And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

DEUTERONOMY 3:2KJV
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Deuteronomy 3:2 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 3:2 mean?

Deuteronomy 3:2 records God telling Moses not to be afraid of Og, the king of Bashan, because God will give Og, his people, and his land into Israel’s control. God assures Moses that Israel will defeat Og just as they did Sihon, another Amorite king.

In this verse, Moses is recalling God’s words to him as the Israelites approach the territory ruled by Og. The situation is tense, as Og is a powerful king with a strong army, but God’s message is clear: there is no need to fear because victory is promised. The reference to Sihon reminds the people of a recent victory, reinforcing God’s faithfulness and power in leading Israel through hostile lands.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 3:2

  • "Fear" (יָרֵא, yare’): This word often means to be afraid or intimidated. God’s command here is not just about emotion but about trust—Moses is told not to let fear stop him from moving forward.
  • "Deliver" (נָתַן, natan): This verb means to give or hand over. God is saying He will actively place Og, his people, and his land into Israel’s hands, emphasizing that the victory is God’s doing, not just Israel’s military strength.
  • "Hand" (יָד, yad): In Hebrew, "hand" often symbolizes power or control. When God says He will deliver Og into Moses’ "hand," it means giving Israel complete authority over Og and his territory.

Why Deuteronomy 3:2 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s victories are not just military successes but acts of God’s intervention and promise-keeping, shifting the focus from human effort to divine help.
  • By mentioning Sihon, the verse connects this battle to a pattern of God’s faithfulness, encouraging the Israelites to remember past deliverance when facing new challenges.
  • The command not to fear addresses a common human response to overwhelming odds, showing that God’s presence and promise are meant to overcome fear, not just for Moses but for all who follow.

Where else these words appear

“Sihon” Hebrew H5511 · used in 34 verses

  • Numbers 21:21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
  • Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
  • Joshua 13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

“Heshbon” Hebrew H2809 · used in 37 verses

  • Numbers 21:25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
  • Deuteronomy 3:6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
  • Judges 11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

“Amorites” Hebrew H567 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 10:16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
  • Deuteronomy 1:27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
  • Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.