Deuteronomy 31:22

KJV

¶ Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

Moses {H4872} therefore wrote {H3789} this song {H7892} the same day {H3117}, and taught {H3925} it the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So Moshe wrote this song that same day and taught it to the people of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

So that very day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.

American Standard Version

So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 31:22 records Moses' immediate and diligent obedience to God's command to write a specific song and teach it to the Israelites. This act, performed on the very day of the divine instruction, underscores the urgency and profound significance of this final prophetic and didactic composition. The song was intended to serve as a perpetual witness against the people, anticipating their future unfaithfulness, while simultaneously preserving a vital record of God's covenant faithfulness and their obligations, thereby cementing a crucial part of Moses' enduring legacy as he prepared for his death and the transfer of leadership to Joshua.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 31:22 is situated within the final farewell discourses of Moses, as he prepares the nation of Israel for entry into the Promised Land and transitions leadership to Joshua. The immediate preceding verses, specifically [Deuteronomy 31:14-21](/deuteronomy/31-14 "Deuteronomy 31:14-21 - God's Command to Moses and Joshua"), detail the Lord's direct command to Moses and Joshua to appear before Him, where God explicitly instructs Moses to write this song. The divine rationale for the song is clearly stated in [Deuteronomy 31:19](/deuteronomy/31-19 "Deuteronomy 31:19 - Purpose of the Song of Moses"): it is to be a "witness for Me against the children of Israel," anticipating their future apostasy from the covenant. The song itself is then recorded in its entirety in [Deuteronomy 32](/deuteronomy/32 "Deuteronomy 32 - The Song of Moses"), demonstrating its central importance in Moses' final testament. This verse serves as the immediate fulfillment of that divine mandate, highlighting Moses' unwavering obedience in his final moments of leadership.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this event is the plains of Moab, just east of the Jordan River, with the Promised Land visible but still unconquered. Israel stands on the precipice of a new era, transitioning from wilderness wandering to settled nationhood. In the Ancient Near East, treaties and covenants often included curses and blessings, and sometimes a "witness" document or object to remind parties of their obligations and the consequences of breaking the agreement. A song, particularly a didactic or prophetic one, served as an ideal medium for such a witness in an oral culture, ensuring memorization and transmission across generations. The phrase "the same day" emphasizes the immediate nature of Moses' response, reflecting the urgency of the divine command given his impending death, as revealed in [Deuteronomy 31:14](/deuteronomy/31-14 "Deuteronomy 31:14 - Moses' Impending Death"). This act was a critical part of preparing a largely illiterate populace to remember God's faithfulness and their covenant responsibilities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Mandate and Obedience**, as Moses meticulously fulfills God's explicit instruction, demonstrating a model of faithful leadership even at life's end. Secondly, it highlights **Memory and Warning**, as the song's primary purpose is to serve as a perpetual reminder and witness against Israel's anticipated future disobedience, ensuring that their straying would be without excuse. This connects to Deuteronomy's overarching emphasis on "remembering" God's acts and commands (e.g., [Deuteronomy 8:2](/deuteronomy/8-2 "Deuteronomy 8:2 - Remember the Wilderness")). Thirdly, it speaks to **Leadership and Legacy**, showcasing Moses' commitment to imparting spiritual truth to the next generation, ensuring that God's covenant principles would endure beyond his physical presence. Finally, the choice of a "song" emphasizes the **Power of Poetic Form** as a medium for theological truth, making complex messages accessible, memorable, and transmissible through oral tradition, a concept echoed in other biblical songs like the [Song of Deborah](/judges/5 "Judges 5 - The Song of Deborah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wrote (Hebrew, _katab'_):** The verb כָּתַב (_katab_) signifies more than merely jotting down; it implies a formal, authoritative act of inscribing or recording. In the context of ancient Israel, writing was a significant act, often associated with legal documents, covenants, or divine revelation. Moses' act of writing this song gives it permanence and authority, elevating it to the status of divinely inspired scripture, meant to endure as a perpetual witness.
* **Song (Hebrew, _shirah'_):** The Hebrew word שִׁירָה (_shirah_) denotes a poetic composition, often with a didactic, prophetic, or celebratory purpose. Unlike a simple tune, this _shirah_ is a weighty theological and historical narrative, designed to instruct, warn, and remind the people of their covenant relationship with God. Its poetic structure would facilitate memorization and oral transmission across generations, ensuring its message would be deeply ingrained in the collective memory of Israel.
* **Taught (Hebrew, _limmad'_):** The verb לִמַּד (_limmad_) means "to teach, to instruct, to cause to learn." This is not a passive act of merely presenting information but an active, pedagogical process aimed at ensuring comprehension and internalization. Moses' diligent teaching implies that he ensured the children of Israel not only heard the words of the song but also understood their profound significance, their covenant obligations, and the solemn warnings contained within.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moses therefore wrote this song the same day":** This clause immediately follows God's command in [Deuteronomy 31:19](/deuteronomy/31-19 "Deuteronomy 31:19 - God's Command to Write the Song"), highlighting Moses' swift and unwavering obedience. The phrase "the same day" emphasizes the urgency and diligence with which Moses carried out this divine instruction, underscoring his commitment to fulfilling God's will to the very end of his life and leadership. It signifies that there was no delay or hesitation in executing this crucial task.
* **"and taught it the children of Israel":** This second clause reveals the pedagogical dimension of Moses' action. It was not enough for the song to be written; it had to be deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of the people. The act of "teaching" implies a thorough instruction process, ensuring that the entire community, from the youngest to the oldest, would know, understand, and internalize the song's message. This was vital for the song to function effectively as a witness and a perpetual reminder of their covenant with God.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 31:22 employs several literary devices that enhance its impact and meaning. The narrative uses **Direct Fulfillment**, immediately following God's command in [Deuteronomy 31:19](/deuteronomy/31-19 "Deuteronomy 31:19 - The Divine Command"), demonstrating Moses' immediate and perfect **Obedience**. The choice of a "song" itself is a form of **Didacticism** and **Mnemonics**, as poetic forms are inherently easier to memorize and transmit orally, ensuring the message's longevity and widespread adoption. The song functions as a **Symbol** of witness and a perpetual reminder, foreshadowing Israel's future apostasy while simultaneously affirming God's faithfulness. The phrase "the same day" acts as **Emphasis**, highlighting the urgency and diligence of Moses' final acts of leadership.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 31:22 underscores the enduring importance of God's Word as a living and active force in the life of His people. Just as the song was meticulously written and taught to serve as a witness and a perpetual reminder for ancient Israel, so too is God's inspired Word today meant to be internalized, taught, and passed down through generations. It is a testament to God's faithfulness, a guide for righteous living, and a warning against straying from His covenant. This verse highlights the divine imperative for instruction and the human responsibility to receive and transmit truth, ensuring that the foundational principles of faith and obedience are not forgotten but continually renewed in the hearts of believers. The act of writing and teaching emphasizes the dual nature of divine revelation: its preservation in written form and its active transmission through teaching.

