Deuteronomy 9:18
And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Original Language Analysis
וָֽאֶתְנַפַּל֩
And I fell down
H5307
וָֽאֶתְנַפַּל֩
And I fell down
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
1 of 24
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
לִפְנֵ֨י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֨י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
2 of 24
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה
as at the first
H7223
כָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה
as at the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
4 of 24
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
יוֹם֙
days
H3117
יוֹם֙
days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 24
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
לַ֔יְלָה
nights
H3915
לַ֔יְלָה
nights
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
8 of 24
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
לֶ֚חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֚חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
9 of 24
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וּמַ֖יִם
water
H4325
וּמַ֖יִם
water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
12 of 24
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַ֤ל
H5921
עַ֤ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חַטַּאתְכֶם֙
because of all your sins
H2403
חַטַּאתְכֶם֙
because of all your sins
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
17 of 24
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
חֲטָאתֶ֔ם
which ye sinned
H2398
חֲטָאתֶ֔ם
which ye sinned
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
19 of 24
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת
in doing
H6213
לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת
in doing
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
20 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בְּעֵינֵ֥י
in the sight
H5869
בְּעֵינֵ֥י
in the sight
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
22 of 24
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Cross References
Exodus 34:28And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.Deuteronomy 9:9When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:Psalms 106:23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.Deuteronomy 10:10And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.2 Samuel 12:16David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
Historical Context
Extended fasting accompanied serious intercession throughout Scripture. Moses' forty-day fast finds parallel in Elijah's forty-day journey to Horeb and Jesus' forty-day wilderness temptation. These periods marked crucial transitions in redemptive history.
Ancient Near Eastern culture recognized fasting as expression of grief, humility, and earnest petition before deity.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Moses' costly intercession teach us about the price of mediating for sinners?
- How does Moses' fast prefigure Christ's sacrificial intercession for guilty humanity?
- Why does Moses identify with Israel's sin even though he personally remained faithful?
- What role does fasting have in earnest prayer and intercession for others?
- How should the concept of provoking God to anger shape our view of sin's seriousness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Moses' extended intercession demonstrates the costly nature of mediation - he fasts forty days and nights, placing his own body between God's wrath and the people's sin.
The phrase as at the first indicates this was Moses' second forty-day fast. The first brought blessing (receiving the law); the second seeks to avert curse (interceding for covenant-breakers). This doubled sacrifice illustrates the multiplication of effort required to remedy sin compared to establishing righteousness.
Moses' identification with the people's sin, though he personally remained faithful, prefigures Christ's substitutionary atonement. The mediator takes upon himself the burden of others' guilt, standing in the gap between holy God and guilty people.
The description doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger emphasizes that Israel's sin was not mere mistake but willful provocation of God. The Hebrew word for provoke (ka'as) implies deliberately causing grief or vexation - their idolatry was calculated rebellion.