader to the next.