While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the Lord’s instructions as follows.
Parallel translations
- WEB Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying,
- KJV On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,
- BSB On the east side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying:
- NKJV On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,
- NASB Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this Law, saying,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Beyond the Jordan in Moab, Moses began to expound the law. Deuteronomy is thus law explained and applied, not merely repeated.
Overview
The verb 'declare' or 'expound' signals that Moses is interpreting and preaching the law, not simply restating it, making Deuteronomy a model of faithful exposition. He addresses a new generation who must own the covenant for themselves. This teaching ministry, drawing out the meaning and application of God's word, anticipates the ongoing work of preaching in the church, where Christ Himself is the law's fulfillment and final interpreter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Deut 31:9Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
- Deut 32:46He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you today, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
- Deut 4:8What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you today?
- Deut 17:18–19It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.