Deuteronomy 19:1
When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יַכְרִ֞ית
hath cut off
H3772
יַכְרִ֞ית
hath cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
2 of 17
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
יְהוָ֣ה
When the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
When the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 17
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
6 of 17
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֣ה
When the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
When the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
9 of 17
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
H5414
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
10 of 17
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֕ם
thee and thou succeedest
H3423
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֕ם
thee and thou succeedest
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
14 of 17
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
וְיָֽשַׁבְתָּ֥
them and dwellest
H3427
וְיָֽשַׁבְתָּ֥
them and dwellest
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
15 of 17
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:29When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;Deuteronomy 6:10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,Deuteronomy 17:14When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Historical Context
Joshua led Israel's conquest of Canaan, dispossessing various Canaanite peoples. The conquest was not complete ethnic cleansing but divine judgment on cultures characterized by idolatry, sexual perversion, and child sacrifice.
Israel's later exile proved they were not immune to judgment - when they adopted the abominations of the nations, God similarly expelled them from the land.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's judgment of Canaanite nations teach about His righteousness and holiness?
- How does Israel's unearned inheritance typify grace in receiving spiritual blessings?
- Why must those who receive inheritance avoid the sins that brought judgment on previous occupants?
- What does Israel's later exile teach about God's impartiality in judgment?
- How should understanding grace as unearned inheritance affect our stewardship of spiritual blessings?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses. God's sovereignty in displacing Canaanite nations and granting their land to Israel demonstrates both divine judgment on wicked peoples and divine grace in giving undeserved inheritance to redeemed people.
The phrase the LORD thy God hath cut off indicates God actively judges and removes the Canaanites. Their displacement results from accumulated iniquity (Genesis 15:16) - God uses Israel as instrument of judgment on peoples whose wickedness has reached fullness.
That Israel succeedest them and dwells in their cities and houses shows they inherit what others built. This unearned possession typifies grace - believers inherit spiritual blessings in Christ that they did not earn or construct.
This inheritance carries responsibility - Israel must not imitate the sins that brought judgment on the previous inhabitants lest they too be displaced for wickedness.