Deuteronomy 27:9

Authorized King James Version

And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר
spake
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#2
מֹשֶׁה֙
And Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#3
וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים
and the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#4
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם
the Levites
a levite or descendant of levi
#5
אֶ֥ל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#6
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#7
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
O Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#8
לֵאמֹ֑ר
saying
to say (used with great latitude)
#9
הַסְכֵּ֤ת׀
Take heed
by implication, to observe quietly
#10
וּשְׁמַע֙
and hearken
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#11
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
O Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#12
הַיּ֤וֹם
this day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#13
הַזֶּה֙
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#14
נִֽהְיֵ֣יתָֽ
thou art become
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#15
לְעָ֔ם
the people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#16
לַֽיהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#17
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
thy God
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

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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