Deuteronomy 9:25

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down [at the first]; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"So I fell down before ADONAI for those forty days and nights; and I lay there; because ADONAI had said he would destroy you.

Berean Standard Bible:

So I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said He would destroy you.

American Standard Version:

So I fell down before Jehovah the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Jehovah had said he would destroy you.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thus I fell down^{H5307} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068} forty^{H705} days^{H3117} and forty^{H705} nights^{H3915}, as I fell down^{H5307} at the first; because the LORD^{H3068} had said^{H559} he would destroy^{H8045} you.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 9:25

Deuteronomy 9:25 is part of Moses' second discourse in the book of Deuteronomy, which is a retelling and expansion of the Law given to the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. In this verse, Moses recalls his intense intercession for the people after the incident of the golden calf, where the Israelites had violated God's commandments by worshiping an idol.

**Themes:**
1. **Intercession:** Moses serves as a mediator between God and the people, demonstrating his role as a prophet and leader. His prolonged prayer and fasting for forty days and nights show his deep concern for the Israelites' fate.
2. **Repentance and Forgiveness:** The context reflects God's willingness to forgive His people despite their unfaithfulness, emphasizing His mercy in response to genuine repentance and intercession.
3. **Covenant Relationship:** The verse underscores the covenantal bond between God and Israel, highlighting the seriousness of covenant violation (idolatry) and the importance of upholding the covenant through obedience and repentance.
4. **Divine Justice and Mercy:** It illustrates the tension between God's justice, which would destroy the people for their sin, and His mercy, which ultimately preserves them.

**Historical Context:**
The events described in Deuteronomy 9:25 occurred during the period of the Exodus, after the Israelites had been delivered from slavery in Egypt and were receiving the Law at Mount Sinai. The golden calf incident (Exodus 32) was a significant moment of apostasy that threatened to undermine the entire Exodus venture. Moses' intervention was crucial in averting the disaster and securing God's continued presence and guidance for the nation.

This verse reflects the broader historical context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan, a journey marked by both the people's frequent faithlessness and God's persistent faithfulness. It also sets the stage for the renewal of the covenant that is central to the book of Deuteronomy, as the new generation prepares to enter and possess the land promised to their ancestors.

*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: H5307
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָפַל
   Transliteration: nâphal
   Pronunciation: naw-fal'
   Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H705
   There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
   Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
   Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
   Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3915
   There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לַיִל
   Transliteration: layil
   Pronunciation: lah'-yil
   Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season).
   
7. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8045
   There are 86 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַד
   Transliteration: shâmad
   Pronunciation: shaw-mad'
   Description: a primitive root; to desolate; destory(-uction), bring to nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, [idiom] utterly.