Deuteronomy 31:20

20 For when I have brought them into the land 1flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and 2grown fat, 3they will turn to other gods and serve them, and 4despise me and 5break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:20 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:20

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I
sware unto their fathers
To give it to them, and put them into the possession of it, even the land of Canaan, often thus described, and as it is by the following character:

that floweth with milk and honey;
aboundeth with all good things; see ( Exodus 3:8 ) ;

and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat;
that is, after they have for a considerable time enjoyed the good things of the land, and they abound with them, and increase in them, and have great fullness of them:

then will they turn unto other gods:
turn from the Lord who has brought them into all this plenty, from the fear, worship, and service of him, and turn to the worship of idols:

and serve them:
the works of men's hands, and at most but creatures, and not the Creator; than which nothing can be more absurd and stupid, as well as wicked and ungrateful:

and provoke me:
nothing being more provoking to the Lord than idolatry, it striking at his very nature, being, and glory:

and break my covenant;
now made with them; this being foretold by the Lord, which exactly came to pass in numerous instances, proves his precise foreknowledge of future events, even such as depend on the inclinations, dispositions, and wills of men.

Deuteronomy 31:20 In-Context

18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.
19 "Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.
21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."
22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.

Cross References 5

  • 1. See Exodus 3:8
  • 2. Deuteronomy 32:15; Nehemiah 9:25, 26; Jeremiah 5:28; Hosea 13:6
  • 3. ver. 18
  • 4. Numbers 14:11, 23; Numbers 16:30
  • 5. [See ver. 16 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.