Deuteronomy 4:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance:

Complete Jewish Bible:

"But ADONAI was angry with me on account of you and swore that I would not cross the Yarden and go into that good land, which ADONAI your God is giving you to inherit.

Berean Standard Bible:

The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

American Standard Version:

Furthermore Jehovah was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Furthermore the LORD^{H3068} was angry^{H599} with me for your sakes^{H1697}, and sware^{H7650} that I should not go over^{H5674} Jordan^{H3383}, and that I should not go^{H935} in unto that good^{H2896} land^{H776}, which the LORD^{H3068} thy God^{H430} giveth^{H5414} thee for an inheritance^{H5159}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 4:21

Deuteronomy 4:21 is part of the speech Moses gives to the Israelites as they are encamped on the plains of Moab, ready to enter the Promised Land. This verse reflects on a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan. Here are the themes and historical context:

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Displeasure:** The verse conveys the theme of God's anger, emphasizing the gravity of disobedience. Moses is recounting his own experience of God's wrath, which serves as a cautionary tale to the Israelites.

2. **Leadership and Responsibility:** Moses' inability to enter the Promised Land is a consequence of his actions at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:1-13), where he disobeyed God's instructions. This underscores the responsibility of leaders to follow God's commands and the repercussions when they fail to do so.

3. **Promise and Hope:** Despite Moses' personal disappointment, the verse also highlights the promise of the land to the Israelites. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant and the fulfillment of His promises to their ancestors.

4. **Inheritance and Legacy:** The land is described as an inheritance, emphasizing the idea of a divine gift and the importance of passing on the legacy of faith to future generations.

**Historical Context:**

Deuteronomy is set at the end of the 40-year wilderness wandering, just before the Israelites enter the land of Canaan. Moses, who led the people out of Egypt, is addressing the new generation that will possess the land. The book is presented as a series of speeches that Moses delivers to this generation, reminding them of God's laws and their covenantal relationship with Him.

The specific historical event referenced in Deuteronomy 4:21 is the incident at Meribah, where Moses struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. This act of disobedience led to God's decree that Moses would not enter the Promised Land, a decree that is reiterated in Deuteronomy 3:23-28 and Numbers 20:12.

In summary, Deuteronomy 4:21 encapsulates the themes of divine justice, the importance of leadership submission to God's will, the enduring promise of God to His people, and the concept of a divine inheritance, all set against the backdrop of the Israelites' imminent entry into Canaan.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H599
   There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָנַף
   Transliteration: ʼânaph
   Pronunciation: aw-naf'
   Description: a primitive root; to breathe hard, i.e. be enraged; be angry (displeased).
   
3. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5674
   There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַר
   Transliteration: ʻâbar
   Pronunciation: aw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3383
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
   Transliteration: Yardên
   Pronunciation: yar-dane'
   Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan.
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2896
   There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טוֹב
   Transliteration: ṭôwb
   Pronunciation: tobe
   Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
   
9. 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.
   
10. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5159
    There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נַחֲלָה
    Transliteration: nachălâh
    Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
    Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל.