Deuteronomy Chapter 31 · Verse 3

Authorized King James Version

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The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

Original Language Analysis

יְהוָֽה׃ The LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ The LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 1 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 2 of 19
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
ה֣וּא׀ H1931
ה֣וּא׀
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 3 of 19
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
עֹבֵ֣ר he shall go over H5674
עֹבֵ֣ר he shall go over
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 4 of 19
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 5 of 19
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הֽוּא H1931
הֽוּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 6 of 19
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
יַשְׁמִ֞יד thee and he will destroy H8045
יַשְׁמִ֞יד thee and he will destroy
Strong's: H8045
Word #: 7 of 19
to desolate
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם these nations H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם these nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 9 of 19
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
הָאֵ֛לֶּה H428
הָאֵ֛לֶּה
Strong's: H428
Word #: 10 of 19
these or those
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 11 of 19
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑ם thee and thou shalt possess H3423
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑ם thee and thou shalt possess
Strong's: H3423
Word #: 12 of 19
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
יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ them and Joshua H3091
יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ them and Joshua
Strong's: H3091
Word #: 13 of 19
jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader
ה֚וּא H1931
ה֚וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 14 of 19
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
עֹבֵ֣ר he shall go over H5674
עֹבֵ֣ר he shall go over
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 15 of 19
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 16 of 19
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 17 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דִּבֶּ֥ר hath said H1696
דִּבֶּ֥ר hath said
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 18 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָֽה׃ The LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ The LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 19 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis & Commentary

The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ YHWH Eloheikha hu over lefaneikha)—the emphatic hu ("he himself") stresses God's personal presence and leadership. Though Moses cannot cross Jordan, Yahweh will. He will destroy these nations from before thee—shamad (destroy) refers to divine judgment on Canaanite wickedness, not ethnic genocide. God Himself wages holy war against idolatry and moral corruption (Leviticus 18:24-28).

And Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said—Joshua is explicitly named as Moses' successor, fulfilling God's command in Numbers 27:18-23. The phrase "as the LORD hath said" grounds leadership transition in divine appointment, not human ambition. Joshua doesn't replace Yahweh's leadership but serves as His human representative. This establishes the pattern of Spirit-empowered, divinely-appointed leadership that continues through judges, kings, prophets, and ultimately Jesus (Yeshua), whose name Joshua bears in Hebrew.

Historical Context

Joshua (Hebrew Yehoshua, "Yahweh is salvation") was Moses' assistant since the exodus (Exodus 24:13), leading Israel's army against Amalek (Exodus 17:9-13) and entering the tabernacle with Moses (Exodus 33:11). Forty years younger than Caleb (who was 85 at conquest's end, Joshua 14:10), Joshua was among the twelve spies and one of only two (with Caleb) who trusted God's promise (Numbers 14:6-9). His public commissioning here before "all Israel" transfers authority transparently, preventing succession disputes.

Questions for Reflection