Deuteronomy 31:29
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God knows that the people's future unfaithfulness isn't a surprise; it's a predictable outcome of their present hearts, which He understands completely. This isn't just a prophecy of doom, but a foundational reason for the song Moses is about to give them – it will serve as a witness to their own foreseen actions.
For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Moses prepares for his impending death, God reveals to him that the Israelites will soon forsake Him and turn to other gods once he's gone. To address this foreseen rebellion, God instructs Moses to write a song as a witness against them, which will serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and their future disobedience, especially after they enter the promised land. This verse is Moses' candid warning to the people, acknowledging their inherent tendency towards corruption and emphasizing the inevitable negative consequences of their future unfaithfulness.
Moses, on the cusp of death, delivers a prophecy that's both heartbreaking and incredibly direct. He doesn't just suggest disaster; he declares it as a certainty.
Moses' words aren't a mere prediction; they are a confident declaration of a future he knows will unfold. He uses the strong phrase 'I know' not out of doubt, but out of deep, painful certainty based on God's insight and his own experience with Israel's history.
Human Nature and Divine Foreknowledge
Why does evil befall them? Moses is crystal clear: it's a direct result of their own actions, a cycle designed to anger God.
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The verse doesn't just state that evil will happen; it explains the causal link between Israel's actions and the resulting calamity. Their 'doing evil' is not a passive state but an active choice that leads to disastrous consequences.
The Purpose of Idolatry
Understand the original words
shachath · Hebrew Verb
To act in a way that is morally rotten or perverted; it describes the decay of spiritual and moral integrity, often leading to apostasy or idolatry.
sur · Hebrew Verb
Deviation from the path of righteousness and God's revealed will; it signifies a conscious turning away from truth into error or sin.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A moral or spiritual state that is contrary to God's nature and standard; it encompasses wickedness, misery, and anything that stands in opposition to the purposes of the Creator.
ka'as · Hebrew Verb
To incite or stir up God to holy indignation through persistent disobedience, apostasy, or idolatry.
This verse is spoken by Moses just before his death, anticipating the future failures of Israel. It's placed within the context of the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua and the impending conquest of the Promised Land, highlighting the people's tendency towards disobedience even after receiving clear commands and experiencing God's faithfulness.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military conquest of the Promised Land after Moses' death. This marks the fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land.
c. 1406 BC - 1350 BC
Joshua's Leadership and Death
Joshua leads the Israelites in the conquest and initial settlement of Canaan. He faithfully serves as Moses' successor, but the generation that entered the land eventually fades.
c. 1350 BC - 1070 BC— this verse
The Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel enters a cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. This period is characterized by spiritual decline and repeated failure to fully obey God's commands.
c. 1070 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
The people demand a king, leading to the anointing of Saul. This ushers in a new era, but the underlying issues of disobedience persist.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah falls to Babylon, its temple is destroyed, and many of its people are exiled. This event serves as a severe consequence of generations of disobedience and idolatry.
Joshua echoes Moses' warning, stating that if Israel fails to be faithful, 'then shall it come to pass, that there shall no good thing come unto you... for the LORD your God will not be able to bring you in unto the good land which he promised; but shall utterly destroy you.' This highlights the consistent theme of covenantal consequences for disobedience.
Jeremiah 7:14-15Jeremiah delivers a similar message of impending doom to the people of Judah, warning them that because they have done evil and provoked God, He will cast them out of His sight, just as He cast out their brethren. This shows the recurring pattern of God's judgment on His people when they turn away.
Romans 1:21-25Paul describes how humanity, despite knowing God, chose not to honor Him and instead exchanged the truth of God for a lie, worshiping created things. This mirrors the Israelites' corruption and turning to idols, showing a universal human tendency to stray from God when not actively pursuing Him.
Hebrews 4:1The author of Hebrews warns believers against 'falling short of entering His rest' by not believing, paralleling the Israelites' failure to enter the promised land due to disobedience. Both passages underscore the critical importance of faith and obedience for experiencing God's intended blessings.
calvinDeuteronomy 31:14-30: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation."
- And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Josh…
cambridgeDeuteronomy 31:29: "For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands."
29 . after my death ] Readers of the Heb. text will compare with the position of this clause in the v . the construction in Deuteronomy 13:12 (13). ye will surely corrupt yourselves ] See on Deuteronomy 4…
God knows that the people's future unfaithfulness isn't a surprise; it's a predictable outcome of their present hearts, which He understands completely. This isn't just a prophecy of doom, but a foundational reason for the song Moses is about to give them – it will serve as a witness to their own foreseen actions.
As Moses prepares for his impending death, God reveals to him that the Israelites will soon forsake Him and turn to other gods once he's gone. To address this foreseen rebellion, God instructs Moses to write a song as a witness against them, which will serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and their future disobedience, especially after they enter the promised land. This verse is Moses' candid warning to the people, acknowledging their inherent tendency towards corruption and emphasizing the inevitable negative consequences of their future unfaithfulness.
As Moses prepares for his impending death, God reveals to him that the Israelites will soon forsake Him and turn to other gods once he's gone. To address this foreseen rebellion, God instructs Moses to write a song as a witness against them, which will serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and their future disobedience, especially after they enter the promised land. This verse is Moses' candid warning to the people, acknowledging their inherent tendency towards corruption and emphasizing the inevitable negative consequences of their future unfaithfulness.
"For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to a…" — God knows that the people's future unfaithfulness isn't a surprise; it's a predictable outcome of their present hearts, which He understands completely. This isn't just a prophecy of doom, but a foun…
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Last reviewed October 2026
