Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 3:2
But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses relays the LORD’s direct command to himself during the campaign against Og king of Bashan, immediately after Og’s army departs Edrei to meet Israel in battle. The utterance occurs at the moment of military confrontation.
The words — אַל־ תִּירָא ('al-tira') literally means "do not fear" or "may not you fear," while בְּיָדְךָ (be-yadekha) translates to "in your hand." These terms establish a prohibition against anxiety paired with a declaration of transferred control.
The thread — The exact phrase "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand" recurs in Numbers 21:34 concerning Sihon king of the Amorites. The structural pattern of divine delivery preceding military action also appears in 2 Chronicles 20:17.
Why it lands — The text commands the reader to stop fearing the enemy by acknowledging that the outcome rests on divine delivery, not human strength. It requires immediate, unhesitating action against the opposition as a direct response to that assurance.
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, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
Cross-references
- Numbers 21:23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel.
- Numbers 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:17 You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”
- Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Numbers 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”
- Deuteronomy 2:24 “Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.
- Deuteronomy 3:11 (For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed of iron, nine cubits long and four cubits wide, is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)
- Deuteronomy 20:3 saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west.