Deuteronomy 31:12
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
Original Language Analysis
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָעָ֗ם
the people
H5971
הָעָ֗ם
the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
3 of 24
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים
H376
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וְהַטַּ֔ף
and children
H2945
וְהַטַּ֔ף
and children
Strong's:
H2945
Word #:
6 of 24
a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)
וְגֵֽרְךָ֖
and thy stranger
H1616
וְגֵֽרְךָ֖
and thy stranger
Strong's:
H1616
Word #:
7 of 24
properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ
that is within thy gates
H8179
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ
that is within thy gates
Strong's:
H8179
Word #:
9 of 24
an opening, i.e., door or gate
לְמַ֨עַן
H4616
לְמַ֨עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
10 of 24
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
יִשְׁמְע֜וּ
that they may hear
H8085
יִשְׁמְע֜וּ
that they may hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
11 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וּלְמַ֣עַן
H4616
וּלְמַ֣עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
12 of 24
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
יִלְמְד֗וּ
and that they may learn
H3925
יִלְמְד֗וּ
and that they may learn
Strong's:
H3925
Word #:
13 of 24
properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)
וְיָֽרְאוּ֙
and fear
H3372
וְיָֽרְאוּ֙
and fear
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
14 of 24
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם
your God
H430
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם
your God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 24
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
וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּ
and observe
H8104
וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּ
and observe
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
18 of 24
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת
to do
H6213
לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת
to do
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
19 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
21 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
דִּבְרֵ֖י
all the words
H1697
דִּבְרֵ֖י
all the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
22 of 24
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Historical Context
Commanded circa 1406 BC for implementation in Canaan. Ancient patriarchal societies typically excluded women, children, and foreigners from religious instruction, reserving sacred knowledge for male citizens. Israel's inclusivity was radical—everyone present during the feast, regardless of status, must hear the law. This reflected the universal human accountability before God and anticipated the church's message that in Christ 'there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female' (Galatians 3:28).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God insist that women, children, and foreigners hear His law? What does this reveal about human dignity and responsibility?
- How does the progression (hear, learn, fear, obey) inform effective Christian discipleship and teaching?
- What barriers prevent 'everyone'—all demographics—from accessing God's word in contemporary churches?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates—comprehensive inclusivity: all ages, both genders, even non-Israelite residents. No demographic was excluded from hearing God's law. That they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God—the threefold purpose: auditory reception, intellectual comprehension, reverential response. And observe to do all the words of this law—the goal wasn't mere knowledge but obedience.
The progression is crucial: hearing leads to learning; learning produces fear (reverential awe); fear motivates obedience. This pattern appears in James 1:22-25: 'Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says.' Including children and strangers demonstrated that covenant knowledge wasn't restricted to adult male Israelites—God's word addressed the entire community. The stranger's inclusion anticipated the Gospel's reach to all nations, fulfilling God's promise that through Abraham all peoples would be blessed.