Deuteronomy 9:5

Authorized King James Version

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#2
בְצִדְקָֽתְךָ֗
Not for thy righteousness
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
#3
וּבְיֹ֙שֶׁר֙
or for the uprightness
the right
#4
לְבָ֣בְךָ֔
of thine heart
the heart (as the most interior organ)
#5
אַתָּ֥ה
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#6
בָ֖א
dost thou go
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#7
בְּרִשְׁעַ֣ת׀
doth drive them out
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
#8
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#9
אַרְצָ֑ם
their land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#10
כִּ֞י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#11
בְּרִשְׁעַ֣ת׀
doth drive them out
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
#12
הַגּוֹיִ֣ם
of these nations
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#13
הָאֵ֗לֶּה
these or those
#14
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#15
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
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
#16
מֽוֹרִישָׁ֣ם
but for the wickedness
wrong (especially moral)
#17
מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ
from before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#18
וּלְמַ֜עַן
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
#19
הָקִ֣ים
thee and that he may perform
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
#20
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#21
הַדָּבָ֗ר
the word
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
#22
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#23
נִשְׁבַּ֤ע
sware
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
#24
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#25
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ
H1
unto thy fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#26
לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם
H85
Abraham
abraham, the later name of abram
#27
לְיִצְחָ֖ק
Isaac
jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham
#28
וּֽלְיַעֲקֹֽב׃
and Jacob
jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

Analysis

Within the broader context of Deuteronomy, this passage highlights salvation through declarative statements that establish theological truth. The theological weight of righteousness connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about righteousness, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Deuteronomy.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Deuteronomy Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes righteousness in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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