Deuteronomy 31:21

And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses and the Israelites at the conclusion of the wilderness journey, immediately before entering the Promised Land. He declares that the song He has composed will function as a permanent witness against the people.

The words — The text highlights עָנְתָה (‘a.ne.tah), meaning "it will testify," which grammatically modifies the song as a witness rather than the calamities. It also notes תִמְצֶאֶנָּה (tim.Tze.na), "they will come upon," describing how troubles will arrive.

The thread — This pattern of divine foreknowledge and covenant witness appears in Hosea 5:3, where God states He knows Ephraim's rebellion, and in Genesis 6:5 and Psalms 139:2, which emphasize God's complete awareness of human inclination and thoughts.

Why it lands — The text states that the song will remain on the lips of descendants as an objective record that will confront the people when they face consequences. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God's knowledge of human nature precedes historical events and that written witness remains active across generations.

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

וְ֠הָיָהVe./ha.yahand/ it will be כִּֽי־ki-that תִמְצֶ֨אןָtim.Tze.nathey will come upon אֹת֜וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ it רָע֣וֹתra.'otcalamities רַבּוֹת֮ra.bOtmany וְצָרוֹת֒ve./tza.rOtand/ troubles וְ֠עָנְתָהVe./'a.ne.tahand/ it will testify הַשִּׁירָ֨הha./shi.Rahthe/ song הַזֹּ֤אתha./Zot<the>/ this לְפָנָיו֙le./fa.Na/v<to>/ before/ it לְעֵ֔דle./'Edto/ a witness כִּ֛יkifor לֹ֥אlo'not תִשָּׁכַ֖חti.sha.Khachit will be forgotten מִפִּ֣יmi./Pifrom/ [the] mouth of זַרְע֑וֹzar.'/Ooffspring/ its כִּ֧יkifor יָדַ֣עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know אֶת־'et-<obj.>יִצְר֗וֹyitz.R/ointention/ its אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich ה֤וּאhu'it עֹשֶׂה֙'o.Seh[is] making הַיּ֔וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day בְּטֶ֣רֶםbe./Te.rem<in>/ before אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ'a.vi.'E./nuI will bring/ it אֶל־'el-into הָאָ֖רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃nish.Ba.'e.tiI swore

King James Version

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

Cross-references

Hosea 5:3 I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
John 2:24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.
Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Ezekiel 38:10 This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
Hosea 13:5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
Amos 5:25 Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Acts 2:23 He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.