Deuteronomy 31:21

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

And it shall come to pass, when many {H7227} evils {H7451} and troubles {H6869} are befallen {H4672} them, that this song {H7892} shall testify {H6030} against {H6440} them as a witness {H5707}; for it shall not be forgotten {H7911} out of the mouths {H6310} of their seed {H2233}: for I know {H3045} their imagination {H3336} which they go about {H6213}, even now {H3117}, before I have brought {H935} them into the land {H776} which I sware {H7650}.

then, after many calamities and troubles have come upon them, this song will testify before them as a witness, because their descendants will still be reciting it and will not have forgotten it. For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore."

And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

Deuteronomy 31:21 reveals God's profound foreknowledge of Israel's future rebellion and the significant role of a special song as a perpetual witness against them. It underscores God's perfect understanding of human nature and His divine strategy to ensure His warnings would endure through generations.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' final instructions and warnings to the Israelites before his death and their entry into the Promised Land. God, knowing their hearts and their propensity to stray, commands Moses to write a song (Deuteronomy 31:19). This song, found in Deuteronomy chapter 32, is designed to serve as a legal testimony against them when they inevitably fall into disobedience and face the prophesied "evils and troubles."

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge: The verse powerfully asserts God's absolute knowledge of human nature and future choices, even before they occur. He knows Israel's "imagination" or inclination, even before they have fully experienced the blessings of the land.
  • The Song as a Witness: The divinely inspired song is not merely a hymn but a prophetic and legal witness. It would serve as an enduring reminder of God's faithfulness and Israel's covenant obligations, and their eventual failure, thereby justifying God's actions when judgment came. It highlights the consequences of disobedience clearly laid out in the Mosaic covenant.
  • Enduring Nature of God's Word: The phrase "it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed" emphasizes the permanence of God's prophetic warnings and His word. This ensures that future generations would be without excuse, having been taught and reminded of their history and covenant responsibilities.

Linguistic Insight

The key word translated "imagination" is the Hebrew term yetser (יֵצֶר). This word refers to the *formation* or *inclination* of the heart or mind. It often carries the connotation of a bent towards evil or rebellion, as seen in Genesis 6:5, where it describes the "imagination of the thoughts of his heart [being] only evil continually." Here, it underscores God's deep understanding of humanity's inherent tendency to stray from divine instruction and pursue self-serving desires.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 31:21 serves as a profound reminder of God's omniscience and the importance of heeding His warnings. It teaches us that while God knows our human tendencies and inclinations towards sin, He still calls us to choose righteousness and provides ample opportunity for repentance and obedience. For believers today, this verse underscores the enduring truth and power of God's Word. It encourages us to internalize biblical truths, allowing them to guide our hearts and actions, rather than our own fallen inclinations, and to remember that God's warnings are given out of love, to prevent future "evils and troubles."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 5:3

    I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, [and] Israel is defiled.

  • John 2:24

    But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • Amos 5:25

    Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

  • Amos 5:26

    But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

  • Genesis 8:21

    And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

  • Genesis 6:5

    And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
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