Deuteronomy 31:16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָה֙
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
שֹׁכֵ֖ב
Behold thou shalt sleep
H7901
שֹׁכֵ֖ב
Behold thou shalt sleep
Strong's:
H7901
Word #:
6 of 28
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
7 of 28
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ
with thy fathers
H1
אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ
with thy fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
8 of 28
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וְקָם֩
will rise up
H6965
וְקָם֩
will rise up
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
9 of 28
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
הָעָ֨ם
and this people
H5971
הָעָ֨ם
and this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
10 of 28
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֜ה
H2088
וְזָנָ֣ה׀
and go a whoring
H2181
וְזָנָ֣ה׀
and go a whoring
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
12 of 28
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י׀
after
H310
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י׀
after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
13 of 28
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the gods
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
14 of 28
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
נֵֽכַר
of the strangers
H5236
נֵֽכַר
of the strangers
Strong's:
H5236
Word #:
15 of 28
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
ה֤וּא
H1931
ה֤וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
18 of 28
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
בָא
whither they go
H935
בָא
whither they go
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
19 of 28
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
שָׁ֙מָּה֙
H8033
שָׁ֙מָּה֙
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
20 of 28
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ
to be among
H7130
בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ
to be among
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
21 of 28
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
וַֽעֲזָבַ֕נִי
them and will forsake
H5800
וַֽעֲזָבַ֕נִי
them and will forsake
Strong's:
H5800
Word #:
22 of 28
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
וְהֵפֵר֙
me and break
H6565
וְהֵפֵר֙
me and break
Strong's:
H6565
Word #:
23 of 28
to break up (usually figuratively), i.e., to violate, frustrate
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
24 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּרִיתִ֔י
my covenant
H1285
בְּרִיתִ֔י
my covenant
Strong's:
H1285
Word #:
25 of 28
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
26 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Judges 10:6And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.Judges 10:13Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.Judges 2:12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.Exodus 34:15Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;Revelation 19:2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.Ezekiel 16:15But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.Deuteronomy 32:15But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.Acts 13:36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:2 Samuel 7:12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Historical Context
Spoken circa 1406 BC as warning about post-conquest temptations. The prediction proved tragically accurate: within one generation after Joshua's death, Israel adopted Canaanite Baal worship (Judges 2:11-13). Periods of faithfulness under good kings alternated with idolatry under wicked kings, culminating in Assyrian conquest of Israel (722 BC) and Babylonian exile of Judah (586 BC). Hosea and Ezekiel used the adultery metaphor extensively, showing Israel's persistent covenant-breaking despite prophetic warnings.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's foreknowledge of Israel's failure demonstrate both His omniscience and their genuine moral agency?
- Why does Scripture use marital/sexual metaphors for covenant faithfulness and idolatry?
- What patterns of spiritual adultery (mixed loyalties, worldly compromise) threaten Christians and churches today?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers—the euphemism for death emphasizes rest and reunion. And this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land—God's prophecy of inevitable apostasy. The sexual metaphor zanah (זָנָה, 'commit fornication') depicted idolatry as spiritual adultery, violating the exclusive covenant relationship. And will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them—the predicted rebellion would constitute covenant violation.
God's foreknowledge of Israel's failure didn't excuse their sin or negate their responsibility—prophesying unfaithfulness didn't cause it. This sobering prediction framed Israel's subsequent history: Judges through 2 Kings chronicles the pattern of apostasy-judgment-repentance-deliverance repeatedly. Yet God's foreknowledge also demonstrated His commitment to persevere despite Israel's failures, ultimately providing the faithful Israelite (Christ) who perfectly kept covenant and secured redemption for covenant-breakers.