Deuteronomy-31-6
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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Davarim - Deuteronomy 31:6: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheycha, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.
Introduction:
Moses speaks
to our people Israel at a moment of ‘transition’ and ‘uncertainty’. The verse
issues a practical command, “be strong and of good courage” being
grounds that command theologically: courage is rooted in the presence and
faithfulness of אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim.
Two questions for you to think about:
What does “He
it is that doth go with thee” mean for someone facing a new challenge?
How does the
double assurance (“will not
fail … nor forsake”)
shape the tone of the command to be ‘courageous?’
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Let us now look at at the verse on a word for word basis, with explanations.
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheycha, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.
Let us look at it on a phrase, by phrase basis:
‘Be strong’: A Hebrew imperative stressing strength (physical or inner resolve).
‘and of good courage’: A second imperative emphasising steadiness of heart; together the two imperatives form a paired exhortation (‘strength’ and resolute courage).
‘fear not, nor be affrighted at them’: Two negative commands: ‘do not fear; do not be terrified’. The repetition intensifies the prohibition against panic.
‘for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheycha’: The Divine Name (rendered LORD) together with ‘your God’ ties the command to a ‘personal’, ‘covenantal relationship’.
‘He it is that doth go with thee’: The reason for courage: accompanies the people; presence is the basis for action.
‘He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee’: Two parallel negatives reinforcing divine reliability: neither abandonment nor failure will come from אֱלֹהִים; rhetorical parallelism strengthens assurance.
Similar verses from the Tanakh:
|
Verse |
Theme |
Key
phrase to compare |
|
Joshua 1:9. |
Leadership
and courage. |
“Be
strong and of good courage”. |
|
Genesis
28:15. |
Divine
presence in journey. |
“I am
with thee, and will keep thee”. |
|
Isaiah
41:10. |
Comfort and
help. |
“Fear
not; I will help thee”. |
|
Psalm 118:6. |
Confidence
before enemies. |
“The LORD
is on my side; I will not fear”. |
|
Deuteronomy
31:8. |
Reassurance
of presence. |
“He will
not fail thee nor forsake thee”. |
The above
reveals how the themes of ‘presence’, ‘courage’, and ‘divine faithfulness’
recur across different moments in our Tanakh narrative.
In Closing:
Courage in
this verse is not sel-reliance but trust anchored in a steadfast presence. The
command to be ‘strong and courageous’ is paired with a promise: ‘you
are not sent out alone’.
Let that
promise shape one practical step in your life, an action that names
‘dependence’ on His
presence rather than on your own strength!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה -
the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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