Deuteronomy 9:1

KJV

¶ 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,

KJV (with Strong's)

Hear {H8085}, O Israel {H3478}: Thou art to pass over {H5674} Jordan {H3383} this day {H3117}, to go in {H935} to possess {H3423} nations {H1471} greater {H1419} and mightier {H6099} than thyself, cities {H5892} great {H1419} and fenced up {H1219} to heaven {H8064},

Complete Jewish Bible

"Listen, Isra'el! You are to cross the Yarden today, to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, great cities fortified up to the sky;

Berean Standard Bible

Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.

American Standard Version

Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 9:1 serves as a profound and urgent summons to the nation of Israel on the precipice of entering the Promised Land. Moses, addressing a new generation, declares their imminent crossing of the Jordan River to confront and dispossess formidable nations and cities fortified to an astonishing degree. This verse immediately establishes the seemingly insurmountable odds facing Israel, thereby setting the stage for Moses' subsequent emphasis that their success would depend entirely on God's power and faithfulness, not on their own strength or righteousness, a crucial theological anchor for the entire discourse that follows.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 9:1 marks a pivotal transition in Moses' final address to Israel. It immediately follows the detailed recounting of the covenant at Horeb (Mount Sinai) in chapters 5-8, where Moses reiterated the Ten Commandments and expounded upon the principles of obedience and love for God. Having reminded them of their past failures, particularly the golden calf incident, Moses now pivots to their immediate future. This verse initiates a powerful exhortation (Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11) designed to prepare the people for the conquest of Canaan, specifically by dismantling any notion of self-reliance or entitlement. The emphasis shifts from the *giving* of the law to the *application* of the law in the context of possessing the land, highlighting God's role as the primary agent in their victory.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites stood on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, approximately forty years after their exodus from Egypt. The generation that had rebelled in the wilderness had largely passed away, and a new generation, born in the wilderness, was poised to enter the land promised to their ancestors. This was a moment of immense historical significance, the culmination of centuries of divine promise and nomadic wandering. The Canaanite nations, including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (as listed in [Deuteronomy 7:1](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1 - God's Command to Destroy the Nations")), were known for their advanced military technology, fortified cities, and idolatrous practices. Their cities, often built on strategic tells, were indeed formidable, featuring massive walls and defensive structures. The phrase "fenced up to heaven" reflects the ancient Near Eastern perception of such impregnable fortresses, underscoring the human impossibility of conquering them without divine intervention.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 9:1 introduces and reinforces several foundational themes woven throughout the book of Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Empowerment for Conquest**. The sheer might of the opposing nations and the impregnability of their cities ("nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven") immediately highlights that Israel's success would not be by human strength but by God's miraculous power. This sets up the crucial message of [Deuteronomy 9:4-6](/deuteronomy/9-4 "Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - Not by Your Righteousness"), which explicitly states that Israel's victory is not due to their righteousness. Secondly, the verse speaks to the **Fulfillment of God's Covenant Promises**. The command to "go in to possess nations" directly echoes God's ancient, unconditional promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning the land of Canaan (e.g., [Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18-21 - The Covenant with Abraham")). This moment represents a tangible step toward the realization of that divine oath. Lastly, the opening imperative, "Hear, O Israel," emphasizes the theme of **Obedience and Attentive Listening** (the *Shema*). This recurring call in Deuteronomy stresses the vital importance of heeding God's commands and trusting His leadership, especially when confronting daunting challenges, setting the stage for the book's overarching call to covenant faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hear (Hebrew, _Shema'_):** This imperative verb is foundational to Deuteronomy, appearing over 90 times. It signifies much more than mere auditory perception; it denotes attentive listening that leads to understanding, acceptance, and obedient action. In this context, "Hear, O Israel" is a solemn call to pay close attention to Moses' words, which are God's words, and to internalize the truth that follows, particularly regarding God's faithfulness and Israel's unworthiness. It's a summons to covenant fidelity.
* **Possess (Hebrew, _yarash'_):** This verb carries the dual meaning of "to inherit" and "to dispossess." Here, it refers to the act of taking control of the land and displacing its current inhabitants. It implies a legal right (inheritance from God) coupled with a forceful, divinely-empowered act of conquest. The use of "possess" highlights that the land is a gift from God, but its acquisition requires active, obedient participation from Israel, empowered by God.
* **Fenced up to heaven (Hebrew, _bĕtsurot ba-shamayim'_):** This vivid phrase is a powerful **hyperbole**, literally meaning "fortified to the heavens." It is not meant to be taken literally as walls reaching the sky, but rather to convey the immense height, strength, and impregnability of the Canaanite fortifications. It emphasizes the human impossibility of conquering such cities, thereby magnifying the miraculous nature of God's promised intervention and underscoring that Israel's victory would be entirely supernatural.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ Hear, O Israel:"** This opening phrase, "Shema Yisrael," serves as a solemn and urgent summons, demanding the full attention and obedience of the people. It sets a serious tone for the crucial message that follows, emphasizing the importance of internalizing God's word. It is a call to covenant faithfulness and a reminder of their identity as God's chosen people.
* **"Thou [art] to pass over Jordan this day,"** This declaration marks the immediate and imminent nature of their task. The Jordan River, a significant geographical barrier, represents the threshold between the wilderness and the Promised Land. "This day" conveys a sense of urgency and divine timing, signifying that the long-awaited moment of fulfillment has arrived. It is a divine command that demands immediate action.
* **"to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself,"** This clause specifies the objective of their crossing: to conquer and dispossess the existing inhabitants of Canaan. The description "greater and mightier than thyself" directly confronts Israel with the overwhelming military and demographic superiority of their enemies. This stark contrast is crucial for Moses' argument that their success will be solely due to God's intervention, not their own strength.
* **"cities great and fenced up to heaven,"** This final phrase elaborates on the formidable nature of the opposition, focusing on the physical defenses. The cities are described as "great" in size and importance, and "fenced up to heaven," a powerful hyperbole that vividly portrays their seemingly impregnable fortifications. This imagery further underscores the human impossibility of the task and serves to magnify the power of the God who will enable them to overcome such obstacles.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 9:1 employs several impactful literary devices to convey its urgent and significant message. The most prominent is **Imperative**, seen in the opening "Hear, O Israel," which functions as a direct command demanding immediate attention and obedience from the audience. This sets a tone of divine authority and expectation. **Hyperbole** is powerfully utilized in the phrase "cities great and fenced up to heaven," which dramatically exaggerates the height and strength of the Canaanite fortifications. This exaggeration is not meant to deceive but to emphasize the seemingly insurmountable nature of the challenge from a human perspective, thereby magnifying the miraculous power of God who would enable their conquest. The verse also employs **Contrast**, implicitly pitting Israel's perceived weakness against the overwhelming strength of the Canaanite nations. This contrast serves to highlight God's role as the true source of power and victory, preparing the way for Moses' subsequent message that Israel's success would not be based on their own merit. The overall tone is one of **Exhortation**, as Moses seeks to instill courage, faith, and humility in the people before their monumental undertaking.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 9:1 is a theological linchpin, connecting God's ancient promises with His imminent faithfulness and Israel's call to obedient trust. It establishes the principle that God's people face challenges that are humanly impossible to overcome, precisely so that God's power and glory might be clearly demonstrated. The verse sets the stage for the crucial theological message that Israel's success in possessing the land would not be a result of their own righteousness or strength, but solely by the grace and power of Yahweh, who fights for His people. This truth is foundational to understanding the nature of God's covenant relationship with Israel and foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on salvation by grace through faith, not by works.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - God's Command to Dispossess")
* [Joshua 1:2-9](/joshua/1-2 "Joshua 1:2-9 - God's Charge to Joshua")
* [Psalm 44:3](/psalms/44-3 "Psalm 44:3 - Not by Their Own Sword")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 9:1 offers a timeless message for believers today, reminding us that the "giants" and "fortified cities" we face in life—whether spiritual strongholds, personal struggles, overwhelming circumstances, or societal injustices—are often humanly insurmountable. Just as Israel stood on the brink of a daunting task, called to trust in a God who would fight for them despite their unworthiness, so too are we called to rely on God's strength rather than our own. This verse encourages us to step out in faith when God commands us to move forward, knowing that He goes before us, making a way where there seems to be none. It challenges us to confront our own tendencies toward self-reliance or pride, reminding us that true victory, whether in spiritual warfare or daily living, comes from acknowledging our weakness and depending entirely on God's sovereign power and grace. Our call, like Israel's, is to "hear" and obey, trusting that God will fulfill His purposes through us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "giants" or "fortified cities" (seemingly insurmountable challenges) are you facing in your life right now?**
* **How does the message of Deuteronomy 9:1 challenge your natural tendency to rely on your own strength or resources?**
* **In what specific ways can you "hear, O [Your Name]" God's call to trust Him more fully in your current circumstances?**
* **How does knowing that God goes before you to "possess" the impossible change your perspective on your struggles?**

