Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 33:1
This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses the man of God addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, delivering a final blessing before his death. This statement functions as a formal heading for the prophetic declarations that follow in the chapter.
The words — The verb בֵּרַךְ (be.Rakh) translates literally as "he blessed," marking the action as a formal pronouncement. The noun הַ/בְּרָכָ֗ה (ha./be.ra.Khah) means "the blessing," identifying the entire passage as a single, cohesive utterance.
The thread — The text connects to Genesis 27:4 and Genesis 27:27, where patriarchs issue final blessings before death, and Joshua 14:6, which records the continuation of leadership transition after Moses. These passages share the structural motif of a dying leader conferring a final word upon the people.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to treat the subsequent declarations as authoritative and final. It demands attention to the precise words spoken by a recognized mediator before his departure.
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 this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Cross-references
- Joshua 14:6 Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
- Genesis 27:4 Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
- Genesis 27:27 So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.
- 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:
- Genesis 49:28 These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
- Judges 13:6 So the woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me. His appearance was like the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
- 1 Samuel 2:27 Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house?
- 1 Samuel 9:6 “Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
- 1 Kings 13:1 Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.