Deuteronomy 31:26
New International Version
“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.

New Living Translation
“Take this Book of Instruction and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, so it may remain there as a witness against the people of Israel.

English Standard Version
“Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.

Berean Standard Bible
“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

King James Bible
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

New King James Version
“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you;

New American Standard Bible
“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

NASB 1995
“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.

NASB 1977
“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.

Amplified Bible
“Take this Book of the Law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

Christian Standard Bible
“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

American Standard Version
Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Contemporary English Version
This is The Book of God's Law. Keep it beside the sacred chest that holds the agreement the LORD your God made with Israel. This book is proof that you know what the LORD wants you to do.

English Revised Version
Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Take this Book of Teachings, and put it next to the ark of the promise of the LORD your God, where it will be a witness against you.

Good News Translation
"Take this book of God's Law and place it beside the Covenant Box of the LORD your God, so that it will remain there as a witness against his people.

International Standard Version
"Take the book of this Law and set it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God. Let it remain there with you as witness against you,

Majority Standard Bible
?Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

NET Bible
"Take this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. It will remain there as a witness against you,

New Heart English Bible
"Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

World English Bible
“Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of Yahweh your God’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Take this Scroll of the Law, and you have set it on the side of the Ark of the Covenant of your God YHWH, and it has been against you for a witness there;

Young's Literal Translation
'Take this Book of the Law, and thou hast set it on the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and it hath been there against thee for a witness;

Smith's Literal Translation
Take the book of this law and put it at the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and it was there for a witness against thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take this book, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God: that it may be there for a testimony against thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Take this book, and place it inside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, so that it may be there as a testimony against you.

New American Bible
Take this book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD, your God, that there it may be a witness against you.

New Revised Standard Version
“Take this book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God; let it remain there as a witness against you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Take this scroll of the Law and place it in the side of the Ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH your God, and it will be there a witness for you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take the book of this law, and ye shall put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God; and it shall be there among you for a testimony.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law Placed in the Ark
25he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: 26“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you. 27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!…

Cross References
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

2 Kings 22:8-11
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. / And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.” / Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. ...

2 Chronicles 34:14-19
While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. / And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan. / Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands. ...

Nehemiah 8:1-3
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Jeremiah 36:2-3
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. / Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Ezekiel 2:9-10
Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Daniel 9:11
All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

Luke 24:44
Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

John 5:39
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,

Acts 7:38
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.


Treasury of Scripture

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.

in the side

1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

2 Kings 22:8-11
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it…

2 Chronicles 34:14,15
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses…

a witness

Deuteronomy 31:19
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.

2 Kings 22:8,13-19
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it…

Romans 3:19,20
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God…

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Agreement Ark Book Covenant Law Side Witness
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Agreement Ark Book Covenant Law Side Witness
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














Take this Book of the Law
This phrase refers to the Torah, specifically the first five books of the Bible, which Moses wrote under divine inspiration. The "Book of the Law" includes commandments, statutes, and ordinances given to Israel. It serves as a foundational document for the Israelites, outlining their covenant relationship with God. The act of taking the book signifies its importance and authority.

and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God
The ark of the covenant was the most sacred object in the tabernacle, representing God's presence among His people. Placing the Book of the Law beside the ark signifies its sacredness and centrality in the life of Israel. The ark contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna, symbolizing God's law, leadership, and provision. The proximity of the Book of the Law to the ark underscores its role in guiding the nation.

so that it may remain there as a witness against you
The Book of the Law serves as a witness, testifying to the covenant between God and Israel. It holds the people accountable to the terms of the covenant, reminding them of their obligations and the consequences of disobedience. This concept of a "witness" is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such as Joshua 24:27, where a stone is set up as a witness to the covenant. The idea is that the law itself will testify against the people if they fail to uphold it, highlighting the seriousness of their commitment to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who is giving his final instructions before his death. He is the one instructing the Levites to place the Book of the Law beside the ark.

2. The Levites
The priestly tribe responsible for the care of the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. They are tasked with placing the Book of the Law beside the ark.

3. The Book of the Law
Refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contain God's commandments and instructions for the Israelites.

4. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, symbolizing God's presence with His people.

5. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are about to enter the Promised Land. This instruction serves as a reminder of their covenant with God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of God's Word
The placement of the Book of the Law beside the ark signifies its central role in the life of the Israelites. It serves as a constant reminder of God's commandments and their covenant relationship with Him.

Accountability and Witness
The Book of the Law acts as a witness against the Israelites, holding them accountable to God's standards. This underscores the importance of living in obedience to God's Word.

Preservation of Scripture
The careful placement of the Book of the Law highlights the need to preserve and honor God's Word in our lives, ensuring it remains a guiding force for future generations.

Symbolism of the Ark
The ark represents God's presence and faithfulness. Placing the Book of the Law beside it reinforces the idea that God's Word is an extension of His presence among His people.Verse 26. - In the side of the ark; at or by the side of the ark. According to the Targum of Jonathan, it was in a coffer by the right side of the ark that the book was placed; but the Talmudists say it was put within the ark, along with the two tables of the Decalogue ('Baba Bathra,' 14); but see 1 Kings 8:8.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Take
לָקֹ֗חַ (lā·qō·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3947: To take

this
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

Book
סֵ֤פֶר (sê·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

of the Law
הַתּוֹרָה֙ (hat·tō·w·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

and place
וְשַׂמְתֶּ֣ם (wə·śam·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

it
אֹת֔וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

beside
מִצַּ֛ד (miṣ·ṣaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6654: A side, an adversary

the ark
אֲר֥וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the covenant
בְּרִית־ (bə·rîṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285: A covenant

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God,
אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

so that it may remain
וְהָֽיָה־ (wə·hā·yāh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

there
שָׁ֥ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

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

against you.
בְּךָ֖ (bə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 31:26 Take this book of the law (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 31:25
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