Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 33:9
He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses delivers this declaration during his final blessing over the tribes of Israel, specifically addressing the tribe of Levi. The statement occurs at the close of his prophetic address before the Israelites cross the Jordan.
The words — The text highlights רְאִיתִ֔י/ו (re.'i.Ti/v), meaning "I saw him," paired with לֹ֣א (lo'), meaning "not." These form the literal phrase "I do not see him," which the translation renders as "I do not consider them."
The thread — This pattern of covenant loyalty superseding family ties appears in Leviticus 21:11, which forbids priests from defiling themselves for dead relatives, and in Matthew 10:37, which states that loving father or mother more than Jesus disqualifies one from discipleship. The historical testing at Massah and Meribah in Deuteronomy 33:8 provides the immediate context for this stance.
Why it lands — The text requires absolute adherence to God's word and covenant above all familial obligations. It demands that readers measure their loyalty against divine commands rather than personal relationships.
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
Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
Cross-references
- Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.
- Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
- Leviticus 21:11 He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.
- Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
- Matthew 12:48 But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
- Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- Leviticus 10:6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited.
- 1 Chronicles 17:17 And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction, O LORD God.
- Job 37:24 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”