Deuteronomy 30:1

¶ And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call [them] to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

And it shall come to pass, when all these things {H1697} are come {H935} upon thee, the blessing {H1293} and the curse {H7045}, which I have set {H5414} before {H6440} thee, and thou shalt call {H7725} them to mind {H3824} among all the nations {H1471}, whither the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath driven {H5080} thee,

"When the time arrives that all these things have come upon you, both the blessing and the curse which I have presented to you; and you are there among the nations to which ADONAI your God has driven you; then, at last, you will start thinking about what has happened to you;

“When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you call them to mind in all the nations to which the LORD your God has banished you,

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither Jehovah thy God hath driven thee,

Commentary

Deuteronomy 30:1 serves as a pivotal introduction to a profound prophecy concerning Israel's future, marking a transition from warnings of judgment to promises of restoration. It sets the stage for God's enduring faithfulness despite human failure.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. The preceding chapters, particularly Deuteronomy 28, meticulously detail the "blessing and the curse" – the covenant consequences for obedience and disobedience. Moses is looking forward, prophetically describing a future where Israel would experience the curses of dispersion among foreign nations due to their unfaithfulness, yet still retain a path to repentance and return. This anticipated exile would eventually come to pass with the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, fulfilling the warning of being "driven" by the LORD.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Foresight and Sovereignty: God, through Moses, foretells the future scattering of Israel among nations, indicating His sovereign control over history and His people's destiny, even in their discipline.
  • Consequences of Covenant: The verse explicitly references the "blessing and the curse" from the Mosaic Covenant. It highlights that God's warnings are not empty threats but come with real, tangible consequences for disobedience.
  • Remembrance and Repentance: The phrase "thou shalt call [them] to mind" is crucial. It points to a future moment of reflection and potential repentance when the Israelites, in exile, would remember God's warnings and promises. This act of remembering is the first step toward spiritual turning.
  • Hope in Exile: Despite the grim reality of being "driven" among nations, this verse immediately precedes promises of gathering and restoration, hinting at God's ultimate redemptive plan for His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated as "call [them] to mind" is shûb el-libbĕkā (שׁוּב אֶל־לִבֶּךָ), which literally means "return to your heart" or "take to heart." This is more than just a mental recollection; it implies a deep, internal reflection leading to a change of mind, attitude, and direction – essentially, repentance or t'shuvah. It signifies an awakening to the truth of God's word and one's own condition.

Related Scriptures

  • This prophecy finds echoes in later historical and prophetic books, such as Nehemiah's prayer in Nehemiah 1:8-9, where he explicitly recalls this promise of gathering after repentance.
  • The concept of scattering and eventual gathering is a recurring theme in the prophets, vividly described in passages like Ezekiel 36:24-28, which speaks of God gathering Israel from the nations and giving them a new heart.
  • The promise of a future return from exile after a period of discipline is also central to Jeremiah 29:10-14.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 30:1 reminds us that God is faithful to His word, both in warning and in promise. It teaches us the importance of remembering God's commands and the consequences of our choices. Even when we stray and face difficult consequences, there is always a path back through repentance and turning to God. This verse offers hope, demonstrating that God's ultimate desire is not merely judgment but restoration for those who "call to mind" His truth and seek Him with their whole heart. It underscores the ongoing need for humanity to humble themselves and seek God's face.

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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

  • 1 Kings 8:47

    [Yet] if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

  • 1 Kings 8:48

    And [so] return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:

  • Deuteronomy 30:15

    ¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

  • Deuteronomy 30:19

    I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

  • Deuteronomy 4:29

    But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

  • Deuteronomy 4:30

    When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

  • Deuteronomy 29:28

    And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.