The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:9 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:9

KJV: Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

YLT: Who is saying of his father and his mother, I have not seen him; And his brethren he hath not discerned, And his sons he hath not known; For they have observed Thy saying, And Thy covenant they keep.

Darby: Who said to his father and to his mother, I see him not, And he acknowledged not his brethren, And knew not his own children; For they have observed thy word, And kept thy covenant.

ASV: Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed thy word, And keep thy covenant.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who said  unto his father  and to his mother,  I have not seen  him; neither did he acknowledge  his brethren,  nor knew  his own children:  for they have observed  thy word,  and kept  thy covenant. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:9 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 33:9 mean?

who says of his father and mother not I have seen them and his brothers nor did he acknowledge Or - his own sons know for they have observed Your word and Your covenant kept
הָאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־ אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־ [בנו] (בָּנָ֖יו) יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ

הָאֹמֵ֞ר  who  says 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְאָבִ֤יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וּלְאִמּוֹ֙  and  mother 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
רְאִיתִ֔יו  I  have  seen  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶחָיו֙  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הִכִּ֔יר  did  he  acknowledge 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכַר 
Sense: to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard.
[בנו]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
(בָּנָ֖יו)  his  own  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יָדָ֑ע  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
שָֽׁמְרוּ֙  they  have  observed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ  Your  word 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אִמְרָה 
Sense: utterance, speech, word.
וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖  and  Your  covenant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יִנְצֹֽרוּ  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.