Deuteronomy 34:10 kjv
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Deuteronomy 34:10 nkjv
But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Deuteronomy 34:10 niv
Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Deuteronomy 34:10 esv
And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Deuteronomy 34:10 nlt
There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.
Deuteronomy 34 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 33:11 | The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. | Moses' direct interaction with God. |
| Num 12:6-8 | When there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream... not so with My servant Moses... I speak with him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles... | God contrasts Moses' unique direct communion. |
| Deut 18:15 | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—him you shall listen. | Prophecy of a future prophet resembling Moses. |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. | Fulfillment in Christ, prophet like Moses. |
| Ex 34:29-30 | Moses came down from Mount Sinai... Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. | Physical manifestation of close communion. |
| Heb 3:1-6 | Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus... Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant... But Christ is faithful as a Son over His house... | Christ's superiority over Moses, though both faithful. |
| Jn 1:17 | For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | Jesus transcends Moses in delivering grace. |
| Jn 6:14 | When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" | Recognition of Jesus as the prophet like Moses. |
| Jn 7:40 | When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet." | Further acknowledgment of Jesus. |
| Mt 17:5 | He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." | God affirms Jesus over Moses (and Elijah). |
| Mal 4:4 | Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. | Enduring legacy and authority of Moses' law. |
| Acts 3:22 | Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers...' | Peter quotes Deut 18:15 applying to Jesus. |
| Acts 7:37 | This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers as he raised me up.' | Stephen's speech referencing Moses and Christ. |
| Jn 1:45 | Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." | Jesus is the one written about by Moses. |
| 2 Cor 3:7-11 | Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory... will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? | Compares the lesser glory of the Old Covenant (Moses) with the greater glory of the New (Christ). |
| Heb 8:6 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. | Jesus' superior mediatorship. |
| 1 Pet 1:10-11 | Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully... | All prophets pointing to the salvation revealed in Christ. |
| Lk 24:27 | And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. | Jesus' teachings fulfilling Moses and Prophets. |
| Jn 5:46 | For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. | Moses' writings testifying about Christ. |
| Ps 103:7 | He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel. | Highlights Moses' unique understanding of God's ways. |
| Is 63:11 | Then He remembered the days of old, of Moses His servant: Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? | God's specific relationship and leading through Moses. |
Deuteronomy 34 verses
Deuteronomy 34 10 Meaning
Deuteronomy 34:10 declares the unparalleled uniqueness of Moses among all prophets who arose in Israel. His distinction lay primarily in the profound and intimate relationship he shared with the Lord, specifically characterized by God knowing him "face to face," signifying direct, unmediated communication and an unparalleled depth of personal acquaintance and revelation. This statement serves as a capstone to Moses' life and ministry, affirming his foundational role in Israel's history and relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 34 10 Context
Deuteronomy 34 concludes the Pentateuch, recounting the final events of Moses' life. It describes his ascent to Mount Nebo, where the Lord shows him the Promised Land, which he is permitted to see but not enter, due to his transgression at Meribah. The chapter then details his death and burial by God, his undiminished vitality at 120 years old, and the 30-day period of mourning for him by the Israelites. Verse 10, therefore, serves as a poignant epilogue, solidifying Moses' irreplaceable standing and emphasizing that no subsequent prophet achieved the same intimate level of direct divine revelation and personal knowledge as he did. This establishes a foundational theological truth for Israel: Moses was uniquely set apart by God for His redemptive purposes.
Deuteronomy 34 10 Word analysis
- And there arose not: Implies a distinct lack, a void that was never filled by any subsequent figure in Israel's history. This sets up a profound comparison.
- a prophet: Hebrew: נָבִיא (navi'). Refers to one who speaks for God, receiving divine messages, often through dreams, visions, or spiritual impression, to deliver them to the people. This word carries authority and divine appointment.
- since in Israel: Specifies the scope of the comparison – among all the prophets raised up by God within the nation of Israel after Moses' time, none reached his stature.
- like unto Moses: This highlights Moses' singular preeminence. He stands as the gold standard for prophetic ministry in Israel. His role encompassed not just prophesying but also mediating the covenant, giving the Law, and leading the nation as a ruler.
- whom the Lord knew: Hebrew: יָדַע (yada'). This "knowing" is not mere intellectual apprehension but a deep, intimate, personal, and relational knowledge, a covenantal closeness. It implies a mutual, loving, and trusting relationship. God chose Moses specifically and brought him into His inner circle.
- face to face: Hebrew: פָּנִים אֶל־פָּנִים (panim el-panim). This idiomatic expression denotes direct, clear, and unhindered communication, without veils, intermediaries (like angels), visions, or dreams. It implies intimacy and perfect understanding. While Exodus 33:20 states that no one can see God's full glory and live, this "face to face" refers to the immediacy and clarity of communication and relationship, not necessarily a physical visual encounter of God's essence, but an unclouded interaction far superior to the mediated revelations given to other prophets.
Words-group analysis:
- "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses": This phrase functions as a definitive superlative, setting Moses apart as incomparable in the line of Israel's prophets. It establishes a high, unsurpassable benchmark for divine communication and authority in the Old Covenant. It emphasizes the foundational and singular nature of the Mosaic era for Israel's faith and practice.
- "whom the Lord knew face to face": This phrase explains why Moses was unique. His unparalleled position stemmed directly from the unparalleled nature of his relationship with God. The Lord’s intimate, unmediated knowledge and communication with Moses distinguished him from all others. This points to the character of God's sovereign choice and special favour.
Deuteronomy 34 10 Bonus section
- The assertion of Moses' uniqueness highlights the immense authority and divine backing for the Law he delivered. It implies that any future revelation would need to be tested against the clarity and source of Moses' foundational truths.
- While Moses spoke "face to face" with God, Jesus is God. Therefore, the New Testament implicitly (and explicitly in Heb 3) presents Christ as transcending Moses, not just being like him. Jesus is the ultimate "Prophet, Priest, and King," through whom all of God's revelation and salvation is consummated.
- This verse concludes the Pentateuch, summarizing the preeminence of the Law and the unparalleled authority through which it was delivered. It marks the end of an era of unique divine directness with a single leader before God would communicate through a more dispersed prophetic voice.
Deuteronomy 34 10 Commentary
Deuteronomy 34:10 stands as a profound theological declaration affirming Moses' unique standing in redemptive history. It emphasizes that while many prophets would rise in Israel, none would replicate the specific intimacy and directness of communion Moses enjoyed with the Lord. His "face to face" knowledge meant receiving revelation directly, clearly, and without the filter of visions, dreams, or intermediaries that typically characterized prophetic experiences (as clarified in Num 12:6-8). This unhindered communication allowed Moses to receive the Law directly from God, mediate the Old Covenant, and serve as the singular human instrument for delivering Israel from slavery and establishing their nation under divine governance. He was not merely a messenger but an intimate confidant and steward of God's household (Heb 3:5). This verse not only glorifies Moses but also prepares the reader for the prophetic longing for "a prophet like Moses" (Deut 18:15-18), ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is not just like Moses, but is God Himself in the flesh, bringing a superior covenant and revelation (Heb 1:1-3; Jn 1:17). The verse solidifies Moses' foundational role and ensures his enduring legacy as Israel's greatest prophet under the Old Covenant, setting a benchmark for understanding true divine commission.