Deuteronomy 31:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 31:20
20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 31 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, grace. 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 21-30: 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 31:20
20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
Analysis
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat—God predicted prosperity would become a spiritual trap. Then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant—wealth and satisfaction, rather than producing gratitude, would breed spiritual complacency and idolatry. The phrase veshaman (וְשָׁמֵן, 'grown fat') appears as metaphor for dangerous prosperity throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:15, Nehemiah 9:25-26, Hosea 13:6).
This verse articulates one of Scripture's most sobering paradoxes: blessing can become curse if it displaces God as the focus of affection. Material abundance doesn't automatically produce godliness; often it fosters self-sufficiency and forgetfulness of dependence on God. Jesus warned similarly: 'It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew 19:23). Prosperity requires vigilant gratitude and intentional God-centeredness to avoid the predicted outcome.
Historical Context
Prophesied circa 1406 BC before Israel entered Canaan's agricultural prosperity. The prediction proved devastatingly accurate: Solomon's reign brought unprecedented wealth, followed immediately by idolatry under his son Rehoboam. The northern kingdom especially embraced Baal worship during prosperous periods. Hosea 13:6 diagnosed the problem: 'When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.' Only catastrophic judgment (Assyrian and Babylonian conquests) temporarily broke the wealth-apostasy pattern.
Reflection
- Why does prosperity often lead to spiritual decline rather than gratitude? What's the psychological mechanism?
- How can Christians steward wealth and comfort without falling into the 'waxen fat' trap God predicted for Israel?
- What spiritual disciplines guard against prosperity-induced complacency and self-sufficiency?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- References God: Ezekiel 34:20
- Parallel theme: Exodus 3:8, 3:17, Nehemiah 9:35, Psalms 17:10, 73:7, 119:70