Deuteronomy 10:2

KJV

And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I will write {H3789} on the tables {H3871} the words {H1697} that were in the first {H7223} tables {H3871} which thou brakest {H7665}, and thou shalt put {H7760} them in the ark {H727}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will inscribe on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to put them in the ark.'

Berean Standard Bible

And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.”

American Standard Version

And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 10:2 recounts God's gracious command to Moses to prepare new stone tablets, upon which He would re-inscribe the Ten Commandments—the very words that were on the original tablets Moses had broken in righteous anger after Israel's grievous sin with the golden calf. This divine act of re-inscription, followed by the instruction to place these renewed tablets within the sacred Ark of the Covenant, powerfully symbolizes God's unwavering faithfulness, His willingness to restore a broken covenant relationship, and the enduring authority of His divine law, even in the face of human rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Moses's second major discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before their entry into the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 9 and 10, Moses is recounting pivotal moments from their wilderness journey, particularly emphasizing their rebellion at Horeb (Sinai) with the golden calf and God's subsequent mercy. Deuteronomy 10:1-5 specifically details the events following Moses's intercession for Israel after the initial covenant breaking. It serves as a direct continuation of the narrative found in [Exodus 32-34](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32-34 - The Golden Calf and Covenant Renewal"), where God commands the cutting of new tablets and re-inscribes the law, culminating in their placement in the Ark. This recounting reinforces the covenant's terms and God's character to a new generation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness, approximately 40 years after the Exodus, with the generation that witnessed the golden calf incident having largely passed away. The act of receiving and re-inscribing the law on stone tablets was culturally significant, mirroring ancient Near Eastern treaty practices where covenant stipulations were written on durable materials and placed in sacred repositories. The Ark of the Covenant, meticulously designed as detailed in [Exodus 25](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25 - Instructions for the Tabernacle and Ark"), was the central cultic object, representing God's throne and His dwelling presence among His people. The placement of the tablets within the Ark underscored their supreme authority and the covenant's vital role in Israel's identity and relationship with Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 10:2 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Forgiveness and Restoration**, demonstrating God's boundless grace in re-establishing His covenant despite Israel's profound idolatry, as seen also in His patient dealings throughout [Numbers](/numbers/1 "The Book of Numbers"). It also highlights the **Enduring Nature of God's Law**, emphasizing that His commandments are eternal and immutable, not subject to human failure or whim, a truth reiterated throughout [Psalm 119](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Greatness of God's Law"). Finally, the verse underscores the theme of **God's Desire to Dwell Among His People**, with the Ark symbolizing His presence and the tablets within it representing the heart of His covenant relationship, a precursor to the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity in Christ, as anticipated in [Isaiah 7:14](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - Immanuel Prophecy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Write (Hebrew, _kātab_):** This verb signifies the act of inscribing or recording, often with divine authority. Here, it emphasizes that the words on the new tablets are not merely a human recollection or re-creation but are directly authored and inscribed by God Himself, reinforcing their divine origin, immutability, and absolute authority. It speaks to God's initiative in restoring the covenant.
* **Brakest (Hebrew, _shābar_):** This word denotes the act of breaking, shattering, or crushing. Its use here, "which thou brakest," directly attributes the breaking of the first tablets to Moses. While Moses's act was born of righteous indignation at Israel's idolatry, it served as a powerful visual symbol of the covenant that Israel had already shattered through their unfaithfulness. The contrast between Moses's breaking and God's re-writing highlights the difference between human failure and divine restoration.
* **Ark (Hebrew, _ʾārôn_):** This term refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in Israel's worship. It was a chest overlaid with gold, containing the tablets of the law, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod. Its placement in the Most Holy Place signified God's dwelling presence among His people. The command to place the re-inscribed tablets within the Ark emphasizes their sacredness, their role as the foundation of the covenant, and their preservation as the testimony of God's relationship with Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables":** This clause reveals God's gracious initiative and unwavering commitment to His covenant. Despite Israel's profound sin of idolatry, God Himself promises to re-inscribe His law. This is not a new law, but the very "words that were in the first tables," signifying the unchanging nature of His moral demands and His faithfulness to His original covenant promises. It speaks to divine restoration rather than abandonment.
* **"which thou brakest":** This parenthetical phrase serves as a stark reminder of the immediate cause for the need for new tablets: Moses's act of breaking the original ones. This act, described in [Exodus 32:19](/exodus/32-19 "Exodus 32:19 - Moses Breaks the Tablets"), was a symbolic representation of Israel's broken covenant with God through their worship of the golden calf. It highlights the consequence of human sin and the severity of their rebellion, even as God extends grace.
* **"and thou shalt put them in the ark":** This is a divine command to Moses, instructing him on the proper place for the newly inscribed tablets. The Ark of the Covenant was the sacred repository for the covenant documents, symbolizing God's presence and the centrality of His law to Israel's identity. Placing the tablets there signifies the re-establishment and preservation of the covenant, ensuring that God's foundational words would remain at the heart of Israel's worship and national life.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 10:2 employs several potent literary devices. **Repetition** is evident in the phrase "the words that were in the first tables," underscoring the continuity and immutability of God's law despite the physical breaking of the tablets. This highlights God's steadfastness. **Symbolism** is paramount: the broken tablets symbolize Israel's broken covenant and their spiritual adultery, while the new, re-inscribed tablets placed in the Ark symbolize God's gracious restoration of the covenant and His enduring presence among His people. The Ark itself is a powerful symbol of God's dwelling. Furthermore, the verse uses **Divine Speech** ("And I will write...") to convey the direct, authoritative, and personal nature of God's action, emphasizing that this renewal originates solely from His sovereign will and mercy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 10:2 is a profound testament to God's character, revealing His unwavering commitment to His covenant people despite their egregious failures. It showcases His divine patience, restorative grace, and the enduring authority of His Word. The re-inscription of the law after the golden calf incident powerfully illustrates that while human sin can break our side of the covenant, God's faithfulness remains constant, providing a path to reconciliation and renewal. This act establishes a pattern of divine mercy that anticipates the new covenant, where God promises to write His law not on stone, but on the hearts of His people. The placement of the law within the Ark also foreshadows the ultimate indwelling of God's presence among His people through Christ.

