And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
- KJV And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
- ESV And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
- NKJV And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law.”
- NASB You shall write on the stones all the words of this Law very clearly.”
- NLT You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Israel was to inscribe the law very plainly on stones, making God's covenant terms public and unmistakable for all.
Overview
Upon entering the land, Israel was to set up plastered stones and write the law on them clearly. The emphasis on plainness underscores that God's word is meant to be known, not hidden. This public testimony anticipated a people accountable to a covenant they could read and understand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Hab 2:2Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.
- John 16:25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
- 2 Cor 3:12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
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 27:8 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
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