Deuteronomy 31:20
New International Version
When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

New Living Translation
For I will bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors—a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will become prosperous, eat all the food they want, and become fat. But they will begin to worship other gods; they will despise me and break my covenant.

English Standard Version
For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.

Berean Standard Bible
When 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.

King James Bible
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

New King James Version
When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.

New American Standard Bible
For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they eat and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.

NASB 1995
“For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.

NASB 1977
“For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.

Legacy Standard Bible
For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them and spurn Me and break My covenant.

Amplified Bible
For when I bring them into the land which I have sworn to their fathers, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise and reject Me and break My covenant.

Christian Standard Bible
When I bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. They will turn to other gods and worship them, despising me and breaking my covenant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When I bring them into the land I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. They will turn to other gods and worship them, despising Me and breaking My covenant.

American Standard Version
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxed fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.

Contemporary English Version
I am bringing them into the land that I promised their ancestors. It is a land rich with milk and honey, and the Israelites will have more than enough food to eat. But they will get fat and turn their backs on me and start worshiping other gods. The Israelites will reject me and break the agreement that I made with them.

English Revised Version
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will bring them into the land that I swore to give to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. When they have eaten all they want and have become fat, they will turn to other gods and worship them. They will despise me and reject my promise.

Good News Translation
I will take them into this rich and fertile land, as I promised their ancestors. There they will have all the food they want, and they will live comfortably. But they will turn away and worship other gods. They will reject me and break my covenant,

International Standard Version
because after I've brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised to their ancestors by an oath, they'll eat, grow fat, and then they'll turn to other gods and serve them, while despising me and breaking my covenant.

Majority Standard Bible
When 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.

NET Bible
For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors--one flowing with milk and honey--and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant.

New Heart English Bible
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.

Webster's Bible Translation
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxed fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

World English Bible
For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When I bring them to the ground flowing with milk and honey, which I have sworn to their fathers, and they have eaten, and been satisfied, and been fat, and have turned to other gods, and they have served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant,

Young's Literal Translation
and I bring them in unto the ground which I have sworn to their fathers -- flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten, and been satisfied, and been fat, and have turned unto other gods, and they have served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant.

Smith's Literal Translation
For I shall bring him to the land which I sware to his fathers, flowing milk and honey; and he ate and was satisfied and was fat, and turned to other gods, and they served them and despised me and brake my covenant.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I will bring them into the land, for which I swore to their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey. And when they have eaten, and are full and fat, they will turn away after strange gods, and will serve them: and will despise me, and make void my covenant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I will lead them into the land, about which I swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. And when they have eaten, and have been satiated and fattened, they will turn aside to foreign gods, and they will serve them. And they will disparage me, and they will nullify my covenant.

New American Bible
For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey which I promised on oath to their ancestors, and they have eaten and are satisfied and have grown fat, if they turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant,

New Revised Standard Version
For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I promised on oath to their ancestors, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For I will bring them into the land which I swore to their fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey; and when they have eaten and are full, and live in luxury, then they will go astray after other gods and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because I bring them to the land that I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they eat and are satisfied and they live in luxury and they turn away after other gods and they serve them and they anger me and they nullify my covenant.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten their fill, and waxen fat; and turned unto other gods, and served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For I will bring them into the good land, which I sware to their fathers, to give to them a land flowing with milk and honey: and they shall eat and be filled and satisfy themselves; then will they turn aside after other gods, and serve them, and they will provoke me, and break my covenant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Commissions Joshua
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. 21And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”…

Cross References
Exodus 32:15-20
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. / When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.” ...

Judges 2:11-15
And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. / Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, / for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. ...

Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

Nehemiah 9:25-26
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness. / But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

Jeremiah 5:7
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

Psalm 106:21
They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Ezekiel 16:15
But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking.

2 Kings 17:7-18
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

1 Kings 9:6-9
But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. / And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 10:6-11
These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” / We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ...

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Acts 7:39-43
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. ...


