Deuteronomy 34:7 kjv
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Deuteronomy 34:7 nkjv
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Deuteronomy 34:7 niv
Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
Deuteronomy 34:7 esv
Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.
Deuteronomy 34:7 nlt
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.
Deuteronomy 34 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 31:2 | "I am a hundred and twenty years old... I can no more go out and come in..." | Moses acknowledges his full age and readiness for transition. |
| Gen 6:3 | "his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." | God's appointed human lifespan, which Moses completed. |
| Num 12:7-8 | "My servant Moses; he is faithful... with him I speak face to face..." | Highlights Moses' unique intimacy with God, explaining his strength. |
| Dt 34:10-12 | "there arose not a prophet since... like unto Moses..." | Reinforces Moses' unparalleled position among prophets. |
| Ps 90:10 | "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years..." | Contrasts the typical human lifespan and decline with Moses' vigor. |
| Ps 92:14 | "They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing..." | Promise of sustained vitality for the righteous. |
| Is 40:31 | "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." | Divine source of renewed strength and enduring vigor. |
| Jos 1:1-9 | "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord... as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." | Details the seamless, divinely orchestrated leadership transition to Joshua. |
| Jos 14:11 | "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me..." | Caleb, another example of God's physical preservation in old age. |
| Job 5:26 | "You shall come to the grave in a full age, like a shock of grain fully ripe..." | Describes a complete and fulfilled life, fitting for Moses. |
| Prov 16:31 | "The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness." | Old age as a blessing, especially for those who walk in God's ways. |
| Dt 11:7 | "But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord which He did." | "Eyes" signifying the ability to perceive and witness God's work. |
| Matt 6:22-23 | "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light..." | Eye as a metaphor for overall health, clarity, and spiritual well-being. |
| Heb 3:5-6 | "Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony..." | Underscores Moses' enduring faithfulness and service to God. |
| 2 Cor 4:16 | "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." | Spiritual renewal can transcend physical decline, though Moses experienced physical preservation. |
| Jude 1:9 | "Michael the archangel... contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses..." | Points to the exceptional significance of Moses and his passing. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | A New Testament affirmation of divine strength for ministry. |
| Ps 103:5 | "Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." | A promise of rejuvenation and vitality through God's blessing. |
| Gen 25:8 | "Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years..." | Comparison to another patriarch whose life ended with fullness. |
| 1 Cor 10:11-12 | "Now all these things happened to them as examples... we should not lust after evil things..." | Moses' life serves as a lesson for future generations of believers. |
Deuteronomy 34 verses
Deuteronomy 34 7 Meaning
Moses, the great leader and prophet, died at the age of one hundred and twenty years. At the time of his passing, his physical health and vitality were miraculously undiminished; his eyesight remained perfectly clear, and his physical vigor was completely unimpaired, showing no signs of age-related decline. This signifies God's complete sustenance and empowerment of Moses throughout his entire life and ministry, right up to his divinely appointed end.
Deuteronomy 34 7 Context
Deuteronomy 34 marks the final chapter of Moses' life and the Book of Deuteronomy. After leading Israel for 40 years through the wilderness, Moses ascended Mount Nebo (Phaqah) as instructed by God (Dt 32:48-52). From this vantage point, God showed him the Promised Land, which he would not enter due to his transgression at the waters of Meribah. The immediate context of verse 7 highlights Moses' exceptional physical condition at his death, setting the stage for his divinely appointed and unblemished departure from earthly life, directly followed by God's burial of him and the transfer of leadership to Joshua. This ending underscores the completion of Moses' divine mission, not a cessation due to infirmity.
Deuteronomy 34 7 Word analysis
- Moses was a hundred and twenty years old (וּמֹשֶׁה בֶּן־מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה - U-Mosheh ben-me'ah v'esrim shanah):
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh): The central figure of the Pentateuch, chosen by God to deliver Israel. His age emphasizes the culmination of his long and arduous service.
- hundred and twenty years (מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה - me'ah v'esrim shanah): This age is highly significant. It aligns with the maximum lifespan allotted to humanity in Gen 6:3 ("yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years"), implying Moses lived a full, divinely ordained measure of life. It also approximates the period of the wilderness generation, connecting his life span directly to their journey.
- when he died (בְּמֹתוֹ - b'moto):
- when he died (בְּמֹתוֹ - b'moto): Indicates the specific moment of his death. The miraculous element isn't just that he lived long, but that his full faculties persisted until this exact moment, contrasting with common human experience of decline. His death was therefore a divine act of calling him home, not a yielding to physical deterioration.
- his eye was not dim (לֹא־כָהֲתָה עֵינוֹ - lo-kahatah ein-o):
- his eye (עֵינוֹ - ein-o): Refers to physical eyesight, which remained perfectly sharp. In biblical understanding, the "eye" can also represent spiritual discernment and understanding. Thus, it implies his mental and spiritual faculties were also unimpaired, he could still "see" clearly in every sense.
- not dim (לֹא־כָהֲתָה - lo-kahatah): The verb כָּהָה (kahah) means to grow dull, fade, become faint. Its negation highlights the exceptional nature of Moses' vision. This detail sets him apart from most aged individuals.
- nor his natural force abated (וְלֹא־נָס לֵחֹה - v'lo-nas lecho):
- natural force (לֵחֹה - lecho): The Hebrew word לֵחַ (leach) denotes moisture, freshness, sap, or vital vigor. It refers to the physical strength and youthful vitality that typically wanes with age.
- abated (נָס - nas): The verb נָס (nas) means to flee, vanish, or withdraw. Its negation indicates that his physical, moist vigor (associated with youth) had not "fled" or diminished. He retained his youthful physical power.
Words-group Analysis:
- "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated": This dual statement emphasizes total bodily preservation. It counters the natural aging process described elsewhere (e.g., Ecc 12:3-6, Ps 90:10). This extraordinary physical condition at an advanced age testifies to the continuous divine strengthening and care that sustained Moses. It shows his service was concluded by God's decree, not by a natural weakening preventing further action.
Deuteronomy 34 7 Bonus section
The unique burial of Moses "in a valley in the land of Moab... no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day" (Dt 34:6) further highlights his exceptionalism, consistent with the miraculous description of his physical vitality in verse 7. This unusual burial and the miraculous state of his body at death also fueled speculation, leading to the dispute over Moses' body mentioned in Jude 1:9, indicating its significant symbolic value. The completeness of Moses' physical health suggests his life was fully lived, "a shock of grain fully ripe" (Job 5:26), a divinely managed existence from birth to burial.
Deuteronomy 34 7 Commentary
Deuteronomy 34:7 stands as a profound testament to God's unique relationship with Moses and His faithful sustenance of His servant to the very end. The description of Moses' undiminished eyesight and vigor at 120 years old is nothing short of miraculous, transcending normal human experience. This detail is not merely a biographical note; it conveys theological truths. It signifies that Moses' death was not due to a natural failing or weakness of his physical body, which remained divinely robust, but rather occurred precisely when and how God intended. This highlights Moses' exceptional stature as God's chosen leader, active and able until his last breath, his full powers available for divine use. It affirms God's perfect timing and complete provision for His chosen instruments, ensuring they are fully equipped to fulfill their divine assignments. This truth applies to all believers who trust in God's power and strength for their lives and ministries, regardless of their natural abilities or circumstances.