And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

DEUTERONOMY 31:16KJV
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Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 31:16 mean?

Deuteronomy 31:16 describes God telling Moses that Moses will soon die (“sleep with thy fathers”), and that after his death, the Israelites will abandon God and worship foreign gods, breaking the covenant God made with them. This verse is a warning that the people will turn away from God’s commands after Moses is gone.

In this scene, the LORD (H3068) is speaking directly to Moses (H4872) near the end of Moses’ life, as the Israelites prepare to enter the promised land. God reveals that the people (H5971) will “go a whoring” (H2181)—a strong phrase for turning to other gods (H430) and adopting the practices of the nations (“strangers,” H5236) around them. The verse sets the stage for the challenges Israel will face and the consequences of breaking the covenant (H1285) that God “made” (H3772) with them.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 31:16

  • “Sleep” (שָׁכַב, shakav, H7901) means to die, but the phrase “sleep with thy fathers” is a respectful way of saying Moses will join his ancestors in death, not just cease to exist.
  • “Go a whoring” (זָנָה, zanah, H2181) is a vivid Hebrew expression for unfaithfulness, often used for idolatry. It paints Israel’s turning to other gods as a betrayal, like adultery in a marriage.
  • “Forsake” (עָזַב, azav, H5800) means to abandon or leave behind, showing that Israel’s actions are a deliberate turning away from God, not just a mistake.
  • “Break” (פָּרַר, parar, H6565) means to violate or nullify, emphasizing that Israel’s disobedience is a serious breach of the covenant relationship, not a minor slip.

Why Deuteronomy 31:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s future unfaithfulness is not a surprise to God; He foresees it and warns Moses ahead of time, highlighting God’s knowledge and the seriousness of the covenant.
  • The strong language for idolatry (“go a whoring”) shows how personal and relational God’s covenant with Israel is, comparing their faithfulness to marital fidelity.
  • Understanding this warning helps explain the repeated cycles of faithfulness and failure in Israel’s later history, and why Moses’ leadership is so significant in the story.

Where else these words appear

“strangers” Hebrew H5236 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
  • Psalms 144:11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

“break” Hebrew H6565 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Isaiah 33:8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

“whoring” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;