Deuteronomy 31:21

21 And this song shall stand up to witness against them; for they shall not forget it out of their mouth, or out of the mouth of their seed; for I know their wickedness, what they are doing here this day, before I have brought them into the good land, which I sware to their fathers.

Deuteronomy 31:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:21

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are
befallen them
As did in the times of the judges, in the Babylonish captivity, and do now in their present exile:

that this song shall testify against them as a witness;
which so clearly points at their sins, with all their aggravated circumstances, and describes so fully their calamities, distresses, and punishment for them:

for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed;
which shows that it respects time to come, their later posterity, whose memory of this song would be conjured up by the evils that should come upon them for their sins; nor is it forgotten by them to this day, who acknowledge there are some things in it now fulfilled or fulfilling in them:

for I know their imagination which they go about even now:
or are "making" ^F3; forming and framing within themselves, there being a secret inclination in their minds to idolatry, which were working and contriving schemes to bring it about, and set it up; and this, God, the searcher of hearts, knew full well, and that in process of time this evil imagination would break forth into act, in an open and flagrant manner:

before I have brought thee into the land which I sware;
to their fathers, to give it to them for an inheritance, as is suggested in ( Deuteronomy 31:20 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (hve) "faciens", Montanus; "quam facit", Pagninus.

Deuteronomy 31:21 In-Context

19 And now write the words of this song, and teach it to the children of Israel, and ye shall put it into their mouth, that this song may witness for me among the children of Israel to their face.

20 For I will bring them into the good land, which I sware to their fathers, to give to them a land flowing with milk and honey: and they shall eat and be filled and satisfy ; then will they turn aside after other gods, and serve them, and they will provoke me, and break my covenant.

21 And this song shall stand up to witness against them; for they shall not forget it out of their mouth, or out of the mouth of their seed; for I know their wickedness, what they are doing here this day, before I have brought them into the good land, which I sware to their fathers.

22 And Moses wrote this song in that day, and taught it to the children of Israel.

23 And he charged Joshua, and said, Be courageous and strong, for thou shalt bring the sons of Israel into the land, which the Lord sware to them, and he shall be with thee.