Numbers 21 34

Numbers 21:34 kjv

And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

Numbers 21:34 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon."

Numbers 21:34 niv

The LORD said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon."

Numbers 21:34 esv

But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon."

Numbers 21:34 nlt

The LORD said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon."

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 34 Meaning

This verse contains a direct divine command and promise from the LORD to Moses concerning the upcoming encounter with Og, the formidable king of Bashan. It reassures Moses and Israel not to fear Og, asserting that God has already secured his comprehensive defeat, including his people and land, delivering them completely into Israel's power. Furthermore, the verse instructs Israel to replicate the decisive victory they recently achieved over Sihon, king of the Amorites, who resided in Heshbon, setting a clear precedent and demonstrating God's consistent faithfulness in granting victory to His people.

Numbers 21 34 Context

This verse appears directly after Israel’s triumphant defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, where they completely took his land (Num 21:21-30). Their recent success provided vital territory, but immediately afterward, the Israelites proceeded northward towards Bashan, encountering Og. Given that Og was also a mighty king and potentially feared, the divine reassurance in Numbers 21:34 comes at a crucial moment. It addresses potential apprehension in Moses or the people despite their recent victory. This divinely assured victory over Og and acquisition of Bashan further cemented Israel's territorial claims east of the Jordan River, which later became the inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, setting the stage for their impending entry into the Promised Land of Canaan.

Numbers 21 34 Word analysis

• "But the LORD said to Moses" (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה - Vayomer Yahweh el-Mosheh): This emphasizes direct, personal, and authoritative divine communication from Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God. It signifies His ongoing guidance and intimate relationship with His chosen leader.

• "Do not fear him" (אַל־תִּירָא֙ אֹת֔וֹ - Al-Tira oto): "Al-Tira" is a common biblical command, literally meaning "do not be afraid." Here, it directly addresses human apprehension towards King Og. It implies that fear, if allowed, could hinder their divinely mandated progress. God’s command actively counteracts natural human intimidation by overwhelming power.

• "for I have delivered him" (כִּ֣י בְיָדְךָ֞ נָתַ֣תִּי אֹת֗וֹ - Ki v'yadcha natati oto):

  • "Ki": ("for" or "because") introduces the divine reason for the command.
  • "Natati": ("I have given/delivered") is in the perfect tense in Hebrew, indicating a completed action. Though the battle is yet to be fought, God speaks of the victory as already accomplished, highlighting His sovereignty and absolute control over events and outcomes. The deliverance is entirely God’s doing.
  • "into your hand" (בְיָדְךָ - b'yad'kha): Signifies complete control, power, and ultimate possession transferred from God to Israel via Moses.

• "and all his people and his land" (וְאֶת־כָּל־עַמּ֛וֹ וְאֶת־אַרְצ֖וֹ - v'et-kol-ammo v'et-artzo): The inclusion of "all" underscores the totality of the defeat. The conquest is not just of the king, but also of his military strength, his civilian population, and his territory. This emphasizes a complete transfer of dominion and eliminates any future threat from Og's kingdom.

• "and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon" (וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לּ֖וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתָ לְסִיחֹן֙ - v'asita lo ka'asher asita l'Sikhon):

  • "v'asita": ("you shall do") conveys Israel's active participation in fulfilling God's decree.
  • This phrase directly links the coming battle to the immediately preceding successful campaign. It uses a known, fresh victory as a pattern and guarantee for the next. This precedent serves to build confidence and reinforce Israel's understanding of God's methodology for conquest.

• "king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon" (מֶ֣לֶךְ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּחֶשְׁבּֽוֹן - melekh ha'Emori asher yoshev b'Kheshbon): Specifies Sihon, the previously defeated king. By reminding them of this recently demonstrated power, God encourages them that what He did for them before, He will surely do again.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him": This powerful pairing reveals the essence of faith in warfare: human fear is annulled by divine action. The command rests upon a divine accomplishment, not a human effort yet to be undertaken.
  • "I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand": This phrase encapsulates God's sovereignty over pagan kings and their territories. The conquest is total because it is divinely orchestrated. The act of "delivering into hand" means to put entirely under Israel's control, granting authority and ownership.

Numbers 21 34 Bonus section

• The repeated phrase "Do not fear" is a recurring divine assurance throughout the Bible, frequently given at critical junctures when God's people face daunting tasks or enemies. This highlights a fundamental human struggle against fear and God's consistent solution: His presence, power, and pre-determined victory.
• The defeat of Sihon and Og in Transjordan (east of the Jordan) was not only a crucial military success but also paved the way for the settlement of several Israelite tribes. These initial conquests served as tangible proof of God's covenant faithfulness in granting land and demonstrated His strategy for possessing the Promised Land.
• Og, king of Bashan, is later described in Deuteronomy 3:11 as being one of the last of the Rephaim, a race of giants. This detail amplifies the perceived challenge and thus magnifies the divine assurance given in Numbers 21:34. It underscores that no adversary, regardless of their perceived strength or stature, can stand against God's determined purpose for His people.
• This passage demonstrates the concept of herem (devotion to destruction), where the enemy, their people, and their land are consecrated or given over to God for complete destruction. This ensured the removal of idolatrous influences and pagan practices from the territories intended for God's people.

Numbers 21 34 Commentary

Numbers 21:34 provides a vital theological and practical assurance to Israel. Coming immediately after a significant victory over Sihon, the prospect of facing Og, another formidable king, could still induce apprehension. God directly addresses this potential fear in Moses and the people by declaring the victory over Og as an already accomplished fact ("I have delivered him"). This statement underscores God's omnipotence and pre-eminence over all earthly powers. The command to do to Og "as you did to Sihon" provides a concrete, recent example of God's power working through Israel, reminding them of His faithfulness and equipping them with a confident framework for future obedience. This teaches that God's past faithfulness serves as a firm foundation for trust in His future guidance, reinforcing that the ultimate victory belongs to the LORD and Israel's role is to trust and obey.