### FAQ
**What does "fenced up to heaven" literally mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "fenced up to heaven" (Hebrew: *bĕtsurot ba-shamayim*) is a powerful example of **hyperbole**, a literary device involving extreme exaggeration for emphasis. It does not mean that the walls of the Canaanite cities literally reached the sky. Instead, it vividly conveys that these cities were incredibly tall, massively fortified, and seemingly impregnable from a human perspective. Moses used this dramatic language to impress upon the Israelites the overwhelming military challenge they faced, thereby highlighting that their victory would be entirely miraculous and attributable solely to God's power, not their own strength or ingenuity. It underscores the human impossibility of the task without divine intervention, as seen throughout the conquest narrative, for example, in the fall of Jericho in [Joshua 6](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 9:1, while speaking of a physical conquest, powerfully foreshadows the spiritual conquest accomplished by Christ and the ongoing spiritual battles faced by His followers. Just as Israel was called to "pass over Jordan" and "possess" a land against "nations greater and mightier than thyself," so too does the New Covenant call believers to enter into a spiritual inheritance (cf. [Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ")) and to contend with spiritual forces far "greater and mightier" than themselves (cf. [Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Our Struggle Against Spiritual Forces")). The "cities great and fenced up to heaven" represent the seemingly insurmountable strongholds of sin, death, and the devil that no human strength could overcome. Yet, Christ, our true Joshua, has already "passed over" the Jordan of death through His resurrection, disarming the principalities and powers (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He has given us victory, not through our own righteousness, but through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice (cf. [Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")). Therefore, the call to "Hear, O Israel" becomes a call to "Hear, O Church," to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd (cf. [John 10:27](/john/10-27 "John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice")) and to trust in His finished work, knowing that the battle is the Lord's and that in Christ, we are more than conquerors (cf. [Romans 8:37](/romans/8-37 "Romans 8:37 - More Than Conquerors")).

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 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.

Deuteronomy 4:38

To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou [art], to bring thee in, to give thee their land [for] an inheritance, as [it is] this day.

Deuteronomy 1:28

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities [are] great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Deuteronomy 3:18

And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all [that are] meet for the war.

Deuteronomy 7:1

¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Deuteronomy 11:23

Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

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.