Deuteronomy 11:31

For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.

For ye shall pass over {H5674} Jordan {H3383} to go in {H935} to possess {H3423} the land {H776} which the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} giveth {H5414} you, and ye shall possess {H3423} it, and dwell {H3427} therein.

For you are to cross the Yarden to enter and take possession of the land ADONAI your God is giving you; you are to own it and live in it.

For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you. When you take possession of it and settle in it,

For ye are to pass over the Jordan to go in to possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:31 is a powerful declaration by Moses to the Israelites, standing on the cusp of a momentous transition. This verse encapsulates the certainty of God's promise regarding the Promised Land.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' second major discourse in the book of Deuteronomy, delivered to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they are poised to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan. Moses is reiterating God's covenant, laws, and promises, emphasizing the importance of obedience for their future prosperity and success in the land. This particular verse highlights the divine assurance that their entry and possession of the land are certain.

Key Themes

  • Divine Certainty and Faithfulness: The repeated phrases "ye shall pass over," "ye shall possess it," and "ye shall dwell therein" underscore the absolute assurance of God's word. This was not a conditional promise but a declaration of what God would do, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant.
  • God's Gift and Inheritance: The land is explicitly stated as "which the LORD your God giveth you." It is not something they earn by conquest alone, but a divine inheritance, a fulfillment of the covenant made with Abraham generations earlier. This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and generosity.
  • Possession and Dwelling: The verb "possess" implies not just entering but taking full ownership and dispossessing previous inhabitants. "Dwell therein" signifies a settled, lasting habitation, indicating peace and security under God's favor once they have fully taken the land.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb for "possess" is יָרַשׁ (yarash), which carries the sense of inheriting, taking possession of, or dispossessing. It emphasizes the act of claiming and occupying what is rightfully given. The phrase "giveth you" comes from the Hebrew verb Χ ΦΈΧͺַן (natan), highlighting that the land is a gracious and intentional gift from the LORD, not something Israel achieved solely through their own might.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 11:31 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises. Just as Israel was assured of their physical inheritance, followers of Christ are assured of their spiritual inheritance, which includes eternal life, spiritual blessings, and a future hope (see Ephesians 1:3). This verse encourages us to step forward in faith, knowing that God will enable us to "possess" the blessings and purposes He has for us, even when challenges seem like insurmountable rivers. It calls us to trust in His word and to walk confidently into the new seasons and opportunities He leads us to, relying on His divine provision and certainty.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 1:11

    Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

  • Deuteronomy 9:1

    ΒΆ Hear, O Israel: Thou [art] to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,

  • Joshua 3:13

    And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, [that] the waters of Jordan shall be cut off [from] the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

  • Joshua 3:17

    And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
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