Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 18:17
Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Moses immediately after Israel’s plea at Horeb to stop hearing His voice and seeing the fire. This declaration occurs between the people’s request and God’s promise to raise a prophet like Moses from among their brothers.
The words — הֵיטִיבוּ (hei.Ti.vu) literally means “they have done well,” directly translating the people’s request as valid. It follows אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ ('a.Sher di.Be.ru), “that which they have spoken,” which anchors the affirmation to their specific words.
The thread — This divine approval mirrors Deuteronomy 5:28, where God states, “I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you.” The same sequence of hearing, validating, and providing a mediator continues into Deuteronomy 18:18.
Why it lands — The text records God’s direct acknowledgment that the people’s request was accurate and necessary. It requires the reader to accept that divine accommodation precedes the promised prophetic mediation, moving from human limitation to structured revelation.
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
King James Version
And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 5:28 And the LORD heard the words you spoke to me, and He said to me, “I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.