Deuteronomy 9:6 kjv
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Deuteronomy 9:6 nkjv
Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
Deuteronomy 9:6 niv
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
Deuteronomy 9:6 esv
"Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.
Deuteronomy 9:6 nlt
You must recognize that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not ? you are a stubborn people.
Deuteronomy 9 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 32:9 | "And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people." | God's assessment of Israel's stubbornness. |
| Exod 33:3 | "...for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people..." | God's reluctance due to their rebellion. |
| Exod 33:5 | "...for ye are a stiffnecked people..." | Repetition of the description. |
| Deut 7:7-8 | "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you... because ye were more in number than any people... But because the LORD loved you..." | God's choice is based on His love, not their merit or size. |
| Deut 9:13 | "I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people..." | Reinforces the description in this chapter. |
| Deut 10:16 | "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." | Call to change their rebellious heart. |
| Neh 9:16-17 | "But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks... yea, and refused to obey..." | Later acknowledgment of Israel's historical rebellion. |
| Neh 9:29 | "...yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments..." | Persistent disobedience highlighted in history. |
| Isa 48:9 | "For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger... I will not cut thee off." | God's grace preserves Israel despite their sin. |
| Isa 60:21 | "...Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever..." | Future hope of righteousness and inheritance. |
| Jer 7:26 | "Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck..." | Prophetic lament over continued stubbornness. |
| Dan 9:18 | "...we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies." | Prayer recognizing reliance on God's mercy, not human merit. |
| Acts 7:51 | "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost..." | Stephen's strong rebuke to his generation. |
| Rom 3:20 | "...by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight..." | Justification is not by works. |
| Rom 3:28 | "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." | Faith, not works, is the means of justification. |
| Rom 4:4-5 | "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt... faith is counted for righteousness." | Grace contradicts earning; faith brings righteousness. |
| Rom 9:11-16 | "...that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth..." | God's sovereign choice, not human performance. |
| Gal 2:16 | "...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ..." | Emphasizes faith in Christ over legal works. |
| Gal 3:10-12 | "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse... But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident..." | Works of the law lead to curse; justification is by faith. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works, lest any man should boast." | Salvation is a gift of grace, preventing boasting. |
| Tit 3:5 | "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." | Mercy, not human works, is the basis of salvation. |
| Heb 4:1 | "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." | Implies continued reliance on grace for God's promised rest. |
| 1 Pet 1:1-2 | "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience..." | Election based on God's prior knowledge and purpose, not human works. |
Deuteronomy 9 verses
Deuteronomy 9 6 Meaning
Deuteronomy 9:6 is a pivotal verse declaring that Israel's possession of the promised land is not a reward for their righteousness but a gracious act of the Lord their God. It emphasizes that their inherent nature is one of stubborn disobedience, underscoring that the inheritance is entirely due to God's unmerited favor, not their merit.
Deuteronomy 9 6 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 9 forms a crucial part of Moses' second major discourse to Israel before they enter the Promised Land. Chapters 1-11 review their history, providing theological reflections on God's faithfulness and Israel's past rebellions. Verse 6 serves as a stark correction to any potential self-righteousness. Immediately prior, Moses reminds them of the formidable strength of the inhabitants of Canaan, emphasizing that their victory will come solely through the power of God, not their own strength (Deut 9:1-3). The warning in verse 6 directly counters any thought that they might succeed due to their superior moral standing. Moses reminds them of specific instances of their stubbornness and rebellion in the wilderness (e.g., the Golden Calf incident, rebellion at Taberah, Massah, Kibroth-hattaavah, and Kadesh-barnea are detailed in subsequent verses), underscoring that their entire history demonstrates their unworthiness. This historical backdrop reinforces the verse's central message: divine grace is the foundation of God's blessings.
Deuteronomy 9 6 Word analysis
- "Understand therefore," (Yādaʿ, ידע; here as a command to know/perceive deeply). This is a call to diligent, reflective acknowledgment. The "therefore" points back to God's demonstrated power and faithful action despite Israel's failures, as seen in the broader context of Deut 9:1-5, specifically in contrast to their powerful enemies (Deut 9:1-3).
