and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Deuteronomy 34:12
What does Deuteronomy 34:12 mean?
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Deuteronomy 34:12
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The phrase "all the great terror" isn't just about scary displays; it highlights the profound awe and fear God's power, channeled through Moses, instilled in Israel, reminding them of His absolute authority. This phrase underscores that Moses' leadership wasn't just about mighty acts, but also about shaping the people's reverent understanding of the divine.
and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse wraps up the book of Deuteronomy, which recounts the final days of Moses' life and ministry. Having led Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, Moses is shown the land from Mount Nebo but is not allowed to enter it. The chapter then details his death, burial by God himself, and the mourning period for Israel, before highlighting Joshua's succession and Moses' unique status as the greatest prophet Israel ever knew.
Moses' ministry wasn't just about leading; it was a public display of God's awesome power. What does it mean for God's actions to be 'shown' to us?
The phrase 'in the sight of all Israel' emphasizes that the wonders Moses performed were not private events. They were public demonstrations designed to reveal God's might and authority to His people.
God's Public Ministry
Think of the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, or the provision of manna and water in the wilderness. These weren't just helpful acts; they were dramatic displays intended to impress upon Israel who their God was and His power over every force, including Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods.
This 'showing' served multiple purposes:
The 'mighty hand' speaks of direct divine intervention, while 'great terror' describes the awe and fear these acts inspired. Together, they paint a picture of God acting decisively and powerfully on behalf of His people.
Ask a follow-up
The 'great deeds of terror' might sound harsh. What does this reveal about the weight of leadership and the consequences of defying God?
The term 'great terror' refers to the awe-inspiring and sometimes frightening power displayed through Moses. This wasn't about Moses being a cruel or terrifying figure himself, but about the potent and fearful manifestation of God's judgment and power that he was instrumental in enacting.
Leadership and Divine Judgment
When God brought judgment upon Egypt through Moses, it was a terrifying display of His supremacy. Even the Israelites, though protected, likely felt a sense of awe and fear at the magnitude of God's power unleashed.
This 'terror' also served as a stark warning:
It's important to remember that Moses himself was God's servant, acting under His direct command. The power and the 'terror' were ultimately God's, used to accomplish His purposes and uphold His covenant with Israel. This highlights the immense responsibility and, at times, the somber nature of the authority God entrusts to His leaders.
Understand the original words
yāḏ · Hebrew Noun
A display of God's active, overcoming energy or strength in human affairs, often used to demonstrate His sovereignty over earthly rulers and circumstances.
môrāʾ · Hebrew Noun
An intense, overwhelming demonstration of divine greatness or judgment that evokes deep reverence, trembling, or dread; it acknowledges God's supreme authority and ability to act decisively in history.
This verse looks back on the entirety of Moses' ministry, highlighting his divinely empowered leadership from the Exodus to the brink of the Promised Land, emphasizing the awe and terror his mighty acts inspired in all of Israel.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, a pivotal event marked by plagues and God's direct intervention, demonstrating His mighty power through Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God delivers the Ten Commandments and the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, a terrifying and awe-inspiring event for all Israel.
c. 1445-1406 BC
Forty Years in the Wilderness
The Israelites wander in the wilderness. Throughout this period, Moses, empowered by God, performs numerous miracles and exercises significant authority, often striking fear or awe into the people and their enemies.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Moses' Death and Final Instructions
Moses ascends Mount Nebo, sees the Promised Land, and dies. The book of Deuteronomy concludes by summarizing his impactful leadership and miraculous deeds.
This passage highlights the 'mighty hand' and 'great terror' by detailing how God empowered Moses to perform signs and wonders before Pharaoh, directly preceding the plagues and demonstrating the beginning of Moses' awe-inspiring displays of divine power.
Numbers 20:10-11This shows Moses, in obedience to God, striking a rock to bring forth water for the thirsty Israelites, illustrating a specific instance of God's power working through Moses, which instilled awe and met the needs of the people.
Psalm 78:43-51This psalm recounts God's mighty deeds and terrors in Egypt and the wilderness, directly referencing the plagues and the destruction of the Egyptians, providing a retrospective view of the 'great terror' associated with Moses' leadership and God's judgments.
Joshua 4:23-24This passage reflects on God's powerful acts in parting the Red Sea and the Jordan River, echoing the 'mighty hand' and 'great terror' demonstrated by Moses, and reinforcing the idea that these acts were meant to instill awe and fear of God in all nations.
calvinDeuteronomy 34:1-12: "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,"
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Et dixit ei Jehova, Haec est terra de qua juravi Abrahae, Isaac et Ja…
henryDeuteronomy 34:9-12: "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses."
34:9-12 Moses brought Israel to the borders of Canaan, and then died and left them. This signifies that the law made nothing perfect, Heb 7:19 It brings men into a wilderness of conviction, but not into the Canaan of rest and settled peace. That honour was reserved for Joshua, our Lord Jesus,…
The phrase "all the great terror" isn't just about scary displays; it highlights the profound awe and fear God's power, channeled through Moses, instilled in Israel, reminding them of His absolute authority. This phrase underscores that Moses' leadership wasn't just about mighty acts, but also about shaping the people's reverent understanding of the divine.
This verse wraps up the book of Deuteronomy, which recounts the final days of Moses' life and ministry. Having led Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, Moses is shown the land from Mount Nebo but is not allowed to enter it. The chapter then details his death, burial by God himself, and the mourning period for Israel, before highlighting Joshua's succession and Moses' unique status as the greatest prophet Israel ever knew.
This verse wraps up the book of Deuteronomy, which recounts the final days of Moses' life and ministry. Having led Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, Moses is shown the land from Mount Nebo but is not allowed to enter it. The chapter then details his death, burial by God himself, and the mourning period for Israel, before highlighting Joshua's succession and Moses' unique status as the greatest prophet Israel ever knew.
"and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel." — The phrase "all the great terror" isn't just about scary displays; it highlights the profound awe and fear God's power, channeled through Moses, instilled in Israel, reminding them of His absolute au…
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Last reviewed October 2026