Deuteronomy 30

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 30

1¶ And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call [them] to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

2And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

3That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

4If [any] of thine be driven out unto the outmost [parts] of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

5And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

6And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

7And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.

8And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

9And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

10If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, [and] if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

11¶ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it [is] not hidden from thee, neither [is] it far off.

12It [is] not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

13Neither [is] it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

14But the word [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

15¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, [and that] ye shall not prolong [your] days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 30 outlines God's promise of restoration for Israel if they repent and return to Him with all their heart after experiencing the curses of dispersion. The chapter emphasizes that God will gather them, bring them back to their land, and circumcise their hearts to love Him. Moses then declares that God's commandments are not distant but accessible, presenting the people with a clear choice between life and death, blessing and cursing, urging them to choose life through obedience and love for the Lord.

Medium Summary

Deuteronomy 30 begins by detailing God's covenant promise of restoration for Israel. Should they be scattered among nations due to disobedience and then return to the Lord with sincere repentance, He pledges to gather them from all lands and bring them back to their ancestral inheritance. A key aspect of this restoration is God's divine act of circumcising their hearts and their descendants' hearts, enabling them to love Him fully and thereby live. Conversely, their enemies will face the curses. Moses then clarifies that the divine commandments are not remote or unattainable, but are intimately near, "in thy mouth, and in thy heart," making obedience entirely possible. The chapter culminates in a profound declaration, setting before Israel the stark choice between "life and good" or "death and evil." Moses implores them to choose life by loving, obeying, and cleaving to the Lord, who is their very life and the guarantor of their prolonged dwelling in the promised land.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy chapter 30 presents a powerful message of divine mercy, restoration, and human responsibility within the covenant. It commences by prophesying that after Israel experiences both the blessings and curses foretold, particularly the dispersion among nations due to disobedience, a path to restoration remains open. If, while scattered, they recall these truths and return to the LORD their God with all their heart and soul, He promises to reverse their captivity. The LORD pledges to have compassion, gather them from the farthest reaches of the earth, and bring them back to the land their fathers possessed, where they will again prosper and multiply. A pivotal element of this restoration is God's promise to "circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed," enabling them to truly love Him, which is essential for their continued life and well-being. Furthermore, the curses that befell Israel will be transferred to their persecuting enemies. Upon their return to obedience, the LORD will abundantly bless all their endeavors, rejoicing over them as He did over their ancestors. Moses then clarifies the nature of the commandments, asserting that they are neither hidden nor distant, not requiring arduous journeys to heaven or across the sea to be understood or performed. Instead, the divine word is "very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart," making obedience an immediate and accessible possibility. The chapter culminates in a solemn declaration by Moses, who sets before the people a clear dichotomy: "life and good, and death and evil." He commands them to choose life by loving the LORD, walking in His ways, and diligently keeping His statutes and judgments, ensuring their prosperity and multiplication in the promised land. Conversely, turning away to worship other gods will lead to certain perishing and a forfeiture of their days in the land. Moses calls heaven and earth to witness this momentous choice, urging Israel to choose life for themselves and their descendants, emphasizing that loving, obeying, and cleaving to the LORD is synonymous with life itself and the fulfillment of the covenant promise to dwell in the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Core Concepts

  • Restoration after DispersionThe promise that if Israel, after being scattered among nations for disobedience, repents and returns to God, He will gather them from all lands and bring them back to their ancestral land.
  • Circumcision of the HeartA divine act promised by God, where He will spiritually prepare the hearts of Israel and their descendants to genuinely love Him, enabling true obedience and life.
  • Accessibility of the LawThe declaration that God's commandments are not obscure or remote, but are intimately near to the people, "in thy mouth, and in thy heart," making them readily knowable and actionable.
  • Choice of Life and DeathMoses' stark presentation of two paths: choosing life through loving and obeying God, leading to blessing and dwelling in the land, or choosing death through disobedience and idolatry, leading to perishing.
  • Divine Reversal of CursesThe assurance that the curses which afflicted Israel due to their sin will be transferred to their enemies once Israel returns to the Lord.
  • Covenant FulfillmentThe ultimate purpose of choosing life and cleaving to God is to fulfill the covenant promise of dwelling securely and prosperously in the land sworn to their patriarchs.