Deuteronomy 32:47

47 For it is no empty word for you, ¹but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."

Deuteronomy 32:47 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:47

For it [is] not a vain thing for you
That is, the law is not, and the observance of it in them and their children; it was no light and trifling matter, but of great importance and consequence, obedience to it being attended with rewards, and disobedience with punishment:

because it [is] your life:
if obeyed, the means of a comfortable and happy life, in the enjoyment of all good things, of the preservation and continuance of it to a length of time; and long life was always reckoned a great temporal mercy:

and through this thing ye shall prolong [your] days in the land
whither you go over Jordan to possess it;
that is, through their obedience to the law they should live long in the land of Canaan, which they were just going to possess; which explains what is meant by its being their life; their comfortable living and continuance in the land depended on their obedience to the law; see ( Isaiah 1:19 Isaiah 1:20 ) .

Deuteronomy 32:47 In-Context

45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel,

46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.

47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."

48 That very day the LORD spoke to Moses,

49 "Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession.

Cross References

• 1. [Leviticus 18:5]; See Deuteronomy 30:20