Deuteronomy 33:29
New International Version
Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”

New Living Translation
How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!”

English Standard Version
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”

Berean Standard Bible
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.”

New American Standard Bible
“Blessed are you, Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help, And He who is the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will trample on their high places.”

NASB 1995
“Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”

NASB 1977
“Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help, And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies shall cringe before you, And you shall tread upon their high places.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cower before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”

Amplified Bible
“Happy and blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The Shield of your help, And the Sword of your majesty! Your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread on their high places [tramping down their idolatrous altars].”

Christian Standard Bible
How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.

American Standard Version
Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD has rescued you and given you more blessings than any other nation. He protects you like a shield and is your majestic sword. Your enemies will bow in fear, and you will trample on their backs.

English Revised Version
Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of thy help, And that is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You are blessed, Israel! Who is like you, a nation saved by the LORD? He is a shield that helps you and a sword that wins your victories. Your enemies will come crawling to you, and you will stomp on their backs."

Good News Translation
Israel, how happy you are! There is no one like you, a nation saved by the LORD. The LORD himself is your shield and your sword, to defend you and give you victory. Your enemies will come begging for mercy, and you will trample them down.

International Standard Version
How blessed are you, Israel! Who can be like you, a people delivered by the LORD, your shield of help and your finely crafted sword. May your enemies cower before you. You will tread down their high places."

Majority Standard Bible
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.?

NET Bible
You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the LORD, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.

New Heart English Bible
You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency. Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places."

Webster's Bible Translation
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like to thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellence! and thy enemies shall be found liars to thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

World English Bible
You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
O your blessedness, O Israel! Who is like you? A people saved by YHWH, "" The shield of your help, "" And He who [is] the sword of your excellence! And your enemies are subdued for you, "" And you tread on their high places.”

Young's Literal Translation
O thy happiness, O Israel! who is like thee? A people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And He who is the sword of thine excellency: And thine enemies are subdued for thee, And thou on their high places dost tread.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Happy, thou, Israel: who like thee, a people saved by Jehovah, the shield of thy help, and who the sword of thy lifting up and thine enemies will lie to thee, and thou wilt tread upon their heights.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed are thou, Israel: who is like to thee, O people, that art saved by the Lord? the shield of thy help, and the sword of thy glory: thy enemies shall deny thee, and thou shalt tread upon their necks.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Blessed are you, O Israel. Who is like you, the people who are saved by the Lord? He is the shield of your assistance and the sword of your glory. Your enemies will refuse to acknowledge you, and so you shall tread upon their necks.”

New American Bible
Happy are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people delivered by the LORD, Your help and shield, and the sword of your glory. Your enemies cringe before you; you stride upon their backs.

New Revised Standard Version
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread on their backs.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Happy are you, O Israel: who is like you, a people whose salvation is sustained by the LORD, God is your help, and your pride is not in the sword; your enemies shall deal treacherously with you; but you shall tread upon their necks.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Happy are you, Israel! Who is like you, the people of the salvation in LORD JEHOVAH? Supporting, God helps you, and your boasting is not in swords; your enemies will be treacherous to you and you shall tread on their necks.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee? A people saved by the LORD, The shield of thy help, And that is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall dwindle away before thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Blessed art thou, O Israel; who is like to thee, O people saved by the Lord? thy helper shall hold his shield over thee, and his sword is thy boast; and thine enemies shall speak falsely to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their neck.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes
28So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew. 29Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”

Cross References
Psalm 144:15
Blessed are the people of whom this is so; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

Isaiah 45:17
But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 115:9-11
O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. / O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. / You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”

Psalm 146:5
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Psalm 18:2
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.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.

Isaiah 43:11
I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.


Treasury of Scripture

Happy are you, O Israel: who is like to you, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and who is the sword of your excellency! and your enemies shall be found liars to you; and you shall tread on their high places.

Happy

Deuteronomy 4:7,8
For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? …

Numbers 23:20-24
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it…

Numbers 24:5
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

saved

Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 45:17
But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

1 Timothy 4:10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

the shield

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 115:9-11
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield…

the sword

Judges 7:20
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

Psalm 7:12
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Psalm 45:3
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

found liars.

2 Samuel 22:45
Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

Psalm 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

Psalm 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

Jump to Previous
Blessed Dwindle Enemies Excellence Excellency Happy Help High Israel Liars Majesty Places Saved Shield Submit Sword Themselves Tread
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Blessed Dwindle Enemies Excellence Excellency Happy Help High Israel Liars Majesty Places Saved Shield Submit Sword Themselves Tread
Deuteronomy 33
1. The majesty of God
6. The blessings of the twelve tribes
26. The excellence of Israel














Blessed are you, O Israel!
This phrase highlights the unique status of Israel as God's chosen people. The concept of being "blessed" is deeply rooted in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:2-3), where God promises to bless Abraham and his descendants. This blessing is not just material but spiritual, signifying a special relationship with God. The term "blessed" also connects to the Beatitudes in the New Testament (Matthew 5:3-12), where Jesus describes the blessedness of those who follow Him.

Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?
This rhetorical question emphasizes Israel's distinctiveness due to their salvation by Yahweh. The deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 14) serves as a foundational event, symbolizing God's saving power. This salvation is a type of the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who delivers believers from sin and death (Romans 6:23). The uniqueness of Israel foreshadows the church, a people called out and saved by God through Christ.

He is the shield that protects you,
The imagery of God as a "shield" is common in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 3:3, 18:2), symbolizing His protection and defense. In ancient warfare, a shield was essential for survival, representing God's role as a protector against physical and spiritual threats. This metaphor extends to the New Testament, where faith is described as a shield (Ephesians 6:16), highlighting God's protective power through faith in Christ.

the sword in which you boast.
The "sword" symbolizes God's power and might in battle, as seen in the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 10:42). It also represents the Word of God, described as a sword in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17. This dual imagery underscores the idea that Israel's strength and confidence come from God's power and His Word, a theme echoed in the New Testament where believers are called to boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Your enemies will cower before you,
This phrase reflects the historical victories God granted Israel over their enemies, such as the defeat of the Canaanites (Joshua 21:44). It also points to the eschatological promise of ultimate victory over evil, as seen in Revelation 19:11-21, where Christ triumphs over His foes. The cowering of enemies signifies God's sovereignty and the assurance of His people's triumph through His power.

and you shall trample their high places.
"High places" were sites of pagan worship, often on elevated terrain, which Israel was commanded to destroy (Deuteronomy 12:2-3). This phrase indicates not only military victory but also spiritual conquest over idolatry. It prefigures the New Testament call to demolish spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) and the ultimate victory of Christ over all false worship and idolatry.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israel
The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are recipients of God's covenant promises.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who delivers and protects His people.

3. Enemies of Israel
Nations and peoples who oppose Israel and God's purposes, often representing spiritual opposition as well.

4. High Places
Elevated sites often used for worship, which in this context symbolize places of victory over enemies.
Teaching Points
God's Unique Relationship with His People
Israel is uniquely blessed as God's chosen people, a reminder of the special relationship believers have with God through Christ.

God as Protector and Deliverer
Just as God was Israel's shield and sword, He is our protector and deliverer today. We can trust Him in our battles.

Victory Over Enemies
The promise of victory over enemies is not just physical but spiritual. Believers are assured of triumph over sin and spiritual opposition through Christ.

Living in the Blessing of God
Recognizing our blessed status in Christ should lead us to live confidently and victoriously, knowing that God is with us.(29) Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee.--See Psalm 66:3 : "Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves (i.e., lie) unto thee." The idea is, that the enemies of the conqueror will hasten to throw themselves at his feet, protesting that they were always his friends. (Compare Shimei's repentance on the occasion of David's return to Jerusalem, 2Samuel 19:18.)

Verse 29. - "This concluding verse comprehends the whole blessing. Israel is to be congratulated and praised because, through the true God, it has unparalleled protection, salvation, and triumph" (Herxheimer). Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; literally, shall feign unto thee; i.e. shall pretend to be thy friends, in order to obtain favor with thee. The verb conveys the idea of fawning upon a person with a feigned humility and submissiveness (cf. Psalm 18:44; Psalm 66:2; Psalm 81:15). Thou shalt tread upon their high places; i.e. shalt wholly subdue them and triumph over them (cf. Deuteronomy 32:13); "crees eorum in montibus positas, loca eorum inaccessa victor calcabis, its potieris; qua ipsa phrasi Amos 4:13, Micah 1:3, superbe incedens victor describitur" (Rosenmüller).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Blessed [are] you,
אַשְׁרֶ֨יךָ (’aš·re·ḵā)
Interjection | second person masculine singular
Strong's 835: Happiness, interjection, how happy!

O Israel!
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

is like you,
כָמ֗וֹךָ (ḵā·mō·w·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

a people
עַ֚ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

saved
נוֹשַׁ֣ע (nō·wō·ša‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

by the LORD?
בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

He is the shield
מָגֵ֣ן (mā·ḡên)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

that protects you,
עֶזְרֶ֔ךָ (‘ez·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5828: A help, helper

the sword
חֶ֖רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

in which you boast.
גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ (ga·’ă·wā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1346: Arrogance, majesty, ornament

Your enemies
אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ (’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

will cower before you,
וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ (wə·yik·kā·ḥă·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3584: To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean

and you
וְאַתָּ֖ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

shall trample
תִדְרֹֽךְ׃ (ṯiḏ·rōḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow

their high places.”
בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ (bā·mō·w·ṯê·mōw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 33:29 You are happy Israel (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 33:28
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