The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:3 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:3

KJV: Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

YLT: Also He is loving the peoples; All His holy ones are in thy hand, And they -- they sat down at thy foot, Each He lifteth up at thy words.

Darby: Yea, he loveth the peoples, All his saints are in thy hand, And they sit down at thy feet; Each receiveth of thy words.

ASV: Yea, he loveth the people; All his saints are in thy hand: And they sat down at thy feet; Every one'shall receive of thy words.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea,  he loved  the people;  all his saints  [are] in thy hand:  and they sat down  at thy feet;  [every one] shall receive  of thy words. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 33:1-17 - The Blessing Of The Chosen People
The glorious nature of God is the opening theme here. The reference is to the giving of the Law when, amid fire and the mediation of angels, God descended on Sinai, Psalms 18:7-9; Habakkuk 3:3-4. Oh, that we, too, may sit as pupils in God's school and receive His words, Deuteronomy 33:3.
Though Reuben could not excel, he was not forgotten. Simeon is omitted because of Numbers 25:14. Judah was to receive prosperity in prayer, in work and in war. Some render the benediction thus: "Bring him in safety from his wars!" But our warfare is different, Ephesians 6:12.
Levi receives special blessing. Note r.v. margin: "Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with him whom thou lovest." This is the white diamond-stone flashing with God's "Yes" or dimming with His "No," Revelation 2:17. Exodus 32:26 was never forgotten. See Matthew 25:37. But God forgets our sins, Hebrews 8:12. Benjamin's portion may be yours. The precious things of Joseph's heritage pale to insignificance when contrasted with the riches of God's grace, Ephesians 1:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 33

1  The majesty of God
6  The blessings of the twelve tribes
26  The excellence of Israel

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 33:3 mean?

Yes He loves the people all the holy ones [are] in Your hand and they sit down at Your feet [Everyone] receives Your words
אַ֚ף חֹבֵ֣ב עַמִּ֔ים כָּל־ קְדֹשָׁ֖יו בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְהֵם֙ תֻּכּ֣וּ לְרַגְלֶ֔ךָ יִשָּׂ֖א מִדַּבְּרֹתֶֽיךָ

אַ֚ף  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
חֹבֵ֣ב  He  loves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָבַב  
Sense: (Qal) to love fervently, cherish.
עַמִּ֔ים  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
קְדֹשָׁ֖יו  the  holy  ones  [are] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ  in  Your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְהֵם֙  and  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
תֻּכּ֣וּ  sit  down 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: תָּכָה  
Sense: (Pual) to be led, be assembled.
לְרַגְלֶ֔ךָ  at  Your  feet 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
יִשָּׂ֖א  [Everyone]  receives 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מִדַּבְּרֹתֶֽיךָ  Your  words 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דַּבֶּרֶת  
Sense: word, words.