Deuteronomy 1:39

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Moreover your little ones {H2945}, which ye said {H559} should be a prey {H957}, and your children {H1121}, which in that day {H3117} had no knowledge {H3045} between good {H2896} and evil {H7451}, they shall go in {H935} thither, and unto them will I give {H5414} it, and they shall possess {H3423} it.

Moreover, your little ones, who you said would be taken as booty, and your children who don't yet know good from bad -they will go in there; I will give it to them, and they will have possession of it.

And the little ones you said would become captives—your children who on that day did not know good from evil—will enter the land that I will give them, and they will possess it.

Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:39 delivers a powerful message of God's grace and faithfulness, particularly concerning the next generation of Israelites. It stands as a stark contrast to the judgment pronounced upon their disobedient parents, who refused to enter the Promised Land, revealing God's enduring commitment to His covenant promises.

Context

Moses is delivering his farewell address, recounting the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Specifically, he recalls the pivotal moment at Kadesh-Barnea when the twelve spies returned with their report. The people, swayed by fear and unbelief, refused to obey God's command to enter Canaan. This rebellion led to God's decree that the adult generation, except for Caleb and Joshua, would die in the wilderness (as detailed in Numbers 14:29). Verse 39 highlights God's merciful provision for the children, whom the fearful parents had claimed would become "a prey" to the inhabitants of the land (Numbers 14:3), directly refuting their anxious predictions.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mercy and Faithfulness: Despite the parents' profound unfaithfulness and rebellion, God remains true to His covenant promises, extending His grace to the innocent children. This demonstrates that God's ultimate plans are not thwarted by human failure or disobedience.
  • Hope for the Next Generation: The verse offers a beacon of hope, showing that God's purposes transcend the immediate failures of one generation. The children, who were deemed too vulnerable by their parents, are precisely the ones chosen by God to inherit the Promised Land.
  • Consequences of Disobedience vs. Promise of Inheritance: It starkly contrasts the consequences of the parents' unbelief (death in the wilderness) with the blessing of inheritance for their children, underscoring the importance of faith and obedience. The land, which was withheld from the rebellious, is freely given to the innocent.
  • Innocence and Vulnerability: The phrase "which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil" emphasizes the children's innocence and lack of culpability for their parents' sins. It speaks to their dependence and God's protective care over the vulnerable, ensuring they are not punished for the sins of others.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "no knowledge between good and evil" (KJV) reflects a state of innocence or immaturity, indicating that these children were not old enough to fully understand or be morally responsible for the choices made by the adult generation. This concept is similar to how Isaiah 7:16 uses a similar idea to describe a child's discernment. The Hebrew word for "prey" (baz) implies being plundered or taken captive, highlighting the parents' grave fears that God directly counters with His promise of possession.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 1:39 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • It reminds us of God's enduring faithfulness, even when we falter. His promises are often realized through subsequent generations, encouraging us to pray for and invest in the spiritual well-being of our children and youth, understanding that God works through them.
  • It challenges us to consider the impact of our choices on future generations. While God's mercy prevails, our obedience or disobedience can significantly influence the spiritual and physical path for those who follow us.
  • It provides comfort that God cares for the vulnerable and innocent. He champions those who cannot defend themselves or are not responsible for the failures of others, demonstrating His justice and compassion.
  • The verse encourages perseverance in faith, knowing that even if we face setbacks or personal failures, God's ultimate plan for His people will prevail, often through the new generations He raises up. This echoes the broader theme of God's covenant loyalty, which extends "to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 7:15

    Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

  • Isaiah 7:16

    For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

  • Numbers 14:3

    And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

  • Romans 9:11

    (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

  • Numbers 14:31

    But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

  • Jonah 4:11

    And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle?

  • Ephesians 2:3

    Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
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