Deuteronomy 9:19

For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in Moab while recounting his intercession following the golden calf incident. He explains his response to the divine threat of annihilation that followed their rebellion.

The words — The Hebrew יָגֹרְתִּי (yaGoReTi) translates literally as "I was afraid," standing alongside הָ/אַף (haAf) and הַ/חֵמָה (haCheMah), meaning "anger" and "rage." These terms specify the exact divine hostility Moses feared would consume the people.

The thread — The passage aligns with Exodus 32:14, which records Yahweh relenting from the threatened calamity, and Deuteronomy 10:10, which confirms the Lord listened to Moses on this occasion. James 5:16 later codifies the intercessory pattern Moses demonstrates here.

Why it lands — The text states Moses feared the Lord's wrath and then notes the Lord listened to his prayer. It requires readers to acknowledge that intercession, not personal merit, can halt divine judgment.

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

כִּ֣יkifor יָגֹ֗רְתִּיya.Go.re.tiI was afraid מִפְּנֵ֤יmi./pe.Neiof/ <the face of>הָאַף֙ha./'Afthe/ anger וְהַ֣חֵמָ֔הve./Ha./che.Mahand/ the/ rage אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich קָצַ֧ףka.Tzafhe was angry יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahweh עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם'a.lei./Khemtowards/ you לְהַשְׁמִ֣ידle./hash.Midto/ destroy אֶתְכֶ֑ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you וַיִּשְׁמַ֤עva/i.yish.Ma'and/ he listened יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh אֵלַ֔י'e.La/ito/ me גַּ֖םgamalso בַּפַּ֥עַםba./Pa.'amat the/ time הַהִֽוא׃ha./Hiv'<the>/ that

King James Version

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also.

Cross-references

Exodus 32:14 So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.
Deuteronomy 10:10 I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, like the first time, and that time the LORD again listened to me and agreed not to destroy you.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
Exodus 33:17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Psalms 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered.
Nehemiah 1:2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
Amos 7:2 And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”
Luke 12:4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Deuteronomy 9:8 At Horeb you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you.