Deuteronomy 11:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Complete Jewish Bible:

then, [says ADONAI,] 'I will give your land its rain at the right seasons, including the early fall rains and the late spring rains; so that you can gather in your wheat, new wine and olive oil;

Berean Standard Bible:

then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.

American Standard Version:

that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

That I will give{H5414} you the rain{H4306} of your land{H776} in his due season{H6256}, the first rain{H3138} and the latter rain{H4456}, that thou mayest gather{H622} in thy corn{H1715}, and thy wine{H8492}, and thine oil{H3323}.

Cross-References (KJV):

James 5:7

  • Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Leviticus 26:4

  • Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:12

  • The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Ezekiel 34:26

  • And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

Jeremiah 14:22

  • Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

Joel 2:22

  • Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Joel 2:23

  • Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 11:14

Deuteronomy 11:14 is part of Moses' second discourse to the Israelites, which is found in the book of Deuteronomy. This book is a series of speeches that Moses gives to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, recounting their history, reiterating the law, and providing guidance for their future.

Themes:
1. **Divine Providence**: The verse emphasizes God's promise to provide for the material needs of the Israelites. The mention of rain at the right time for the harvest underscores the idea that God is intimately involved in the natural cycles necessary for agriculture and sustenance.
2. **Agricultural Blessings**: The verse highlights the importance of agriculture in the life of ancient Israel. The "first rain" (autumn rains) and the "latter rain" (spring rains) were crucial for the success of crops, particularly in the semi-arid climate of the region.
3. **Covenant Faithfulness**: The promise of timely rain is contingent upon the Israelites' obedience to God's laws, as outlined earlier in Deuteronomy. It serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where blessings are tied to fidelity to the covenant.
4. **Economic Stability**: The ability to gather in the harvest of grain, wine, and oil speaks to economic stability and prosperity. These were staples in the ancient Near Eastern diet and were also used in trade and religious rituals.

Historical Context:
The book of Deuteronomy is set in the final days of Moses' leadership, just before the Israelites cross the Jordan River into Canaan, the land promised to their ancestors. The historical context is the transition from a nomadic life in the wilderness to a sedentary, agrarian existence in a new land.

In the ancient Near East, rain was both a literal and metaphorical life-giving force. The timing and amount of rain were critical for the success of crops, and thus, the survival and prosperity of the people. The "first rain" typically occurred in October or November, softening the ground for plowing and sowing. The "latter rain" came in the spring, around March or April, to help the maturing crops reach full growth before the dry summer season.

Deuteronomy 11:14, therefore, reflects the agrarian lifestyle of the Israelites and the importance of reliable agricultural cycles for their societal and religious life. It also serves as a theological statement about God's care for the people and the expectation that they would live in accordance with the covenant they had entered into with Him.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  2. Strong's Number: H4306
    There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָטַר
    Transliteration: mâṭar
    Pronunciation: maw-tawr'
    Description: from מָטַר; rain; rain.
  3. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  4. Strong's Number: H6256
    There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵת
    Transliteration: ʻêth
    Pronunciation: ayth
    Description: from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.
  5. Strong's Number: H3138
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹרֶה
    Transliteration: yôwreh
    Pronunciation: yo-reh'
    Description: active participle of יָרָה; sprinkling; hence, a sprinkling (or autumnal showers); first rain, former (rain).
  6. Strong's Number: H4456
    There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַלְקוֹשׁ
    Transliteration: malqôwsh
    Pronunciation: mal-koshe'
    Description: from לָקַשׁ; (compare לֶקֶשׁ); the spring rain; figuratively, eloquence; latter rain.
  7. Strong's Number: H622
    There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָסַף
    Transliteration: ʼâçaph
    Pronunciation: aw-saf'
    Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.
  8. Strong's Number: H1715
    There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּגָן
    Transliteration: dâgân
    Pronunciation: daw-gawn'
    Description: from דָּגָה; properly, increase, i.e. grain; corn (floor), wheat.
  9. Strong's Number: H8492
    There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תִּירוֹשׁ
    Transliteration: tîyrôwsh
    Pronunciation: tee-roshe'
    Description: or תִּירֹשׁ; from יָרַשׁ in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine; (new, sweet) wine.
  10. Strong's Number: H3323
    There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִצְהָר
    Transliteration: yitshâr
    Pronunciation: yits-hawr'
    Description: from צָהַר; oil (as producing light); figuratively, anointing; [phrase] anointed oil.