Deuteronomy 9:6
“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "understand therefore" isn't just a concluding remark; it's a direct invitation to grasp a profound truth based on everything just laid out. It emphasizes that Israel's possession of the land isn't earned by their "righteousness" but is instead a gift, despite their deeply ingrained "stubborn" nature.
Moses is reminding the Israelites, on the brink of conquering the Promised Land, that their victory is entirely God's doing, not a reward for their own good deeds. He warns them against pride and self-righteousness, emphasizing that they are inheriting the land because of God's promises to their ancestors and the wickedness of the Canaanites, not because of their own merit as a stubborn and disobedient people.
Why would God give Israel such an incredible inheritance? Was it because they were so good?
Moses lays it out plain: the promised land wasn't earned. It wasn't a reward for Israel's good behavior.
Not By Your Righteousness
The text is super clear here: "the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess it for your righteousness." This wasn't a cosmic paycheck for being a righteous nation.
God's Initiative
This land was a gift, a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their possession was a demonstration of God's undeserved favor and commitment, not a result of their perfect obedience.
Israel was known for something else besides their faith – what was it, and why does it matter for understanding this gift?
The reason God's grace was so crucial is tied to Israel's nature. They weren't just imperfect; they were actively resistant.
The Stubborn Neck Metaphor
Calling them a "stubborn people" uses a powerful image. Think of an animal with a stiff neck that refuses to yield to the yoke or the rider's guidance. This describes a deep-seated rebellion and resistance to authority.
Grace for the Ungovernable
Because they were this way, their possession of the land couldn't be about their own character or actions. It had to be about God's sovereign power and His covenant faithfulness. He had to provide the strength to conquer and the grace to sustain them, overcoming their own stubbornness.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Moral integrity, uprightness, or right standing in accordance with God’s law and character. It refers to being in a right relationship with God and adhering to His standards.
qesheh-oreph · Hebrew Adjective/Noun phrase
Refers to a neck that is stiff and unyielding; metaphorically describing an attitude of persistent disobedience, arrogance, and refusal to submit to God's authority.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Deuteronomy 9:6 by stating that no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law; rather, it is through faith that we are declared righteous, emphasizing that our actions alone cannot earn salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9This directly supports the idea that salvation and God's favor are gifts, not earned rewards. It clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith, and 'not of works,' paralleling the Deuteronomic reminder that the land was given not for Israel's righteousness but by God's grace.
Jeremiah 7:21-23This passage highlights God's rejection of outward sacrifices when the heart is not obedient. Similar to Deuteronomy 9:6, it emphasizes that God desires obedience and a transformed heart over mere ritualistic actions, underscoring that true favor comes not from perceived righteousness but from submitting to God's will.
Galatians 2:16Paul's declaration that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus strongly echoes Deuteronomy's message. It reinforces that any possession or inheritance from God, whether earthly or heavenly, is based on faith and God's gracious act, not on fulfilling legal requirements.
Isaiah 48:4gillDeuteronomy 9:6: "Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people."
Understand therefore that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness,.... This is again repeated to impress it upon their minds, that it was not for any goodness of theirs, but as a gift of divine goodness to them, that they were put into the possession of the good land, which greatly exceed…
calvinDeuteronomy 9:1-6: "Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,"
Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.
Scito itaque hodie quod Jehova Deus tuus ipse es…
The phrase "understand therefore" isn't just a concluding remark; it's a direct invitation to grasp a profound truth based on everything just laid out. It emphasizes that Israel's possession of the land isn't earned by their "righteousness" but is instead a gift, despite their deeply ingrained "stubborn" nature.
Moses is reminding the Israelites, on the brink of conquering the Promised Land, that their victory is entirely God's doing, not a reward for their own good deeds. He warns them against pride and self-righteousness, emphasizing that they are inheriting the land because of God's promises to their ancestors and the wickedness of the Canaanites, not because of their own merit as a stubborn and disobedient people.
Moses is reminding the Israelites, on the brink of conquering the Promised Land, that their victory is entirely God's doing, not a reward for their own good deeds. He warns them against pride and self-righteousness, emphasizing that they are inheriting the land because of God's promises to their ancestors and the wickedness of the Canaanites, not because of their own merit as a stubborn and disobedient people.
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This verse describes Israel as 'stiff-necked' and having an 'iron sinew' in their neck, mirroring the exact imagery and concept used in Deuteronomy 9:6. It reinforces the persistent theme of Israel's stubborn disobedience, making God's grace in giving them the land even more remarkable.
"“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people." — The phrase "understand therefore" isn't just a concluding remark; it's a direct invitation to grasp a profound truth based on everything just laid out. It emphasizes that Israel's possession of the l…
