Deuteronomy 33 11

Deuteronomy 33:11 kjv

Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

Deuteronomy 33:11 nkjv

Bless his substance, LORD, And accept the work of his hands; Strike the loins of those who rise against him, And of those who hate him, that they rise not again."

Deuteronomy 33:11 niv

Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more."

Deuteronomy 33:11 esv

Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again."

Deuteronomy 33:11 nlt

Bless the ministry of the Levites, O LORD,
and accept all the work of their hands.
Hit their enemies where it hurts the most;
strike down their foes so they never rise again."

Deuteronomy 33 verses

Deuteronomy 33 11 Meaning

Deuteronomy 33:11 is Moses’ prophetic invocation over the tribe of Levi, specifically the priestly lineage. It seeks God's divine approval and abundant provision for their material welfare and their dedicated service. Concurrently, it petitions for a decisive and complete eradication of any adversaries who would oppose or hate them, ensuring that their resistance is permanently broken and their threat utterly neutralized. This verse encapsulates both God's favor for faithful service and His protective vengeance against those who resist His appointed order.

Deuteronomy 33 11 Context

Deuteronomy 33:11 is part of Moses' farewell blessing upon the tribes of Israel, delivered just before his death and the entry into the Promised Land. This chapter, akin to Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49, is a prophetic declaration that outlines the future standing and roles of each tribe within the covenant community. Specifically, this verse addresses the tribe of Levi, distinguishing them by their consecrated role in the Tabernacle/Temple worship and their responsibility for teaching God's Law. Historically, the Levites, unlike other tribes, received no territorial inheritance, as the LORD Himself was to be their inheritance (Num 18:20-24, Deut 10:9). Their livelihood depended entirely on the offerings brought by the other tribes for their sacrificial and priestly services. This blessing reflects God's special care for their substance due to their dedication. Furthermore, the memory of Korah’s rebellion against the Levitical priesthood (Num 16) looms in the background, underscoring the spiritual and earthly opposition faced by God's chosen instruments and the necessity of divine protection.

Deuteronomy 33 11 Word analysis

• Bless (בָרַךְ - barak): This is more than a mere wish; it is a profound invocation for divine favor, empowerment, and prosperity. It implies God's active bestowing of good things and vitality.
• O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His unchanging, faithful, and personal relationship with Israel and His appointed servants. It is the proper name of God who fulfills His promises.
• His substance (חֵיל - cheyl): Refers to their material resources, possessions, or strength. For the Levites, who had no land, this signifies divine provision for their needs, derived from the offerings and tithes given by other tribes. It covers their livelihood and sustenance necessary for their full-time devotion to divine service.
• And accept (רְצֵה - retseh): Implies divine favor, pleasure, and approval. Moses prays for God to be delighted with the Levites' efforts, recognizing their sincerity and worthiness in His eyes.
• The work of his hands (מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו - ma'aseh yadav): This denotes their sacred ministry: performing rituals, offering sacrifices, maintaining the Tabernacle/Temple, teaching the Law, and judging. It speaks to their consecrated labor and all their service rendered unto God and Israel.
• Smite through (מָחַץ - machats): To strike a powerful, crushing, or debilitating blow. It signifies utter defeat and destruction, implying a wound so deep it cripples beyond recovery.
• The loins (מָתְנַיִם - motnayim): A culturally significant part of the body representing strength, vigor, procreative power, and the seat of power or a lineage. To smite through the loins means to utterly disable, render impotent, destroy one's very capability, and effectively end their future existence or line of aggression.
• Of them that rise against him (קָמִים - qamim): This refers to those who stand up in defiance, challenge, or rebellion. This directly brings to mind episodes like Korah's rebellion, where individuals directly challenged the divinely ordained authority and role of the Levites and Aaron’s priesthood.
• And of them that hate him (שֹׂנְאָיו - sone'av): This encompasses those who harbor active malice, hostility, or enmity against the Levites, whether external foes of Israel or internal antagonists motivated by jealousy or apostasy.
• That they rise not again (לֹא־יָקוּמוּן - lo-yaqumun): This conveys a desire for absolute and permanent incapacitation. It means the adversaries should suffer an irreversible defeat, ensuring they never regain strength or opportunity to oppose again.

• "Bless... his substance, and accept the work of his hands": This powerful pairing underscores God's commitment to both the material welfare and the vocational integrity of those dedicated to His service. The prosperity for the Levites was not for self-enrichment but for enabling their faithful performance of God’s commands, thereby maintaining Israel’s covenant relationship with God. Divine acceptance of their work was crucial for their identity and efficacy.
• "Smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him": This is an intense plea for God's decisive intervention against any form of opposition, both direct rebellion ("rise against") and deep-seated animosity ("hate"). The choice of "loins" highlights the severity of the intended destruction – a blow not merely to current power but to their very potential for future challenge or continuity of hostility. This polemicizes against any attempt to undermine God’s established order and those He appoints for His service, reaffirming His sovereign protection.
• "That they rise not again": This phrase completes the picture of total victory and definitive subjugation of enemies. It implies not just a momentary triumph but an enduring peace from their adversaries, ensuring the Levites could perform their duties without ongoing harassment or renewed threats. It speaks to the finality of divine judgment against those who stand in opposition to God's chosen vessels and their sacred calling.

Deuteronomy 33 11 Bonus section

• Theocratic Significance: This blessing underscores the centrality of the Levites' role in Israel's theocracy. Their spiritual fidelity was crucial for the nation's well-being. By ensuring their substance and crushing their enemies, God preserved the spiritual health and order of Israel.
• Echoes in the New Covenant: While specific to the Old Testament priesthood, the themes of divine provision, acceptance of labor, and protection from adversaries resonate for New Covenant believers, who are called a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9). Believers are encouraged to devote themselves fully to God's service, trusting in His sufficient grace for all their needs and His power to overcome spiritual and earthly opposition.
• Contextualizing "Loins": While "loins" often relates to procreative ability (Gen 35:11; Acts 2:30), in this military-contextual use, it points more directly to crushing the opponent's core strength, rendering them completely incapable of further aggression. The enemy is effectively neutralized from their very source of power or continuation.

Deuteronomy 33 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:11 is a potent prophetic declaration over the tribe of Levi, articulating divine endorsement and protection for their sacred office. Moses’ prayer acknowledges Levi’s unique position, stripped of land inheritance but enriched by God's direct provision for their livelihood ("his substance") and divine favor for their service ("the work of his hands"). This was paramount, as their entire existence revolved around ministering before the LORD, from handling sacred vessels to offering sacrifices and teaching the Torah.

The latter part of the verse reveals a fierce appeal for God’s protective vengeance. Recognizing the vulnerability inherent in their separation for God, as seen in the rebellion of Korah, Moses petitions God to "smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him." This imagery conveys a devastating, debilitating blow that targets the very core strength and reproductive capacity of the enemy, ensuring they can "rise not again." It highlights God's jealous safeguarding of His chosen servants and the sacred functions entrusted to them. This is not a human curse born of malice, but a divine prophetic request for the eradication of ungodly opposition to God's established order. The Lord is invoked as the one who will both sustain His faithful and decisively defeat His adversaries. For application, this reminds us that those devoted to God's work can trust in His provision and powerful protection against spiritual opposition, knowing their labor is under His acceptance and His enemies cannot ultimately prevail.