The Meaning of Deuteronomy 34:9 Explained

Deuteronomy 34:9

KJV: And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

YLT: And Joshua son of Nun is full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him, and the sons of Israel hearken unto him, and do as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Darby: And Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

ASV: And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Jehovah commanded Moses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joshua  the son  of Nun  was full  of the spirit  of wisdom;  for Moses  had laid  his hands  upon him: and the children  of Israel  hearkened  unto him, and did  as the LORD  commanded  Moses. 

What does Deuteronomy 34:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 - The Great Leader's Exodus
What inimitable beauty in this closing scene! The majestic withdrawal of the illustrious Lawgiver in view of the assembled nation! The panorama that greeted his undimmed gaze! The Lord's showing of it to him! The kiss, according to the ancient tradition, in which his spirit passed rapturously to its reward! The burial of his body with proper honor, Judges 1:9! Well might the people weep!
There is dispensational truth here also. Moses represented God's Law, which never shows signs of age; but it cannot lead the soul into the rest of God, nor give victory over our spiritual foes. For the world and each soul Moses must give place to Joshua-that is, Jesus.
Be ours that face to face fellowship, that doing of His will, those divine credentials of the mighty hand, of deeds wrought in God! Psalms 90:16-17 [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 34

1  Moses from mount Nebo views the land
5  He dies there
6  His burial
7  His age
8  Thirty days mourning for him
9  Joshua succeeds him
10  The praise of Moses

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 34:9 mean?

Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for had laid Moses - his hands on him so heeded him the sons of Israel and did as had commanded Yahweh Moses
וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־ נ֗וּן מָלֵא֙ ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֔ה כִּֽי־ סָמַ֥ךְ מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־ יָדָ֖יו עָלָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּ אֵלָ֤יו בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה מֹשֶֽׁה

וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ  Now  Joshua 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
בִּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נ֗וּן  of  Nun 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נוּן  
Sense: father of Joshua the successor of Moses.
מָלֵא֙  was  full 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא  
Sense: full, fullness, that which fills.
ר֣וּחַ  of  the  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
חָכְמָ֔ה  of  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
סָמַ֥ךְ  had  laid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.
מֹשֶׁ֛ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
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.
יָדָ֖יו  his  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עָלָ֑יו  on  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּ  so  heeded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּנֵֽי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ  and  did 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
צִוָּ֥ה  had  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֹשֶֽׁה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.