Deuteronomy 31:19
New International Version
“Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.

New Living Translation
“So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.

English Standard Version
“Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.

King James Bible
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

New King James Version
“Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
“Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, in order that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
“So now, write this song for yourselves and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

Amplified Bible
“Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouth, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; have them sing it, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the Israelites.

American Standard Version
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
Moses and Joshua, I am going to give you the words to a new song. Write them down and teach the song to the Israelites. If they learn it, they will know what I want them to do, and so they will have no excuse for not obeying me.

English Revised Version
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Write down this song, teach it to the Israelites, and have them sing it. This song will be a witness for me against the Israelites.

Good News Translation
"Now, write down this song. Teach it to the people of Israel, so that it will stand as evidence against them.

International Standard Version
"Now write this song and teach it to the Israelis. Put this song in their very mouths, so that it will be a witness for me against the Israelis,

Majority Standard Bible
Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.

NET Bible
Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!

New Heart English Bible
"Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

World English Bible
“Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it [to] the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song is to Me for a witness against the sons of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, write for you this song, and teach it the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song is to Me for a witness against the sons of Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And now write ye for you this song, and teach it to the sons of Israel: put it in their mouth so that this song shall be to me for a testimony among the sons of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore write you this canticle, and teach the children of Israel: that they may know it by heart, and sing it by mouth, and this song may be unto me for a testimony among the children of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, write this canticle now, and teach it to the sons of Israel, so that they may retain it in memory, and may chant it by mouth, and so that this verse may be a testimony to me among the sons of Israel.

New American Bible
Now, write out this song for yourselves. Teach it to the Israelites and have them recite it, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.

New Revised Standard Version
Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, in order that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore write this song for them, and teach it to the children of Israel; and put it into their mouths; this song will be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Therefore write to them this song and teach it to the children of Israel and put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a testimony to me among the children of Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now write the words of this song, and teach it to the children of Israel, and ye shall put it into their mouth, that this song may witness for me among the children of Israel to their face.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Commissions Joshua
18And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods. 19Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them. 20When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant.…

Cross References
Exodus 15:1-18
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. / The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. / The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. ...

Psalm 78:1-72
A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth. / I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning, / that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us. ...

Psalm 105:1-45
Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. / Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. / Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. ...

Psalm 106:1-48
Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever. / Who can describe the mighty acts of the LORD or fully proclaim His praise? / Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times. ...

Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Isaiah 30:8-11
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever. / These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. ...

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. / “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. ...

Hosea 3:1-5
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.” / So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. / Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.” ...

Hosea 14:1-9
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. / Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. / Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.” ...

2 Samuel 22:1-51
And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. / He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. / My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. ...

1 Chronicles 16:7-36
On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: / “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. / Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. ...

Matthew 26:30
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:26
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 1:46-55
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! / For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. ...

Luke 1:68-79
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. / He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, / as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

this song

Deuteronomy 31:22,30
Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel…

Deuteronomy 32:1,44,45
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth…

and teach it

Deuteronomy 4:9,10
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; …

Deuteronomy 6:7
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 11:19
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

put it in their

Exodus 4:15
And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

2 Samuel 14:3
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

Isaiah 51:16
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

a witness

Deuteronomy 31:21,26
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware…

Ezekiel 2:5
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Matthew 10:18
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

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Deuteronomy 31
1. Moses encourages the people
7. He encourages Joshua
9. He delivers the law unto the priests to be read in the seventh year
14. God gives a charge to Joshua
19. and a song to testify against the people
24. Moses delivers the book of the law to the Levites to keep
28. He makes a protestation














Now therefore
This phrase serves as a transition, indicating a conclusion or a directive based on previous instructions. In the context of Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing the Israelites for his departure and the transition of leadership to Joshua. The Hebrew word often translated as "therefore" is "וְעַתָּה" (ve'atah), which implies an immediate action or response to what has been previously stated. It underscores the urgency and importance of the command that follows.

