Bible Strands

Deuteronomy 1:18

And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites at the plains of Moab, recounting his specific instructions to the appointed judges at the base of Horeb before the expedition toward the Amorite hill country.

The words — The verb אֲצַוֶּה (a.tza.Veh) means "I commanded," taking אֶתְכֶם ('et.Khem) as its direct object "you," while אֵת functions strictly as an object marker introducing the noun phrase הַדְּבָרִים (ha.de.va.Rim), "the things."

The thread — This emphasis on explicit, received instruction recurs in Deuteronomy 4:5, Deuteronomy 4:40, and Deuteronomy 12:28, where Moses consistently ties the people's future prosperity to their adherence to the statutes he has delivered.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that divine authority operates through clear, transmitted directives rather than vague inspiration, demanding precise compliance with what has been explicitly stated.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וָאֲצַוֶּ֥הva./'a.tza.Vehand/ I commandedאֶתְכֶ֖ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ youבָּעֵ֣תba./'Etat the/ timeהַהִ֑ואha./Hiv'<the>/ thatאֵ֥ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-allהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha./de.va.Rimthe/ thingsאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhichתַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.Su/nyou will do/ !

King James Version

And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

Cross-references