Deuteronomy 4:30
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Original Language Analysis
וּמְצָא֕וּךָ
are come
H4672
וּמְצָא֕וּךָ
are come
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים
and all these things
H1697
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים
and all these things
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
5 of 14
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙
upon thee even in the latter
H319
בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙
upon thee even in the latter
Strong's:
H319
Word #:
7 of 14
the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity
הַיָּמִ֔ים
days
H3117
הַיָּמִ֔ים
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
8 of 14
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
וְשַׁבְתָּ֙
if thou turn
H7725
וְשַׁבְתָּ֙
if thou turn
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
9 of 14
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
10 of 14
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
יְהוָ֣ה
to the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
to the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
12 of 14
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
Cross References
Jeremiah 23:20The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.Isaiah 1:19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:Jeremiah 7:23But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.Genesis 49:1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.Deuteronomy 31:29For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.Hosea 3:5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.Numbers 24:20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
Historical Context
Moses prophesies 'latter days' tribulation that would lead to repentance and return to God. Speaking around 1406 BC, he looks forward across centuries to future events. This verse has been interpreted by various traditions as referring to the Babylonian exile, the inter-testamental period, and eschatological times.
Questions for Reflection
- How has tribulation in your own life served as a catalyst for spiritual return and deeper dependence on God?
- What does it mean that true repentance involves not just feeling sorry but actually obeying God's voice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days...
The Hebrew batsar lekha (בַּצַּר לְךָ, 'when tribulation comes upon you') acknowledges that suffering often precedes repentance. The phrase be'acharit hayamim (בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים, 'in the latter days') has both near and far horizons in prophetic usage—it refers to future times of decisive divine action, whether the Babylonian exile, the messianic age, or eschatological consummation.
Moses presents tribulation not as purposeless suffering but as the catalyst for return: veshavta (וְשַׁבְתָּ, 'thou shalt turn/return'). The same root (shuv) means both physical return from exile and spiritual repentance—geography and theology merge. Returning to the land requires returning to the LORD; returning to God enables return to the land. The verb veshama'ta (וְשָׁמַעְתָּ, 'obey his voice') shows that true repentance produces obedience, not merely emotional regret.
God's redemptive pattern emerges: blessing, unfaithfulness, discipline, tribulation, repentance, restoration. This cycle repeats throughout Israel's history and informs Christian understanding of sanctification. God uses adversity to break self-sufficiency and draw hearts back to Himself. The latter days intensify this pattern, bringing ultimate tribulation and ultimate restoration.