Deuteronomy 9:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But understand today that the LORD your God is the one crossing ahead of you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and subdue them before you, so you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְיָדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם כִּי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ הֽוּא־הָעֹבֵ֤ר לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣שׁ אֹֽכְלָ֔ה ה֧וּא יַשְׁמִידֵ֛ם וְה֥וּא יַכְנִיעֵ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְהֽוֹרַשְׁתָּ֤ם וְהַֽאַבַדְתָּם֙ מַהֵ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה לָֽךְ׃

Transliteration

wĕyādaʿtā the-yôm that YHWH ʾĕlōhêkā He-hāʿōbēr before-you ʾēš ʾōkĕlâ He yašmîdēm and-He yaknîʿēm before-you wĕhôraštām wĕhaʾăbadtām quickly as dibber YHWH to-you

Grammar Details

• *wĕyādaʿtā*: conjunction + verb, qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular - and you shall know
• *yôm*: noun, masculine singular with definite article - the day
• *YHWH*: proper noun - LORD/Yahweh
• *ʾĕlōhêkā*: noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your God
• *hāʿōbēr*: article + participle, masculine singular - the one crossing over
• *ʾēš*: noun, feminine singular - fire
• *ʾōkĕlâ*: adjective, feminine singular - consuming/devouring
• *yašmîdēm*: verb, hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - he will destroy them
• *yaknîʿēm*: verb, hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - he will subdue them
• *wĕhôraštām*: conjunction + verb, hiphil perfect 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - and you will dispossess them
• *wĕhaʾăbadtām*: conjunction + verb, hiphil perfect 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - and you will destroy them
• *dibber*: verb, piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular - he spoke

Word Meanings

• *ʿōbēr*: crossing over/passing through/going ahead
• *ʾēš* *ʾōkĕlâ*: consuming fire/devouring fire
• *yašmîdēm*: destroy them/annihilate them/exterminate them
• *yaknîʿēm*: subdue them/humble them/bring them low
• *hôraštām*: dispossess them/drive them out/take possession from them
• *haʾăbadtām*: destroy them/cause them to perish/eliminate them

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Unrstand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall stroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and stroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Understand therefore today, that the LORD your God is the one who goes over before you; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before you: so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But vnderstonde this daye that the Lorde thy God which goeth ouer before the a consumyng fire, he shall destroye them and he shall subdue them before the. And thou shalt cast them out, and brynge them to noughte quyckely as the Lorde hath sayed vnto the.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Therfore shalt thou knowe this daye, that the LORDE yi God goeth before the, a cosumynge fyre. He shal destroye the, and shall subdue them before the, and shal driue them out, & shortly shall he brynge the to naught, as the LORDE hath promysed the.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Vnderstand therefore that this day ye Lorde thy God is he which goeth ouer before thee as a consuming fire: he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them downe before thy face: so thou shalt cast them out and destroy them suddenly, as the Lord hath said vnto thee.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Understande therefore this day, that the Lorde thy God is euen he whiche goeth ouer before thee as a consuming fire, he shall destroy them, and he shall bryng them downe before thy face: So thou shalt caste them out, and bryng them to naught quickly, as the Lorde hath sayde vnto thee.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God [is] he which goeth over before thee; [as] a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Know therefore this day, that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before you: so shall you drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and thou hast known to-day, that Jehovah thy God `is' He who is passing over before thee -- a fire consuming; He doth destroy them, and He doth humble them before thee, and thou hast dispossessed them, and destroyed them hastily, as Jehovah hath spoken to thee.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Be certain then today that it is the Lord your God who goes over before you like an all-burning fire; he will send destruction on them, crushing them before you; and you will send them in flight, putting an end to them quickly, as the Lord has said.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Know therefore this day, that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before you: so you shall drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Understand today that the LORD your God who goes before you is a devouring fire; he will defeat and subdue them before you. You will dispossess and destroy them quickly just as he has told you.

Referenced Verses

• Exod 23:29-31 : 29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year, because the land would become desolate, and the wild animals would multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you are fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the inhabitants of the land, and you will drive them out before you.
• Deut 4:24 : 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
• Josh 3:11 : 11 'Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing ahead of you into the Jordan.'
• Deut 7:23-24 : 23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great panic until they are destroyed. 24 He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names from under the heavens. No one will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.
• Deut 20:4 : 4 For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies and to give you victory.
• Heb 12:29 : 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
• Rom 8:31 : 31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Eph 5:17 : 17 Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• 2 Thess 1:8 : 8 In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
• Rev 19:11-16 : 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. 13 He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• Deut 31:3-6 : 3 The LORD your God himself will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall take possession of them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said. 4 And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, whom he destroyed. 5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must act toward them according to the entire commandment I have instructed you. 6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Deut 9:6 : 6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
• Deut 7:1-2 : 1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of, and He drives out many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites—seven nations more numerous and stronger than you, 2 and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you and you defeat them, you must devote them to complete destruction. Do not make a covenant with them or show them any mercy.
• Deut 7:16 : 16 You shall destroy all the nations the LORD your God is giving over to you. Do not look on them with pity, and do not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
• Deut 1:30 : 30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes.
• Josh 3:14 : 14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
• Isa 27:4 : 4 I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me, I would march against them in battle and completely burn them together.
• Isa 30:27 : 27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with anger and dense with smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is like a consuming fire.
• Isa 30:30 : 30 The LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and will display the strength of his arm with furious anger and consuming fire, with a cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.
• Isa 30:33 : 33 Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit is deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
• Isa 33:14 : 14 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless. Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with everlasting flames?
• Isa 41:10-16 : 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; indeed, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who oppose you will be as nothing and will perish. 12 You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing, as non-existent. 13 For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' 14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel. I myself will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 See, I will make you into a sharp threshing sledge, new and covered with many blades. You will thresh the mountains and crush them and reduce the hills to chaff. 16 You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
• Mic 2:13 : 13 The one who breaks through will go before them; they will burst out, pass through the gate, and go out by it. Their king will pass before them, and the LORD will lead the way.
• Nah 1:5-6 : 5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are shattered before him.
• Matt 15:10 : 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand:
• Mark 7:14 : 14 Then He called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: