Deuteronomy 30:5

KJV

And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} will bring {H935} thee into the land {H776} which thy fathers {H1} possessed {H3423}, and thou shalt possess {H3423} it; and he will do thee good {H3190}, and multiply {H7235} thee above thy fathers {H1}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI your God will bring you back into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you prosper there, and you will become even more numerous than your ancestors.

Berean Standard Bible

And the LORD your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply more than your fathers.

American Standard Version

and Jehovah thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 30:5 stands as a powerful declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness and a glorious promise of restoration and superabundant blessing for the nation of Israel. Spoken by Moses on the cusp of their entry into the Promised Land, this verse assures the people that even in the face of future disobedience and dispersion, God's covenant commitment will prevail, leading to their re-gathering, re-possession of the land, and an increase in prosperity and numbers far exceeding their ancestors. It encapsulates the divine heart for redemption and flourishing, even after judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 30:5 is embedded within Moses' final, climactic address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, specifically within the "Covenant Renewal" section spanning [Deuteronomy 29-30](/deuteronomy/29 "Deuteronomy 29-30 - Covenant Renewal and Blessings/Curses"). Chapters 28 and 29 detail the severe curses for disobedience, culminating in exile and dispersion "among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other" ([Deuteronomy 28:64](/deuteronomy/28-64 "Deuteronomy 28:64 - Dispersion Among Nations")). However, chapter 30 immediately pivots to a message of hope, repentance, and restoration. Verses 1-3 describe the future scenario where, even in exile, Israel will "return to the LORD your God" and "obey His voice." Verse 4 promises that "even if you are cast out to the farthest confines of the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you." Verse 5 then elaborates on this gathering, specifying the return to the land and the subsequent blessings, directly preceding the pivotal promise of the "circumcision of the heart" in [Deuteronomy 30:6](/deuteronomy/30-6 "Deuteronomy 30:6 - Circumcision of the Heart"). This verse thus serves as a concrete manifestation of God's grace following the dire warnings of judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Moses delivered this address to the second generation of Israelites, those who had grown up in the wilderness and were now poised to enter Canaan. The first generation, due to their rebellion, had perished in the wilderness, serving as a stark warning. The concept of "the land which thy fathers possessed" directly references the [Abrahamic Covenant](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - The Abrahamic Covenant"), where God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan as an eternal possession. The cultural understanding of blessing in the ancient Near East was intrinsically linked to land, progeny, and prosperity, often seen as indicators of divine favor. The threat of exile was a terrifying reality, as it meant losing identity, land, and direct access to the covenant God, a fate experienced by other nations defeated by powerful empires. Moses' words here anticipate the future Babylonian exile and dispersion, offering a prophetic promise of return that would have been profoundly encouraging to a people about to face the challenges of conquering and settling a new land, knowing their future was secure in God's faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 30:5 powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Faithfulness and Covenant Keeping**. Despite Israel's anticipated unfaithfulness, God's commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains steadfast. This highlights God's character as one who remembers His promises and acts to fulfill them, even when His people fail. Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Restoration to the Land**, a recurring motif throughout Israel's history and prophetic literature. The physical return to and re-possession of the ancestral land is not merely a geographical relocation but a symbol of renewed covenant relationship and national identity. This theme is echoed in later prophets like [Ezekiel](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Restoration of Israel") and [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/29-14 "Jeremiah 29:14 - Return from Exile"). Thirdly, it speaks to **Superabundant Blessing**, promising not just a return to a former state, but an increase in well-being, prosperity, and numbers "above thy fathers." This signifies God's desire to bless His people richly, demonstrating His overflowing grace and generosity beyond mere restoration. The promise of multiplication echoes the original creation mandate in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Creation Mandate") and the covenant promise to Abraham in [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - Abraham's Numerous Descendants").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Good (Hebrew, _yaṭab'_):** This verb means "to be good, well, pleasing, beautiful," but when used transitively, as it is here, it means "to do good to, deal well with, make prosperous, benefit." It implies active, positive intervention by God to ensure the well-being and flourishing of His people. It's not merely abstract goodness but tangible, beneficial action that results in prosperity and blessing.
* **Multiply (Hebrew, _rabah'_):** This verb means "to be or become numerous, great, many, abundant." It speaks to quantitative increase, specifically in terms of population and prosperity. The phrase "above thy fathers" emphasizes that this multiplication will exceed the numbers and prosperity of previous generations, indicating an unprecedented level of blessing and fruitfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed,"**: This clause establishes the divine agent ("the LORD thy God") and the primary action: gathering and returning Israel to the Promised Land. The phrase "which thy fathers possessed" directly links this future restoration to the historical covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emphasizing continuity and God's faithfulness to His ancestral pledges regarding the land of Canaan. It implies a physical, geographical return from dispersion.
* **"and thou shalt possess it;"**: This short, declarative clause confirms the outcome of the divine action. It's not just a temporary return, but a re-establishment of rightful ownership and dwelling in the land. "Possess" (יָרַשׁ, _yarash'_) implies taking possession, inheriting, or occupying, signifying a secure and lasting presence in the land that was promised to their forefathers.
* **"and he will do thee good,"**: This clause expands on the nature of God's blessing. Beyond merely returning them to the land, God promises active beneficence. As noted in the key word analysis, "do thee good" implies God's direct, positive intervention to ensure their welfare, prosperity, and flourishing in every aspect of life within the land. This indicates a quality of life characterized by divine favor.
* **"and multiply thee above thy fathers."**: This final clause specifies another dimension of the promised blessing: numerical growth and increase in prosperity that surpasses any previous generation. It is a promise of superabundant blessing, where the nation will not only recover but thrive and expand beyond the experiences of their ancestors, fulfilling the ancient covenant promise of numerous descendants. This signifies a comprehensive and overflowing grace.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 30:5 employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is **Repetition**, particularly the reiteration of the concept of "possessing the land." The phrase "bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it" underscores the certainty and legitimacy of their future re-inheritance, grounding it in ancestral covenant. There is also clear **Parallelism** in the structure of the blessings: "he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers," presenting two distinct but complementary aspects of divine favor. The phrase "above thy fathers" functions as a **Hyperbole** or an emphatic statement, indicating a blessing of such magnitude that it transcends historical precedent, highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's restorative grace. The entire verse functions as a **Prophecy**, looking forward to a future gathering and blessing that would occur after a period of national apostasy and judgment, offering hope and a vision of ultimate restoration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 30:5 is a profound theological statement on the enduring nature of God's covenant faithfulness despite human failure. It reveals a God who is not only just in judgment but also infinitely merciful and committed to His promises. The restoration to the land and the superabundant blessing are not earned but are a demonstration of God's sovereign grace, flowing from His steadfast love (חֶסֶד, _hesed_). This promise of return and flourishing after exile became a foundational hope for Israel throughout its history, particularly during the Babylonian captivity, and continues to inform eschatological expectations. It underscores the biblical principle that God's ultimate desire for His people is their good and their flourishing, even when they stray.

