Deuteronomy 31:13

And [that] their children, which have not known [any thing], may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

And that their children {H1121}, which have not known {H3045} any thing, may hear {H8085}, and learn {H3925} to fear {H3372} the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}, as long as {H3117} ye live {H2416} in the land {H127} whither ye go over {H5674} Jordan {H3383} to possess {H3423} it.

and so that their children, who have not known, can hear and learn to fear ADONAI your God, for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess."

Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:13 is a pivotal verse within Moses' final instructions to the Israelites, emphasizing the critical importance of intergenerational spiritual education as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It underscores the divine intention for the covenant relationship to endure through successive generations.

Context

This verse follows Moses' command in Deuteronomy 31:10-12 for the entire congregation of Israel—men, women, children, and foreigners—to assemble every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles to hear the Law read publicly. This grand assembly was not merely a ritual but a foundational act for national and spiritual continuity. Moses, knowing his death was near, laid out these instructions to ensure the covenant with God would remain central to Israel's identity and future.

Key Themes

  • Intergenerational Faith: The verse explicitly targets "their children, which have not known [any thing]," highlighting the need to pass down the knowledge of God and His Law to those who did not experience the Exodus or the Sinaitic covenant firsthand. This illustrates a core principle of biblical faith: it is to be taught and lived across generations.
  • Learning to Fear the LORD: The primary purpose of hearing the Law is for the children to "learn to fear the LORD your God." This "fear" (Hebrew: yirah) is not merely terror but a profound sense of reverence, awe, respect, and obedient submission to God's authority and holiness. It is the foundation of wisdom and right living, as also seen in Proverbs 9:10.
  • Covenant Continuity and Land Possession: The duration of this learning and fear is tied to their dwelling "in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." This links their spiritual health and obedience directly to their ability to inhabit and thrive in the Promised Land. Their tenure in the land was conditional upon their faithfulness to the covenant, which was maintained through the continuous teaching of the Law.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "fear" here, yirah, encompasses more than just being scared. It signifies a deep, reverential awe that inspires obedience and devotion. It implies a recognition of God's immense power, holiness, and sovereignty, leading to a desire to please Him and avoid displeasing Him. This understanding is crucial for grasping the essence of their relationship with God, as further explored in passages like Deuteronomy 6:2.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 31:13 provides timeless principles for spiritual formation today:

  • Parental and Community Responsibility: It places a clear responsibility on parents and the wider faith community to actively teach and model faith to the next generation. Just as ancient Israel was commanded to diligently teach their children (Deuteronomy 6:7), so too are believers called to disciple and nurture young souls.
  • The Enduring Power of God's Word: The act of hearing the Law was paramount. Similarly, consistent exposure to and study of God's Word remains essential for spiritual growth and learning to rightly reverence God.
  • Faith for Life: The command to "fear the LORD" throughout their lives in the land underscores that faith is not a one-time event but a continuous, lifelong journey of learning, obedience, and dependence on God. This commitment impacts every aspect of life and is foundational for flourishing.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 11:2 (4 votes)

    And know ye this day: for [I speak] not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,

  • Deuteronomy 6:7 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  • Proverbs 22:6 (2 votes)

    ¶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

  • Psalms 78:4 (2 votes)

    We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

  • Psalms 78:8 (2 votes)

    And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

  • Ephesians 6:4 (2 votes)

    And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.