Deuteronomy 31:12

Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses commands the assembly of all Israelites and resident foreigners at the future place of worship before the generation crossing the Jordan receives the law.

The words — הַקְהֵל (hak.Hel) means "assemble" and הַטַּף (ha.Taf) means "little ones." These terms explicitly frame the command to gather every demographic for public instruction.

The thread — The gathering motif echoes Moses’ earlier command at Horeb in Deuteronomy 4:10, while the emphasis on internalizing the law aligns with Deuteronomy 6:6 and Psalm 19:7.

Why it lands — The text demands the complete community hear the law directly to cultivate reverence and obedience. It requires readers to prioritize communal exposure to Scripture as the foundation for fearing God and following His commands.

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

הַקְהֵ֣לhak.Helassemble אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָעָ֗םha./'Amthe/ people הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤יםha./'a.na.Shimthe/ men וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ve./ha./na.Shimand/ the/ women וְהַטַּ֔ףve./ha./Tafand/ the/ little one[s]וְגֵרְךָ֖ve./ge.re./Khaand/ sojourner/ your אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwho בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָbi/sh.'a.Rei./kha[is] in/ gates/ your לְמַ֨עַןle.Ma.'anso that יִשְׁמְע֜וּyish.me.'Uthey may hear וּלְמַ֣עַןu./le.Ma.'anand/ so that יִלְמְד֗וּyil.me.Duthey may learn וְיָֽרְאוּ֙ve./ya.re.'Uand/ they will fear אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei./KhemGod/ your וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּve./sha.me.Ruand/ they will take care לַעֲשׂ֔וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all דִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.Rei[the] words of הַתּוֹרָ֥הha./to.Rahthe/ law הַזֹּֽאת׃ha./Zot<the>/ this

King James Version

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:10 The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”
Deuteronomy 6:6 These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
Psalms 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalms 34:11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
John 5:39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,