The Meaning of Deuteronomy 29:5 Explained

Deuteronomy 29:5

KJV: And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

YLT: and I cause you to go forty years in a wilderness; your garments have not been consumed from off you, and thy shoe hath not worn away from off thy foot;

Darby: And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not grown old upon you, and thy sandal is not grown old upon thy foot;

ASV: And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxed old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxed old upon thy foot.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I have led  you forty  years  in the wilderness:  your clothes  are not waxen old  upon you, and thy shoe  is not waxen old  upon thy foot. 

What does Deuteronomy 29:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 29:1-13 - The Covenant That Brings Prosperity
In one great final convocation Moses rehearsed the Covenant, and endeavored to bind the people to its provisions. It becomes us all from time to time to look into the vows that we have made, reviewing them to see if we have carefully observed and kept our pledges. We need also to enlarge their scope as one new department after another is added to the experience of our souls. A review also of God's great love and care through past years should constrain us, as by the mercies of God, to present ourselves anew to Him, as a "living sacrifice," Romans 12:1-2.
Notice the double aspect of Deuteronomy 29:12-13. It is not enough for us to be willing to enter into a covenant with God and to take His oath; we need that God should establish us unto Himself that we may become His peculiar people. The established heart and character are the very special gifts of the Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Peter 5:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 29

1  Moses exhorts them to obedience, reminding of the works they had seen
10  All are presented before the Lord to enter into his covenant
18  The great wrath on him who flatters himself in his wickedness
29  Secret things belong unto God

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 29:5 mean?

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness not have worn out Your clothes on you and your sandals have worn out on your feet
וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ אֶתְכֶ֛ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לֹֽא־ בָל֤וּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְנַֽעַלְךָ֥ בָלְתָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל רַגְלֶֽךָ

וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ  And  I  have  led 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים  forty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: אַרְבָּעִים  
Sense: forty.
שָׁנָ֖ה  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
בָל֤וּ  have  worn  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּלָה  
Sense: to wear out, become old.
שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙  Your  clothes 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: שַׂלְמָה  
Sense: garment, outer garment, wrapper, mantle.
מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם  on  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְנַֽעַלְךָ֥  and  your  sandals 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נַעַל  
Sense: sandal, shoe.
בָלְתָ֖ה  have  worn  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּלָה  
Sense: to wear out, become old.
רַגְלֶֽךָ  your  feet 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.