Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the assembled elders and officers of Israel immediately before his death, instructing them to witness his final declarations. This occurs directly before he recites the covenant song to the whole assembly.
The words — The Hebrew תַּשְׁחִתוּ (tash.chi.Tu) translates literally as "you will act corruptly," while וְסַרְתֶּם (ve./sar.Tem) means "and you will turn aside." These verbs describe a deliberate, collective departure from the commanded path.
The thread — The text traces a recurring pattern of post-leadership corruption and covenant failure in Deuteronomy 32:5, Judges 2:19, and Deuteronomy 4:30. These passages record the same sequence of turning to other gods and experiencing subsequent distress.
Why it lands — The verse states that disobedience provokes divine anger and brings inevitable disaster. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant loyalty demands conscious maintenance rather than assuming automatic continuity 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
King James Version
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 32:5 His people have acted corruptly toward Him; the blemish on them is not that of His children, but of a perverse and crooked generation.
- Judges 2:19 But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
- Deuteronomy 4:30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.
- Hosea 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
- Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
- Isaiah 1:4 Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
- Luke 19:42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
- Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Leviticus 26:14 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments,
- Deuteronomy 29:18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit,