Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

DEUTERONOMY 1:7KJV
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Deuteronomy 1:7 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 1:7 mean?

Deuteronomy 1:7 records God’s command for the Israelites to leave where they have been staying and travel into the land He has promised them, specifically naming the regions and peoples they are to encounter. The verse lays out the boundaries of the land, showing the wide area God is giving to Israel.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they are camped near the border of Canaan, recounting God’s earlier instructions. The verse lists the different types of terrain and regions—mountains, plains, valleys, the southern area, the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, Lebanon, and as far as the Euphrates River—emphasizing the vastness and diversity of the land God is directing them to enter.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 1:7

  • "Turn" (פְּנוּ, penu; H6437) means to change direction or focus. Here, it signals a shift from staying put to actively moving forward as God commands.
  • "Journey" (סְּעוּ, sū; H5265) is often used for setting out on a significant trip, especially one with purpose or mission, highlighting that this is not a casual move but a directed journey.
  • "Mount" (הָהָר, hahar; H2022) and "hills" (הָהָר, hahar; H2022) use the same word, showing that the "mount of the Amorites" and the "hills" are related regions, not entirely separate.
  • "Vale" (שְּׁפֵלָה, shephelah; H8219) refers to lowlands or valleys, a specific geographic area in Canaan, showing the detail in God’s promise.

Why Deuteronomy 1:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s promise to Israel was not limited to a small area but included a broad and varied land, from mountains to plains to distant rivers.
  • The detailed listing of regions and peoples shows the completeness of God’s instruction and the scope of what He is giving, countering any idea that the promise was vague or limited.
  • By recounting this command, Moses reminds the people that their journey is at God’s direction, not just their own desire, connecting their history to God’s ongoing guidance and faithfulness.