- "that the LORD your God" (YHWH Eloheykā). YHWH (the LORD, the personal, covenantal God) underscores His unique identity and covenant relationship with Israel. Eloheykā (your God) emphasizes His particular commitment and presence with them, not a generic deity. It's the God who is bound by covenant faithfulness to them.
- "giveth you not" (Natan, נתן; with negative). The active giving of the land is entirely God's initiative, and the negative clarifies that the reason for this giving is not dependent on human conditions. It's an unearned divine gift.
- "this good land" (hāʾāreṣ haṭṭôbâ hazōʾṯ). Refers to Canaan, consistently described as desirable and bountiful, highlighting the immense value and desirability of the blessing God is providing. The emphasis on its goodness underscores the magnitude of God's benevolent provision.
- "to possess it" (lārištāh; from Yarash, ירש, to inherit/take possession). This specifies the purpose of God's action – for Israel to genuinely inhabit and own the land, fulfilling the promises made to their ancestors.
- "for your righteousness;" (bəṣiḏqāṯeḵā; from Tsedeq, צדק, righteousness/justice; here in construct form with a preposition 'on account of'). This is the crucial negation. The preposition "for" or "on account of" clearly states the basis for the action. By stating "not for your righteousness," Moses dismisses any notion that their moral uprightness is the ground for receiving the land. It directly challenges human pride and merit.
- "for ye are a stiffnecked people." (kî ʿam-qəšeh-ʿōreph ʾattāh).
- "for" (kî): introduces the reason for the preceding negative statement; it is because of their nature that it is not by righteousness.
- "stiffnecked" (qəšeh-ʿōreph): A powerful metaphor originating from the stubborn refusal of an ox to bend its neck to the yoke. It vividly describes Israel's obstinacy, stubbornness, unyielding attitude, and resistance to God's will and commands. This characteristic is seen throughout their history.
- "people" (ʿam): Indicates a collective, corporate identity. This is not about individual failings but a prevailing characteristic of the entire nation.
Deuteronomy 9 6 Bonus section
The concept of "stiff-necked" Israel recurs throughout the Old Testament and is even used by Stephen in the New Testament (Acts 7:51) to describe the continuing spiritual hardness of the Jewish people, linking past rebellion to present unbelief. This reiteration emphasizes that the problem isn't just one historical generation but a deep-seated human inclination towards rebellion against God's authority. The negative portrayal of Israel's character in this verse, juxtaposed with God's lavish blessing, profoundly illustrates God's unilateral faithfulness to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (as hinted at in Deut 9:5) despite the unworthiness of their descendants. This also serves as a polemic against common ancient Near Eastern beliefs where gods demanded perfection or great acts of worship as prerequisites for blessings; here, Israel's God blesses not on merit, but by pure sovereign grace.
Deuteronomy 9 6 Commentary
Deuteronomy 9:6 is a foundational statement on divine grace, profoundly influencing biblical theology. Moses explicitly dismantles any idea that Israel's covenant blessings—specifically the inheritance of the land—are a consequence of their merit or moral superiority. Far from being a righteous nation deserving of such a gift, Israel is candidly depicted as "stiffnecked," a persistent character flaw denoting stubborn resistance to God's commands and will. This self-description of Israel is crucial for establishing the gracious nature of God's covenant with them. It means that God’s actions toward Israel, past, present, and future, are fundamentally driven by His own sovereign will, covenant promises, and unmerited favor, rather than a response to human performance. This truth provides both humility and security: humility because they cannot boast in themselves, and security because God’s faithfulness, not their own, is the rock-solid basis of their blessings. This concept anticipates the New Testament emphasis on salvation by grace through faith, apart from works. It serves as a perennial warning against self-righteousness, directing all praise and gratitude to God alone.
- Examples:
- A child receiving an inheritance from loving parents, not because the child was perfectly behaved, but simply because they are family.
- A teacher forgiving a student's repeated disobedience and still granting them a desired privilege out of consistent goodwill.