Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 30:18
I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in 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, standing at the threshold of the Jordan crossing. He delivers this warning immediately after describing the spiritual rebellion of turning to other gods.
The words — The Hebrew תֹּאבֵדוּן (toe.Du/n) means "you will perish," directly paired with לֹא־תַאֲרִיכֻן (lo'- ta.'a.ri.Khu/n), "you shall not prolong" your days. The root אָבַד ('a.Vod) conveys certain destruction, leaving no ambiguity about the outcome.
The thread — This declaration mirrors the witness of heaven and earth in Deuteronomy 4:26 regarding perishing from the land. It reinforces the covenant testimony in Deuteronomy 8:19 against idolatry and parallels the enforcement pattern in Joshua 23:15.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that covenant disobedience produces immediate, irreversible loss of life and inheritance. It presents the threat as a factual boundary before the subsequent call to choose life.
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
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 8:19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
- Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.
- Joshua 23:15 But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you.
- Isaiah 63:17 Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
- Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”