“Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Let me pass through your land. I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.
- KJV Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.
- NKJV ‘Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn neither to the right nor to the left.
- NASB ‘Let me pass through your land; I will travel only on the road. I will not turn aside to the right or to the left.
- NLT ‘Let us travel through your land. We will stay on the main road and won’t turn off into the fields on either side.
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
The message asked only for passage along the highway, promising not to stray from the road. It emphasizes Israel's honest, limited request.
Overview
Israel's request was modest: simply to travel the main route without turning aside into Sihon's land. The promise to turn neither right nor left signals respect for Sihon's territory and good faith. Such integrity in dealing with neighbors reflects the ethical concern that runs through Deuteronomy's law.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Judg 11:19And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’
- Deut 2:6You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”
- Num 21:21–23Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 2:27 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.