Deuteronomy 1:3

Authorized King James Version

And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽיְהִי֙
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
בְּאַרְבָּעִ֣ים
And it came to pass in the fortieth
forty
#3
שָׁנָ֔ה
year
a year (as a revolution of time)
#4
בְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי
in the eleventh
eleven or (ordinal) eleventh
#5
עָשָׂ֥ר
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
#6
לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ
day of the month
the new moon; by implication, a month
#7
בְּאֶחָ֣ד
on the first
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#8
לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ
day of the month
the new moon; by implication, a month
#9
דִּבֶּ֤ר
spake
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#10
מֹשֶׁה֙
that Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#11
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#12
בְּנֵ֣י
unto the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#13
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#14
כְּ֠כֹל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#15
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#16
צִוָּ֧ה
had given him in commandment
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
#17
יְהוָ֛ה
according unto all that the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#18
אֹת֖וֹ
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#19
אֲלֵהֶֽם׃
near, with or among; often in general, to

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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