Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

DEUTERONOMY 9:5KJV
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Deuteronomy 9:5 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 9:5 mean?

Deuteronomy 9:5 says that the Israelites are not receiving the land because of their own righteousness or the uprightness of their hearts, but because of the wickedness of the nations living there and to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The verse makes clear that Israel’s possession of the land is due to God’s actions and faithfulness, not their own merit.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter Canaan. He warns them not to think they deserve the land because of their own goodness. Instead, Moses explains that God is driving out the other nations because of their wickedness and to keep His promise to the patriarchs. This sets a humble tone and emphasizes God’s faithfulness over human achievement.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 9:5

  • "Righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsedaqah) and "uprightness" (יֹשֶׁר, yosher) both point to moral character, but the verse stresses that Israel’s moral standing is not the reason for their success. This challenges any assumption that Israel earned God’s favor.
  • "Wickedness" (רִשְׁעָה, rish‘ah) describes the deep moral failure of the nations being displaced. The verse highlights that their removal is a judgment on their behavior, not a reward for Israel.
  • "Perform" (קוּם, qum) means to establish or carry out, showing that God is actively fulfilling His sworn word (דָּבָר, davar) to the ancestors. The focus is on God’s reliability to keep promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Why Deuteronomy 9:5 matters

  • Deuteronomy 9:5 corrects the idea that God’s blessings are always a reward for personal goodness, reminding readers that God’s actions can be based on His own purposes and promises.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of the nations’ wickedness as the reason for their removal, not just Israel’s arrival, which gives a fuller picture of God’s justice.
  • This verse connects the conquest of Canaan to God’s covenant with the patriarchs, tying Israel’s story to a much larger narrative of God’s faithfulness across generations.