Deuteronomy 11:8

You shall therefore keep every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, moments before they cross the Jordan into Canaan. He speaks as their covenant mediator, grounding his command in their firsthand observation of God’s past acts.

The words — The Hebrew verb שְׁמַרְתֶּם (shemartem) means "you will keep" or "you shall guard," and מִצְוָה (mitzvah) translates directly to "commandment." These terms establish a binding obligation tied to present action.

The thread — The theme of divine strength for land possession appears in Joshua 1:6, where leaders are urged to be strong to inherit the promised territory. Later passages like Ephesians 3:16 and Ephesians 6:10 extend the concept of spiritual strengthening to inner being and spiritual warfare.

Why it lands — The verse requires immediate, comprehensive obedience to present revelation as the mechanism for future inheritance. It frames covenant faithfulness not as a passive hope but as an active prerequisite for possessing what God has promised.

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

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙u./she.mar.Temand/ you will keep אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all הַמִּצְוָ֔הha./mitz.Vahthe/ commandment אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiI מְצַוְּךָ֖me.tza.ve./Kha[am] commanding/ you הַיּ֑וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day לְמַ֣עַןle.Ma.'anso that תֶּחֶזְק֗וּte.chez.Kuyou may be strong וּבָאתֶם֙u./va.Temand/ you will go וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣םvi./rish.Temand/ you will take possession of אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֔רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhere אַתֶּ֛ם'a.Temyou עֹבְרִ֥ים'oe.Rim[are] about to pass over שָׁ֖מָּהSha.ma/hthere/ towards לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃le./rish.Ta/hto/ take possession of/ it

King James Version

Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;

Cross-references

Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Ephesians 3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Deuteronomy 31:23 Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Deuteronomy 8:10 When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.
Psalms 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 26:16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. You must be careful to follow them with all your heart and with all your soul.