Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

DEUTERONOMY 1:37KJV
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Deuteronomy 1:37 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 1:37 mean?

Deuteronomy 1:37 describes how Moses tells the Israelites that the LORD was angry with him because of them, and as a result, God said Moses would not be allowed to enter the promised land. This verse shows Moses sharing that even he faced consequences for the people's actions.

Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as they are about to enter the promised land, recalling events from their journey. He explains that God’s anger (using the word "angry" from the Hebrew) was not just directed at the people but also at Moses himself, linking his fate to theirs. This verse highlights the seriousness of the situation and Moses’ close involvement with the people’s journey and failures.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 1:37

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that it is the God of Israel who is acting here.
  • "angry" (אָנַף, anaph): This word means to be angry or enraged. Here, it stresses the intensity of God’s displeasure, not just disappointment but a strong reaction.
  • "for your sakes" (גָּלַל, galal): This phrase is often understood as "because of you" or "on your account," making it clear that Moses’ punishment is tied to the actions of the people, not just his own.
  • "go" (בּוֹא, bo): This verb means "to enter" or "to come." In this context, it refers specifically to entering the promised land, the long-awaited goal for Israel.
  • "thither" (שָׁם, sham): This simply means "there," pointing directly to the promised land as the destination Moses is forbidden to reach.

Why Deuteronomy 1:37 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Moses, despite being the leader, was not exempt from consequences and was held accountable along with the people.
  • It connects Moses’ fate to the wider story of Israel’s journey, showing how leadership and community are intertwined in responsibility.
  • The verse sets the stage for later passages where Moses will appoint Joshua as his successor, highlighting the transition of leadership as Israel prepares to enter the land.

Where else these words appear

“sakes” Hebrew H1558 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 12:13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
  • Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
  • Jeremiah 11:17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

“thither” Hebrew H8033 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
  • Exodus 40:3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
  • 1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

“angry” Hebrew H599 · used in 14 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:21 Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:
  • 1 Kings 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
  • Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.