FocusSuccession, witness, and blessing
Connection to the wholeJoshua is commissioned, the law and song are entrusted to the people, and Moses blesses Israel before his death.
interpretation Deuteronomy 33:4
KJVMoses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
Read it in context
Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes
Start reading at Deuteronomy 33:1 (Deuteronomy 33:1 to Deuteronomy 33:29).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Joshua is commissioned, the law and song are entrusted to the people, and Moses blesses Israel before his death.
- 33:1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
- 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
- 33:3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
- 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
- 33:5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
- 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
- 33:7 And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.
- 33:8 And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
- 33:9 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.
- 33:10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
- 33:11 Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
- 33:12 And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
- 33:13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
- 33:14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
- 33:15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
- 33:16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
- 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
- 33:18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
- 33:19 They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
- 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
- 33:21 And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.
- 33:22 And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
- 33:23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
- 33:24 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
- 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
- 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
- 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
- 33:28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
- 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Moses is the principal speaker and is expressly credited with writing the law. The account of his death was supplied by a later hand; identifying that final writer as Joshua is traditional, not certain. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:24; Deuteronomy 34:5. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Deuteronomy 33:1–33:29): Moses blesses Israel's tribes, naming them in the blessing before his death. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Israel assembled in Moab before entering Canaan, and their children and later generations who were to hear the law read. Biblical references: Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 29:10; Deuteronomy 31:12. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes. Read Deuteronomy 33:1 through Deuteronomy 33:29 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Joshua is commissioned, the law and song are entrusted to the people, and Moses blesses Israel before his death. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? Moses speaks at the end of the wilderness period, before Israel crosses the Jordan. Deuteronomy 1:3 identifies the fortieth year and gives a month and day. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The speeches are set in Moab east of the Jordan, recalling earlier places and anticipating life in Canaan. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes (Deuteronomy 33:1 to Deuteronomy 33:29). Start reading at Deuteronomy 33:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Acts applies Moses' promise of a prophet to Jesus, and Jesus uses Deuteronomy in His answers during temptation. These are explicit New Testament connections to the book. See Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Remember what God has done and join hearing with obedience. Preserve the covenant audience and conditions when applying promises about land, blessing, judgment, and return. interpretation
Cited: Deuteronomy 33:1, Deuteronomy 33:29, Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book states plainly that Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests. Jesus and the apostles attribute the Law to Moses.
Deuteronomy 31:9Deuteronomy 31:24Mark 12:26John 5:46
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church name Moses.
What is debatedChapter 34 records the death of Moses, so even conservative scholars hold that a later hand, often identified as Joshua, added the closing account. Critical scholars date the book much later, to the seventh century B.C.
Related passages
- Moses John 1:17 John 7:19
- the inheritance Deut 9:26-29 Ps 119:72,111
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy 33
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Deuteronomy 1:1 Deuteronomy 1:5 Deuteronomy 30:19
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Deuteronomy
Moses addresses Israel in Moab before the people cross the Jordan. The speeches recall the wilderness, expound covenant obligations, and confront the next generation with choices and consequences.
Deuteronomy 1:1 Deuteronomy 1:5 Deuteronomy 30:19
Remember the journey and hear the LORD
Deuteronomy 1:1–4:43FocusMemory and covenant faithfulness
Connection to the wholeMoses recounts the journey and urges Israel to remember God's acts and avoid idolatry as the people prepare to enter the land.
interpretation Love and obey the LORD
Deuteronomy 4:44–11:32FocusThe covenant's central demand
Connection to the wholeThe covenant commands and appeals join exclusive devotion to the LORD with hearing, remembering, teaching, and obeying His words.
interpretation Life in the land
Deuteronomy 12:1–26:19FocusWorship, justice, and community
Connection to the wholeDetailed commands apply covenant faithfulness to public worship, leadership, households, work, and the care of vulnerable people.
interpretation Covenant ratification and the choice of life
Deuteronomy 27:1–30:20FocusBlessing, curse, and return
Connection to the wholeThe speeches set out covenant consequences and call Israel to choose life through love and obedience rather than presume upon privilege.
interpretation FocusSuccession, witness, and blessing
Connection to the wholeJoshua is commissioned, the law and song are entrusted to the people, and Moses blesses Israel before his death.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.