Treasury of Scripture

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, that flows with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

when

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, …

Deuteronomy 7:1
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Deuteronomy 8:7
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

floweth

Exodus 3:8,17
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites…

eaten

Deuteronomy 8:10-14
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee…

Nehemiah 9:25,26
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness…

waxen fat

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Nehemiah 9:25,26,35
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness…

Psalm 17:10
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

then

Deuteronomy 31:16,17
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them…

Jump to Previous
Break Covenant Despise Despised Eaten Honey Milk Prosperous Provoke Satisfied Serve Served Spurn Sware Swore Themselves Turn Waxed Waxen
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Break Covenant Despise Despised Eaten Honey Milk Prosperous Provoke Satisfied Serve Served Spurn Sware Swore Themselves Turn Waxed Waxen
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














When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers
This phrase refers to the fulfillment of God's promise to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The land, known as Canaan, was promised as an inheritance to their descendants (Genesis 12:7, 15:18-21). This promise is a central theme in the Pentateuch, highlighting God's faithfulness and the continuity of His covenant. The historical context involves the Israelites' journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land, a journey that underscores God's guidance and provision.

a land flowing with milk and honey
This description emphasizes the fertility and abundance of Canaan. "Milk and honey" symbolize prosperity and the richness of the land, indicating a place of sustenance and blessing (Exodus 3:8). Archaeological evidence supports the agricultural richness of ancient Canaan, with its diverse crops and livestock. This phrase also serves as a metaphor for divine provision and the fulfillment of God's promises.

they will eat their fill and prosper
This indicates the material blessings and prosperity the Israelites would experience in the Promised Land. It reflects the covenantal blessings outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, where obedience to God results in abundance and success. However, prosperity also presents a spiritual test, as it can lead to complacency and forgetfulness of God (Deuteronomy 8:10-14).

Then they will turn to other gods and worship them
This phrase predicts Israel's future apostasy, a recurring theme in the Old Testament. Despite God's faithfulness, the Israelites often turned to idolatry, influenced by the surrounding Canaanite culture (Judges 2:11-13). This turning away from God is a violation of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3) and highlights the spiritual battle between faithfulness to God and the temptation of foreign deities.

and they will reject Me and break My covenant
This statement underscores the seriousness of Israel's disobedience. Rejecting God and breaking the covenant signifies a breach in the relationship established at Sinai (Exodus 19:5-6). The covenant was conditional, requiring Israel's obedience in return for God's blessings. This breach leads to the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Theologically, it foreshadows the need for a new covenant, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-13), who restores the broken relationship between God and humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who is delivering God's message to the people. He is preparing them for his departure and the transition of leadership to Joshua.

2. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are about to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years.

3. The Promised Land
Referred to as "a land flowing with milk and honey," it symbolizes abundance and God's faithfulness to His promises.

4. Other gods
The false deities that the Israelites are warned against worshiping, representing the temptation to idolatry.

5. The Covenant
The solemn agreement between God and the Israelites, which they are at risk of breaking through disobedience and idolatry.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness and Human Forgetfulness
God is faithful to His promises, as seen in His provision of the Promised Land. However, humans often forget God's goodness when they become prosperous and self-sufficient.

The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is a recurring temptation for God's people. We must guard our hearts against anything that takes the place of God in our lives.

The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness
The covenant relationship with God requires obedience and loyalty. Breaking the covenant leads to spiritual and often physical consequences.

Prosperity as a Test of Faith
Prosperity can be a test of faithfulness. We must remain vigilant in our devotion to God, even when life is comfortable and abundant.

The Role of Remembrance in Spiritual Life
Regularly remembering God's past faithfulness helps prevent spiritual complacency and idolatry.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have brought them
אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ (’ă·ḇî·’en·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
הָאֲדָמָ֣ה ׀ (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

I swore
נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי (niš·ba‘·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to give their fathers,
לַאֲבֹתָ֗יו (la·’ă·ḇō·ṯāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

a land flowing
זָבַ֤ת (zā·ḇaṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2100: To flow freely, to have a, flux, to waste away, to overflow

with milk
חָלָב֙ (ḥā·lāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461: Milk

and honey,
וּדְבַ֔שׁ (ū·ḏə·ḇaš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1706: Honey, syrup

they will eat
וְאָכַ֥ל (wə·’ā·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

their fill
וְשָׂבַ֖ע (wə·śā·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

and prosper.
וְדָשֵׁ֑ן (wə·ḏā·šên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1878: To be fat, to fatten, to anoint, to satisfy, to remove, ashes

Then they will turn
וּפָנָ֞ה (ū·p̄ā·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

other
אֲחֵרִים֙ (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods
אֱלֹהִ֤ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

and worship them,
וַעֲבָד֔וּם (wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

and they will reject Me
וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי (wə·ni·’ă·ṣū·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular
Strong's 5006: To spurn, treat with contempt

and break
וְהֵפֵ֖ר (wə·hê·p̄êr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6565: To break up, to violate, frustrate

My covenant.
בְּרִיתִֽי׃ (bə·rî·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 31:20 For when I shall have brought them (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 31:19
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