Deuteronomy 34 6

Deuteronomy 34:6 kjv

And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

Deuteronomy 34:6 nkjv

And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

Deuteronomy 34:6 niv

He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.

Deuteronomy 34:6 esv

and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.

Deuteronomy 34:6 nlt

The LORD buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place.

Deuteronomy 34 verses

Deuteronomy 34 6 Meaning

Deuteronomy 34:6 describes God's direct act of burying Moses. This divine interment occurred in a secluded valley within the land of Moab, near Bethpeor. The verse distinctly states that Moses' burial place remains unknown to humanity "unto this day," highlighting its perpetual hiddenness. This concealment serves to prevent idolatry and emphasizes God's sovereign care over His servant.

Deuteronomy 34 6 Context

Deuteronomy 34 concludes the Book of Deuteronomy and the entire Pentateuch. It details Moses' final moments. Chapters 31-33 recount Moses' farewell messages, blessings to the tribes, and song. Verse 34:1-5 describe Moses ascending Mount Nebo, seeing the Promised Land from afar as God had permitted, and then his death there. Verse 6 directly follows, describing God's personal act of burial, cementing the narrative of Moses' earthly end and the transition of leadership to Joshua. Historically and culturally, a leader's grave was often a known and revered monument, sometimes becoming a place of worship. This divine, hidden burial sharply contrasts with such practices, serving to protect Israel from a potential site of idolatry or syncretism, especially considering the proximity to Bethpeor, a notorious site of Israel's past sin involving pagan worship.

Deuteronomy 34 6 Word analysis

• And he buried him: The immediate antecedent of "he" is the LORD (YHWH), as implied from the preceding verses (Deut 34:5 states Moses "died there... by the mouth of the LORD"). This indicates God Himself performed the burial, a unique and highly significant act, showing ultimate care and preventing human interference. This directly counters ancient funeral customs where the community buried the deceased.
• him: Refers to Moses. His death marks the end of an era and the transition to a new leader, Joshua. The burying of Moses by God underscores his singular relationship with the Almighty (Num 12:7-8).
• in a valley: Hebrew: be-ga’i (בַּגַּיְא). A low, secluded place, away from public view or easy access. This emphasizes the hiddenness of the location.
• in the land of Moab: Moses' burial outside the Promised Land aligns with his judgment for his actions at Meribah (Num 20:12). While physically near the land, his final rest is apart, signifying a separation due to disobedience.
• over against Bethpeor: Hebrew: mul Beyt Pe’or (מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר), meaning "opposite Bethpeor" or "before the face of Bethpeor." Bethpeor was a place strongly associated with Israel's apostasy, specifically involving the Baal of Peor and Moabite women (Num 25:1-9). Burying Moses by God near such a place, yet in a hidden grave, creates a powerful theological statement. It prevents associating the holy prophet with idolatry and further underscores the distinction between God's holiness and human depravity.
• but no man knoweth of his sepulchre: Hebrew: velo-yada' ish et-qivrato (וְלֹא יָדַע אִישׁ אֶת־קִבְרָתוֹ). This is the pivotal phrase. Qiver (קֶבֶר) means 'grave' or 'burial-place'. The phrase highlights a deliberate divine act of concealment. The specific motivation is commonly understood to be the prevention of hero-worship or idolatry, a constant temptation for Israel (as seen with the bronze serpent in 2 Kgs 18:4).
• unto this day: Hebrew: ad ha-yom ha-zeh (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה). This phrase frequently appears in the Old Testament, denoting a continuing condition from the event's occurrence up to the time the narrator is writing. It confirms that the tomb remained unknown for a significant period after Moses' death, reinforcing the permanence of God's action.

Deuteronomy 34 6 Bonus section

The precise reason for Satan contending for Moses' body in Jude 1:9, as mentioned in context to the hidden sepulchre, remains a subject of contemplation among Christian thinkers. Speculations often include Satan's desire to use the body to incite idolatry among the Israelites, to desecrate a body so consecrated to God, or to dispute God's redemptive plan in some way connected to the Law Moses represented. The divine decision to bury Moses secretly is also a stark contrast to the human traditions of erecting monuments and visiting graves of revered figures, signifying that true reverence is directed toward God, not towards men, however great they may be. This preclusion of a physical pilgrimage site points prophetically to the new covenant's emphasis on spiritual worship over physical sacred places (John 4:21-24).

Deuteronomy 34 6 Commentary

Deuteronomy 34:6 serves as a powerful epilogue to Moses' life and the Pentateuch, emphasizing divine sovereignty even over the death and burial of His most cherished prophet. The act of God Himself burying Moses highlights a unique, intimate relationship and underscores the sacredness of the event. This direct intervention by the Almighty, distinct from common burial practices, immediately sets Moses apart.

The hidden nature of the sepulchre, confirmed "unto this day," speaks volumes about God's foresight and protection against potential human folly. Israel's history is replete with instances of idolatry, from the golden calf to the veneration of the bronze serpent (Nehushtan). A known burial site for Moses, a man so intimately connected with God and His Law, could easily have become a shrine, a place of false worship, or even a magical object, drawing the people away from the unseen God. God's action preemptively eliminates this danger, keeping the focus on His holiness alone.

Furthermore, the location in Moab, "over against Bethpeor," is strategically significant. This was the infamous site where Israel engaged in widespread sin and idolatry (Baal-Peor worship). By burying Moses, the epitome of the Law, near this place of rebellion, yet keeping his grave hidden, God powerfully reiterates the ultimate chasm between His purity and human corruption. Moses’ unapproachable grave signifies a barrier against the contagion of idolatry that characterized that region and threatened Israel. The Book of Jude (Jude 1:9) later reveals a celestial dispute over Moses' body, hinting at its singular importance and the spiritual implications of its disposition, confirming the unique attention given to Moses' passing and remains.