* [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6 "Teaching the Law to Your Children")
* [Psalm 78:1-8](/psalm/78-1 "Passing on God's Deeds to the Next Generation")
* [Joshua 24:27](/joshua/24-27 "The Stone as a Witness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' diligent and immediate obedience in writing and teaching the song, even in his final days, offers a profound model for believers today. It challenges us to consider our own responsiveness to God's commands and the urgency with which we prioritize His Word. Just as the song was designed to serve as a witness and a means of remembering God's covenant, we are called to be living testimonies to God's truth in our own generation. This involves not only internalizing Scripture ourselves but also actively engaging in the spiritual formation of others, particularly the next generation. We are reminded of the power of creative and memorable ways to transmit biblical truth, whether through song, story, or intentional discipleship. In a world prone to forgetfulness and spiritual drift, we must intentionally cultivate a culture of remembering God's faithfulness and diligently teaching His ways, ensuring that His truth resonates through our lives and communities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Moses' immediate obedience to God's command challenge our own responsiveness and diligence in fulfilling divine instructions in our lives?**
* **In what ways can we, like the song of Moses, serve as a "witness" to God's truth and faithfulness in our families, churches, and communities today?**
* **What practical steps can individuals and communities take to ensure that God's Word is not just heard, but deeply "taught" and internalized by current and future generations?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Moses to write a song specifically, rather than just another law or speech?**

Answer: God commanded Moses to write a song because of its unique properties as a medium for conveying and preserving truth, especially in an oral culture. Unlike a mere speech or a legal statute, a song is inherently memorable, easily recited, and can be passed down through generations with greater fidelity. Its poetic structure, rhythm, and often emotional content make it more engaging and easier to internalize. As [Deuteronomy 31:19](/deuteronomy/31-19 "Purpose of the Song") indicates, the song was intended to be a "witness" against Israel, a perpetual reminder of God's covenant and their future apostasy. The enduring nature of a song ensured that even when they strayed, the words of warning and the record of God's faithfulness would remain accessible in their collective memory, leaving them without excuse.

**What is the significance of "the same day" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "the same day" (בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, _bayyom hazzeh_) emphasizes Moses' immediate, diligent, and unwavering obedience to God's command. Given that this occurs in Moses' final days, shortly before his death (as indicated in [Deuteronomy 31:14](/deuteronomy/31-14 "Moses' Impending Death")), it highlights the urgency and critical importance of this task. It demonstrates Moses' commitment to fulfilling every aspect of God's will right up to the very end of his life and leadership. This immediate action underscores the divine authority of the command and Moses' exemplary faithfulness in executing it without delay, ensuring that this vital prophetic and didactic message was secured for future generations before his departure.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 31:22, with Moses writing and teaching a song as a witness against Israel's future unfaithfulness, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. While Moses' song served as a prophetic warning under the Old Covenant, Jesus Himself is the ultimate "Word made flesh" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")), the perfect embodiment of God's truth and the definitive witness to His faithfulness. Unlike a song that merely reminds of a covenant, Christ inaugurates a New Covenant, a superior covenant "enacted on better promises" ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "A Superior Covenant")). The Holy Spirit, promised by Christ, now writes God's law not on tablets of stone or in a song to be memorized, but directly "on their hearts and on their minds" ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "The New Covenant"); [2 Corinthians 3:3](/2_corinthians/3-3 "Written on Hearts")). Moses' perfect obedience in writing and teaching foreshadows Christ's perfect obedience, even "to the point of death on a cross" ([Philippians 2:8](/phil/2-8 "Christ's Obedience")), securing redemption. Ultimately, the "song" of Moses, anticipating Israel's failure, gives way to the "new song" of redemption sung by the redeemed in heaven, celebrating the Lamb "who was slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God" ([Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "The New Song")). Jesus is the faithful and true witness ([Revelation 1:5](/revelation/1-5 "The Faithful Witness")) who not only teaches God's truth but perfectly fulfills it, bringing about the reconciliation that the old covenant's warnings could not ultimately achieve.

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

Deuteronomy 31:19

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:9

¶ And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.