Deuteronomy 9 18

Deuteronomy 9:18 kjv

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:18 nkjv

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:18 niv

Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and so arousing his anger.

Deuteronomy 9:18 esv

Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:18 nlt

"Then, as before, I threw myself down before the LORD for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the LORD hated, provoking him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9 verses

Deuteronomy 9 18 Meaning

Deuteronomy 9:18 describes Moses' second extraordinary forty-day and forty-night fast, during which he abstained completely from food and water. This intense period of supplication was undertaken specifically to intercede for the Israelites after their grave sin of making and worshipping the golden calf at Mount Horeb. Their wicked actions, committed openly before the Lord, had profoundly provoked His righteous anger, leading to a near destruction of the nation, and Moses earnestly pleaded for their forgiveness.

Deuteronomy 9 18 Context

Deuteronomy 9 forms part of Moses' farewell address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. In this chapter, Moses deliberately recalls Israel's history of rebellion against God, particularly focusing on their greatest act of idolatry: the making and worshiping of the golden calf at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses emphasizes that their upcoming conquest of Canaan is not due to their righteousness, for they have proven themselves a stiff-necked and rebellious people. Instead, it is by God's faithfulness to His covenant and His judgment upon the wicked inhabitants of Canaan. Verse 18 specifically describes Moses' personal and strenuous act of intercession that averted God's immediate wrath and destruction upon the Israelites after this severe offense. It underscores both the depth of Israel's sin and the profound mercy of God shown through the mediator, Moses.

Deuteronomy 9 18 Word analysis

• And I fell down: Hebrew: וָאֶתְנַפַּל (wa'etnaphpal). This verb is from the root naphal (נָפַל), meaning "to fall," but in this Hithpael stem, it denotes falling prostrate, humbling oneself in prayer, pleading earnestly, or expressing profound supplication and submission. It signifies an act of worship, fear, and desperate petition before a higher authority, showing deep anguish and humility.
• before the Lord: Refers directly to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The act of prostration is specifically directed towards Him, emphasizing His divine authority and the earnestness of Moses' appeal to Him alone.
• as at the first: Refers to Moses' earlier 40-day period on Mount Horeb (Exo 34:28) when he received the Ten Commandments. The parallel emphasizes the gravity of the golden calf sin, which required an equally intense and consecrated period of intercession as the initial reception of God's holy Law.
• forty days and forty nights: This period holds significant biblical symbolism. It often represents a time of divine encounter, testing, judgment, or intense preparation. Here, it denotes an extraordinary duration of intense spiritual effort and focused communion with God for a crucial outcome – averting divine judgment. It signifies a complete cycle of transformation or trial.
• I did neither eat bread, nor drink water: Describes an absolute, or total, fast. This level of fasting is reserved for moments of extreme distress, profound repentance, or desperate prayer. It underscores Moses' deep sorrow, complete dedication, and the perceived urgency and gravity of Israel's situation before God, sacrificing physical sustenance for spiritual plea.
• because of all your sins: Moses identifies the direct cause for his fervent intercession – the cumulative effect of the Israelites' disobedience and transgression. It implies the weighty consequences of their actions.
• which ye sinned: Reinforces the reality of their active and culpable participation in sin. It's not passive failing, but active wrongdoing.
• in doing wickedly: Hebrew: הִרְשִׁיעַ (hirshia), from rasha' (רָשָׁע), meaning "to be wicked," "to act impiously." This describes the nature of their sin, specifically the rebellion and transgression against divine law. It emphasizes deliberate, corrupt, and morally reprehensible conduct.
• in the sight of the Lord: Highlights that their wickedness was not hidden but committed openly and brazenly, as if in defiance of God's presence. This made their sin particularly egregious, implying a contempt for His divine authority and holiness.
• to provoke him to anger: Hebrew: לְהַכְעִיסוֹ (l'hakh'iysow), from ka'as (כָּעַס), meaning "to be angry," "to vex," "to grieve." It means they actively incited or aroused God's indignation. This emphasizes God's emotional response to sin, revealing His jealousy for His honor and His abhorrence of idolatry, which desecrates His glory and breaks the covenant. It shows sin is an offense against a personal God, not merely a breaking of rules.

Deuteronomy 9 18 Bonus section

The significance of the number forty in the Bible is pervasive, symbolizing periods of trial, purification, judgment, and revelation. Beyond Moses' two forty-day periods (Exo 34:28; Deut 9:18), examples include the forty years Israel wandered in the wilderness (Num 14:33), the forty days and nights of the flood (Gen 7:4), Elijah's forty-day journey to Horeb (1 Ki 19:8), and Jesus' forty-day temptation in the wilderness (Mt 4:2). In each case, it signifies a transformative period with profound spiritual implications. Moses' second forty-day fast specifically for the sins of Israel serves as a type, or foreshadowing, of Christ's greater intercessory work. While Moses acted as a mediator pleading for a rebellious people facing divine wrath, Jesus Christ ultimately fulfilled this role perfectly. His sinless life, sacrificial death, and eternal intercession (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25) provide a final, perfect, and all-sufficient atonement and advocacy for all believers, unlike Moses' intercession which continually required future obedience. Moses, being human, could only temporarily appease, while Christ fully propitiates God's righteous anger for those who believe. This verse is also a stark reminder of how quickly a covenant people can fall into grave sin, even after witnessing divine power firsthand, underscoring the constant human propensity towards idolatry and rebellion.

Deuteronomy 9 18 Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:18 profoundly illustrates the critical role of intercession and the dire consequences of Israel's sin, particularly their brazen idolatry with the golden calf. Moses' unparalleled fast of forty days and nights, mirrored only by his initial fast for receiving the Law, underscores the depth of the national crisis. This was not a ritualistic fast, but an extreme act of self-abasement and earnest pleading born of deep anguish over his people's rebellion and God's just anger. The "total" fast signifies Moses' absolute dedication and spiritual travail. The phrase "to provoke Him to anger" vividly portrays God's personal and righteous indignation against a people who had just vowed allegiance to Him. Yet, God's justice is tempered by His mercy, accessed through Moses' tireless advocacy. The verse reminds believers of the severity of sin, the holiness of God, and the powerful, saving effect of humble and fervent intercession. This incident, remembered by Moses, serves as a perpetual warning against future idolatry and stubbornness, highlighting that God's favor is never based on human merit, but always on His gracious covenant and responsive compassion to earnest prayer.