And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Parallel translations
- WEB This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
- BSB This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.
- NKJV Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
- NASB Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.
- NLT This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death:
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
This introduces Moses' final blessing on the tribes of Israel before his death. Like the patriarchs before him, Moses blesses the nation as he departs.
Overview
Called "the man of God," Moses speaks as a prophet, pronouncing covenant blessings tribe by tribe in chapter 33, echoing Jacob's blessings in Genesis 49. A deathbed blessing carried great weight as a prophetic word over the future of God's people. It reflects God's faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel's failings, a faithfulness fulfilled and secured in Christ, in whom all the promises are Yes (2 Cor. 1:20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Josh 14:6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
- 1 Tim 6:11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
- 1 Sam 2:27And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- Gen 49:1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
- Luke 24:50–51And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- 2 Pet 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Gen 49:28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
- John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
- 2 Tim 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- Judg 13:6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
- 1 Kgs 13:1And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
- 1 Sam 9:6–7And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
- Gen 27:4And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
- 1 Kgs 13:6And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
- Gen 27:27–29And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
- Ps 90:1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
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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 33:1 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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