Deuteronomy 11:31
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 11:31
31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 11 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of prayer, worship, love. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-32: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it contributes to the biblical metanarrative of redemption. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 11:31
31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.
Analysis
The imminence of conquest: 'For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.' The double use of 'possess' emphasizes certainty and ownership. The Hebrew yarash (יָרַשׁ, possess/dispossess) indicates both taking and inhabiting. God 'gives' the land, but Israel must actively 'possess' it—grace enables, effort applies. The sequence: pass over → possess → dwell describes conquest process. The promise combines divine gift ('the LORD giveth') with human responsibility ('ye shall possess'). This partnership of grace and works appears throughout Scripture: God provides what He commands, but we must appropriate what He provides.
Historical Context
Joshua 1-12 narrates the conquest: crossing Jordan (ch. 3-4), Jericho's fall (ch. 6), Ai campaign (ch. 7-8), southern conquest (ch. 10), northern conquest (ch. 11), summary of defeated kings (ch. 12). The process took approximately seven years. However, Judges 1 reveals incomplete conquest—Israel failed to drive out all inhabitants, leading to persistent idolatry. Full possession required full obedience; partial obedience yielded partial blessing and ongoing conflict.
Reflection
- How does this passage illustrate that God's promises require active faith to appropriate?
- What 'promised land' blessings has God given you that require effort to fully possess?
- What are the consequences of partial obedience—settling for less than God's full provision?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References God: Joshua 1:11
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 9:1