Deuteronomy 4:26

Authorized King James Version

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I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

Original Language Analysis

הַֽעִידֹתִי֩ I call H5749
הַֽעִידֹתִי֩ I call
Strong's: H5749
Word #: 1 of 27
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
בָכֶ֨ם H0
בָכֶ֨ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 2 of 27
יָמִים֙ against you this day H3117
יָמִים֙ against you this day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 3 of 27
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 4 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 5 of 27
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 6 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָאָ֔רֶץ and earth H776
הָאָ֔רֶץ and earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 7 of 27
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תֹּֽאבֵדוּן֮ perish H6
תֹּֽאבֵדוּן֮ perish
Strong's: H6
Word #: 9 of 27
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
תֹּֽאבֵדוּן֮ perish H6
תֹּֽאבֵדוּן֮ perish
Strong's: H6
Word #: 10 of 27
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
מַהֵר֒ that ye shall soon H4118
מַהֵר֒ that ye shall soon
Strong's: H4118
Word #: 11 of 27
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
מֵעַ֣ל H5921
מֵעַ֣ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 12 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֔רֶץ and earth H776
הָאָ֔רֶץ and earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 13 of 27
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 14 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אַתֶּ֜ם H859
אַתֶּ֜ם
Strong's: H859
Word #: 15 of 27
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
עֹֽבְרִ֧ים whereunto ye go over H5674
עֹֽבְרִ֧ים whereunto ye go over
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 16 of 27
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 17 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן Jordan H3383
הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן Jordan
Strong's: H3383
Word #: 18 of 27
jarden, the principal river of palestine
שָׁ֖מָּה H8033
שָׁ֖מָּה
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 19 of 27
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ to possess H3423
לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ to possess
Strong's: H3423
Word #: 20 of 27
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
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 21 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן it ye shall not prolong H748
תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן it ye shall not prolong
Strong's: H748
Word #: 22 of 27
to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)
יָמִים֙ against you this day H3117
יָמִים֙ against you this day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 23 of 27
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
עָלֶ֔יהָ H5921
עָלֶ֔יהָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 24 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 25 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תִּשָּֽׁמֵדֽוּן׃ be destroyed H8045
תִּשָּֽׁמֵדֽוּן׃ be destroyed
Strong's: H8045
Word #: 26 of 27
to desolate
תִּשָּֽׁמֵדֽוּן׃ be destroyed H8045
תִּשָּֽׁמֵדֽוּן׃ be destroyed
Strong's: H8045
Word #: 27 of 27
to desolate

Cross References

Deuteronomy 32:1Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.Micah 6:2Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.Isaiah 1:2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.Jeremiah 2:12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.Joshua 23:16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.Jeremiah 22:29O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.Deuteronomy 31:28Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.Jeremiah 6:19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.Luke 21:24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.Leviticus 18:28That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

Analysis & Commentary

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land...

Moses employs the ancient Near Eastern covenant lawsuit formula, summoning hashamayim veha'arets (הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ, 'heaven and earth') as witnesses against Israel. Unlike human witnesses who die, creation endures as permanent testimony to covenant obligations. This imagery recurs in prophetic literature (Isaiah 1:2; Micah 6:1-2) when God brings charges against His unfaithful people.

The emphatic Hebrew construction avod to'vedun (אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן, 'utterly perish') doubles the verb for intensity—destruction will be complete, not partial. The irony is devastating: the land they are about to possess (larishta, לְרִשְׁתָּהּ) will vomit them out through covenant violation. Gift becomes curse when recipients despise the Giver.

Moses' certainty about future apostasy reflects prophetic foresight, not pessimism. He knows human nature and speaks what God has revealed. Yet even this severe warning serves grace—Israel cannot later claim ignorance. The covenant curse, clearly articulated beforehand, demonstrates God's justice in eventual judgment and preserves the possibility of repentance before disaster strikes.

Historical Context

Moses invokes heaven and earth as covenant witnesses, a common Ancient Near Eastern treaty formula. Speaking on the plains of Moab around 1406 BC, Moses warns that covenant violation would result in exile from the land they were about to possess, a warning that tragically materialized centuries later.

Questions for Reflection

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