Deuteronomy Chapter 31 · Verse 24
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֣י׀
H1961
וַיְהִ֣י׀
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְּכַלּ֣וֹת
had made an end
H3615
כְּכַלּ֣וֹת
had made an end
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
2 of 12
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
מֹשֶׁ֗ה
And it came to pass when Moses
H4872
מֹשֶׁ֗ה
And it came to pass when Moses
Strong's:
H4872
Word #:
3 of 12
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
לִכְתֹּ֛ב
of writing
H3789
לִכְתֹּ֛ב
of writing
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
4 of 12
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דִּבְרֵ֥י
the words
H1697
דִּבְרֵ֥י
the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
6 of 12
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַתּוֹרָֽה
of this law
H8451
הַתּוֹרָֽה
of this law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
7 of 12
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
סֵ֑פֶר
in a book
H5612
סֵ֑פֶר
in a book
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
Historical Context
Written circa 1406 BC in Moses's final weeks. The writing materials were likely leather scrolls (parchment from animal skins), the standard medium for important documents in the ancient Near East. The book was entrusted to the Levitical priesthood (31:25-26) for preservation and public reading. This written law survived Israel's tumultuous history—conquest, judges, monarchy, exile—preserved through copying by faithful scribes. The Dead Sea Scrolls (circa 250 BC-AD 70) demonstrate remarkable textual stability over centuries, validating the reliability of Scripture's transmission.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God provide written revelation rather than relying solely on oral tradition or personal spiritual experience?
- How does Mosaic authorship affect the authority and reliability of the Pentateuch?
- What responsibility do Christians bear to preserve, copy, translate, and disseminate Scripture faithfully?
Analysis & Commentary
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished—the completion of Moses's written work, the Pentateuch substantially in its canonical form. The Hebrew sefer (סֵפֶר, 'book/scroll') indicates a complete literary work, not fragmentary notes. Until they were finished emphasizes thoroughness—Moses completed the task fully before his death, leaving Israel with finished Scripture, not incomplete drafts requiring later authors.
This verse establishes Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch (the 'law' deposited by the ark included Genesis-Deuteronomy, not merely legal codes). While later editorial updates occurred (e.g., recording Moses's death in Deuteronomy 34), the substantial content came from Moses's hand. Christ affirmed this repeatedly, attributing Pentateuchal passages to Moses (Mark 7:10, Luke 24:27, John 7:19). The completed book ensured Israel possessed comprehensive divine revelation for covenant life, not requiring oral tradition to supplement deficient texts.