Deuteronomy 32:50
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
Original Language Analysis
מֵ֞ת
And die
H4191
מֵ֞ת
And die
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
1 of 18
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
2 of 18
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עֹלֶ֣ה
whither thou goest up
H5927
עֹלֶ֣ה
whither thou goest up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
5 of 18
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
שָׁ֔מָּה
H8033
שָׁ֔מָּה
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
6 of 18
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף
and be gathered
H622
וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף
and be gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
7 of 18
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
עַמָּֽיו׃
unto his people
H5971
עַמָּֽיו׃
unto his people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
9 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מֵ֞ת
And die
H4191
מֵ֞ת
And die
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
11 of 18
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
אָחִ֙יךָ֙
thy brother
H251
אָחִ֙יךָ֙
thy brother
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
13 of 18
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
15 of 18
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Cross References
Genesis 25:8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.Numbers 33:38And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.Genesis 49:33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.Genesis 15:15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.Genesis 25:17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.Daniel 12:13But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Historical Context
Aaron died on Mount Hor in 1407 BC at age 123 (Numbers 33:39). Moses died the following year at 120. Both deaths occurred just before Israel's entry into Canaan, symbolizing that the old generation under law could not enter the rest—only Joshua (whose name means 'Yahweh saves,' Greek Iesous/Jesus) could lead Israel in.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the phrase 'gathered unto thy people' teach about the Old Testament view of afterlife?
- How do Moses's and Aaron's deaths demonstrate that even great leaders face consequences for sin?
- In what ways does Joshua leading Israel into Canaan typify Christ leading us into heavenly rest?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people—the Hebrew phrase wēʾāsaptā ʾel-ʿammȇḵā (וְאֱסַפְתָּ אֶל־עַמֶּךָ, 'and be gathered to your people') is a euphemism for death used of Abraham (Genesis 25:8), Ishmael (Genesis 25:17), Isaac (Genesis 35:29), and Jacob (Genesis 49:29). It implies conscious afterlife and reunion with ancestors. As Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people (Numbers 20:22-29)—Moses will die as Aaron did, on a mountain, outside the Promised Land.
The parallel between Moses and Aaron is intentional—both sinned at Meribah (Numbers 20:10-12), both were denied entry to Canaan, both died on mountains within sight of the land. Yet 'gathered unto thy people' suggests death is not annihilation but transition. God Himself will bury Moses (Deuteronomy 34:6), an extraordinary honor. Despite judgment, Moses remains God's servant.