Deuteronomy 11:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Complete Jewish Bible:

so that you and your children will live long on the land ADONAI swore to your ancestors that he would give them for as long as there is sky above the earth. (vii & Maftir)

Berean Standard Bible:

so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers.

American Standard Version:

that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

That your days{H3117} may be multiplied{H7235}, and the days{H3117} of your children{H1121}, in the land{H127} which the LORD{H3068} sware{H7650} unto your fathers{H1} to give{H5414} them, as the days{H3117} of heaven{H8064} upon the earth{H776}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Proverbs 4:10

  • Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Proverbs 3:2

  • For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Psalms 72:5

  • They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

Proverbs 9:11

  • For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Deuteronomy 4:40

  • Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong [thy] days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Psalms 89:28

  • My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

Psalms 89:29

  • His seed also will I make [to endure] for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 11:21

Deuteronomy 11:21 is part of Moses' second address to the Israelites, which occurs in the plains of Moab before they enter the Promised Land. This verse encapsulates the promise of longevity and prosperity for the Israelites and their descendants, contingent upon their obedience to God's commandments. The historical context is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel, established through the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom God had sworn to give the land of Canaan.

The verse reflects a key theme in Deuteronomy, which is the emphasis on God's faithfulness to His promises and the conditional nature of the blessings He offers. The "days of heaven upon the earth" metaphorically suggests an enduring and blessed life, echoing the ideal existence in the Garden of Eden. This promise of long life in the land is not just for the current generation but also for their children, highlighting the intergenerational aspect of God's covenant.

In essence, Deuteronomy 11:21 is a declaration of God's commitment to His people, offering them a life of abundance and continuity in the land He had pledged to their ancestors, provided they remain faithful to Him. The verse serves as both a motivation and a warning: to live out the terms of the covenant in order to experience the fullness of God's blessings, which are as enduring as the heavens are to the earth.

*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: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  2. Strong's Number: H7235
    There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָבָה
    Transliteration: râbâh
    Pronunciation: raw-baw'
    Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
  3. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  4. Strong's Number: H127
    There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֲדָמָה
    Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
    Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
    Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
  5. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  6. Strong's Number: H7650
    There are 175 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁבַע
    Transliteration: shâbaʻ
    Pronunciation: shaw-bah'
    Description: a primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from שֶׁבַע; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times); adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for שָׂבַע), take an oath, [idiom] straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.
  7. Strong's Number: H1
    There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָב
    Transliteration: ʼâb
    Pronunciation: awb
    Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
  8. 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.
  9. Strong's Number: H8064
    There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
    Transliteration: shâmayim
    Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
    Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
  10. 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.