* [Jeremiah 29:10-14](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10-14 - Plans for Welfare, Not for Evil")
* [Ezekiel 36:24-28](/ezekiel/36-24 "Ezekiel 36:24-28 - Restoration and New Covenant")
* [Romans 11:25-29](/romans/11-25 "Romans 11:25-29 - God's Unchanging Call to Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 30:5 offers a profound wellspring of hope and assurance for believers today. It reminds us that God's character is fundamentally one of unwavering faithfulness and restorative grace. Even when we stumble, stray, or experience the consequences of our own choices, God's ultimate intention for His people is not condemnation but restoration and flourishing. This verse encourages us to embrace repentance, knowing that a turning back to God is always met with His open arms and His desire to "do us good" and "multiply" His blessings in our lives. It teaches us to trust in His sovereign plan, which often involves periods of discipline followed by glorious renewal, and to look forward with hope to the ultimate fulfillment of His promises, both individually and corporally.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Deuteronomy 30:5 challenge any tendency to believe that God's blessings are solely dependent on our perfect performance?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to experience God's restorative "good" and "multiplication" today?**
* **How does the promise of God bringing His people back to the land and doing them good inform your understanding of His faithfulness in your own life's journey?**
* **What does "turning to the LORD with all your heart and soul" (cf. Deuteronomy 30:2) practically look like in your daily walk, in light of God's promise of restoration?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean that God will always bless us materially if we repent?**

Answer: While Deuteronomy 30:5 promises material blessings ("do thee good, and multiply thee") to Israel in the context of their return to the land and obedience, it's important to interpret this within the broader biblical narrative. For ancient Israel, land, progeny, and prosperity were direct indicators of covenant blessing and God's favor. For New Testament believers, while God certainly cares for our physical needs and desires to bless us, the primary blessings are spiritual: salvation, forgiveness, peace with God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The principle of God doing us "good" remains, but the *form* of that good may be different. God's "good" for us is always what aligns with His perfect will and leads to our spiritual maturity and His glory, which may not always equate to material abundance in the way Israel experienced it. The ultimate good is found in Christ, regardless of earthly circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 30:5 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the verse promises a physical return to the land and material blessing for Israel, the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ, elevates these promises to a spiritual plane, offering a deeper and more expansive reality. The "land" to which God brings His people is no longer merely a geographical territory but the spiritual reality of being "in Christ," a new creation in the Kingdom of God, where believers "possess" all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). The "circumcision of the heart" mentioned in [Deuteronomy 30:6](/deuteronomy/30-6 "Deuteronomy 30:6 - Circumcision of the Heart"), which enables true obedience and return to God, is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ ([Romans 2:29](/romans/2-29 "Romans 2:29 - True Circumcision of the Heart")). Furthermore, the promise to "do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers" is fulfilled in the superabundant grace and spiritual fruitfulness found in Christ. Believers are multiplied not just in number, but in spiritual gifts and influence for the Kingdom of God ([Acts 2:47](/acts/2-47 "Acts 2:47 - The Church's Growth")). Ultimately, the greatest good God does for us is the gift of His Son, through whom we receive eternal life and an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope and Inheritance")), far surpassing any earthly possession or multiplication. This verse, therefore, points to the comprehensive, spiritual restoration and blessing that God provides through His Son, Jesus, the true inheritor of all promises.

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

Jeremiah 29:14

And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.