The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:21 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:21

KJV: Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:

YLT: And Jehovah hath shewed himself wroth with me because of your words, and sweareth to my not passing over the Jordan, and to my not going in unto the good land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee -- an inheritance;

Darby: And Jehovah was angry with me on your account, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not enter in to that good land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance;

ASV: Furthermore Jehovah was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Furthermore the LORD  was angry  with me for your sakes,  and sware  that I should not go over  Jordan,  and that I should not go  in unto that good  land,  which the LORD  thy God  giveth  thee [for] an inheritance: 

What does Deuteronomy 4:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:15-31 - Jehovah "a Jealous God"
How often Moses repeats, "take heed." We must watch as well as pray and keep our souls diligently. We must specially beware of idols-that is, any visible thing which takes the place of the unseen and eternal, veiling it from our view. The soul must learn to lean on the everlasting arm.
How true that description of the iron furnace! The metaphor is derived from the process of smelting metal. We have had our Egypts, where by trials the real ore of character was disintegrated from its rocky matrix. But though God may remove us from outward affliction, He is Himself the furnace of purification, by His Spirit and Word, and in the secrets of our hearts, Deuteronomy 4:24. But His fire burns our bonds, while our heads are unsinged, Daniel 3:25.
If these words meet the eyes of any who are among the scattered and vanished ones, let them seek God again, and they shall certainly find Him; for He is merciful, He will not fail nor destroy, nor forget the olden Covenant, Deuteronomy 4:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:21 mean?

Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes and swore that not I would cross over - the Jordan that not I would enter into the land good which Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance
וַֽיהוָ֥ה הִתְאַנֶּף־ בִּ֖י‪‬ עַל־ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע לְבִלְתִּ֤י עָבְרִי֙ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וּלְבִלְתִּי־ בֹא֙ אֶל־ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה

וַֽיהוָ֥ה  Furthermore  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הִתְאַנֶּף־  was  angry 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָנַף  
Sense: to be angry, to be displeased, to breathe hard.
בִּ֖י‪‬  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם  your  sakes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע  and  swore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לְבִלְתִּ֤י  that  not 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
עָבְרִי֙  I  would  cross  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וּלְבִלְתִּי־  that  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
בֹא֙  I  would  enter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָאָ֣רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַטּוֹבָ֔ה  good 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נֹתֵ֥ן  is  giving 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
נַחֲלָֽה  as  an  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.