write down for yourselves
The act of writing is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context, as it was a means of preserving important information and ensuring its transmission to future generations. The Hebrew root "כָּתַב" (katav) means to inscribe or record. This command to write emphasizes the permanence and authority of the message. It is a divine directive to ensure that the words are not forgotten and that they serve as a lasting testament.

this song
The "song" referred to is the Song of Moses, found in Deuteronomy 32. In Hebrew, the word "שִׁיר" (shir) denotes a lyrical composition, often used in worship or as a didactic tool. Songs were a powerful medium for teaching and remembrance in ancient cultures, as they were easier to memorize and recite. This particular song serves as a theological and moral reminder of God's faithfulness and the consequences of Israel's disobedience.

and teach it
The Hebrew root "לָמַד" (lamad) means to instruct or train. Teaching in the biblical sense is not merely the transfer of information but involves shaping character and instilling values. Moses is commanded to ensure that the Israelites understand the song's significance and internalize its message. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the importance of teaching and passing down God's commandments to future generations.

to the Israelites
The term "Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. In the context of Deuteronomy, it is the covenant community chosen by God. The Israelites are the recipients of the Law and the promises of God. This directive to teach the song to the Israelites highlights their identity as God's people and their responsibility to uphold the covenant.

Have them recite it
Recitation implies memorization and public declaration. The Hebrew root "שָׂם" (sam) can mean to place or set, indicating that the song should be firmly established in their minds and hearts. Reciting the song would serve as a constant reminder of their relationship with God and the consequences of their actions. It is an act of communal reinforcement of their identity and obligations.

so that it may be a witness for Me
The concept of a "witness" in Hebrew, "עֵד" (ed), is a legal term that denotes testimony or evidence. The song is intended to serve as a divine witness, testifying to the truth of God's words and the reality of the covenant. It stands as a perpetual reminder of God's faithfulness and the people's accountability.

against the Israelites
This phrase underscores the song's role as a prophetic warning. It is not only a reminder of God's promises but also a testimony against the Israelites should they fail to uphold their covenant obligations. The song serves as a divine standard by which their faithfulness will be measured. It reflects the biblical theme of accountability and the serious consequences of disobedience.

(19) Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness.--This method of perpetuating the truth was even better adapted to the times and to the condition of the people than the delivery of a written law. It was not possible to multiply copies of the law among them to any great extent; but the rhythmical form of the song would make it easy to be retained in their memories. There is reason to believe that Samuel, the first person who (so far as we know) effected anything of importance towards the establishment of a system of religious education in Israel, employed the same means for the purpose, viz., psalms and spiritual songs. The first companies of prophets were evidently singers and minstrels (see 1Samuel 10:5-6; 1Samuel 19:20-24); hence their remarkable influence over Saul. And if they taught the psalms to the people, as they learnt them under Samuel and David--especially historical psalms, like the 78th, 105th, and 106th--a very efficacious means of spreading the knowledge of God in Israel was in their hands.

Verse 19. - Write ye this song. This refers to the song which follows in next chapter. Moses and Joshua were both to write this song, Moses probably as the author, Joshua as his amanuensis, because both of them were to do their endeavor to keep the people from that apostasy which God had foretold.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now therefore,
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

write down
כִּתְב֤וּ (kiṯ·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

for yourselves
לָכֶם֙ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

this
הַזֹּ֔את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

song
הַשִּׁירָ֣ה (haš·šî·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

and teach
וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ (wə·lam·mə·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

it to the Israelites;
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

have them recite
שִׂימָ֣הּ (śî·māh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

it,
בְּפִיהֶ֑ם (bə·p̄î·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

so that
לְמַ֨עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

[it]
הַזֹּ֛את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

may be
תִּהְיֶה־ (tih·yeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a witness
לְעֵ֖ד (lə·‘êḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

for Me
לִּ֜י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

against [them].
בִּבְנֵ֥י (biḇ·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 31:19 Now therefore write you this song (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 31:18
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