* [Exodus 34:1](/exodus/34-1 "Exodus 34:1 - God Commands New Tablets")
* [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant and Law on Hearts")
* [Hebrews 9:4](/hebrews/9-4 "Hebrews 9:4 - Contents of the Ark of the Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 10:2 offers a magnificent portrait of God as the God of second chances, a truth that resonates deeply with the human experience of failure and the longing for redemption. In a world where mistakes often lead to irreversible consequences, this verse reminds us that God's grace is greater than our sin. When we, like Israel, stumble and break faith, God remains ready to forgive, restore, and re-establish His relationship with us, not based on our merit but on His enduring covenant faithfulness. This passage calls us to humility in acknowledging our brokenness and to confident hope in God's boundless mercy. It also challenges us to cherish God's Word, recognizing its divine origin and enduring authority, and to allow it to be enshrined not just in sacred texts, but in the very "ark" of our hearts, guiding our thoughts, words, and actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's willingness to re-inscribe the law after Israel's profound sin challenge your understanding of divine justice and mercy?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's "second chances" in your own life, and how does this verse encourage you to extend grace to others?**
* **What does it mean for us today to "put God's word in the ark" of our hearts, and how can we practically cultivate a deeper reverence for His commands?**

### FAQ
**Why did Moses break the first tablets, and what was the significance of that act?**

Answer: Moses broke the first tablets in a powerful display of righteous anger and grief upon witnessing Israel's idolatrous worship of the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, as described in [Exodus 32:19](/exodus/32-19 "Exodus 32:19 - Moses Breaks the Tablets"). This act was not a random outburst but a deeply symbolic one. The tablets represented the covenant agreement between God and Israel. By breaking them, Moses visually demonstrated that Israel had already shattered their side of the covenant through their profound unfaithfulness and rebellion against the very God who had just delivered them. It underscored the severity of their sin and the immediate consequence of their covenant breach.

**What is the deeper meaning of God re-writing the law on new tablets and commanding them to be placed in the Ark?**

Answer: The re-writing of the law on new tablets, as commanded in [Exodus 34:1](/exodus/34-1 "Exodus 34:1 - God Commands New Tablets"), signifies God's incredible grace and His commitment to His covenant despite Israel's failure. It demonstrates that God's law is eternal and unchanging, and His purposes for His people remain steadfast. The command to place these new tablets in the Ark of the Covenant, as detailed in [Exodus 25:16](/exodus/25-16 "Exodus 25:16 - Tablets in the Ark"), was immensely significant. The Ark was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne and His dwelling presence among them. Placing the law within it meant that God's foundational words were at the very heart of His presence and the nation's identity, ensuring their preservation and emphasizing their central role in the renewed covenant relationship. It was a tangible sign of divine reconciliation and the enduring nature of God's Word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 10:2, with its narrative of broken tablets and divine re-inscription, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The first set of tablets, broken by Moses, symbolized the Old Covenant, which Israel, in its sin, was unable to keep. The re-inscription by God, however, foreshadows the New Covenant, not merely a re-writing on stone, but a radical transformation where God's law is written on human hearts by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, the ultimate embodiment and fulfillment of the law, as He declared in [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it perfectly, both in His righteous life and in His atoning death. Through His sacrifice, He inaugurated a new covenant, where the very presence of God, once symbolized by the Ark containing the tablets, now dwells within believers by the Spirit, making our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit, as taught in [1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit"). Thus, Jesus is the true "Ark" of God's presence, the one in whom the divine law is perfectly embodied and through whom a broken humanity is reconciled to a faithful God, establishing a relationship far more intimate and enduring than any written on stone.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 8:9

[There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 4:13

And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Exodus 40:20

And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

Exodus 25:16

And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

Exodus 25:22

And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which [are] upon the ark of the testimony, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Hebrews 9:4

Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Deuteronomy 10:5

And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.