The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:43 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:43

KJV: Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

YLT: Bezer, in the wilderness, in the land of the plain, of the Reubenite; and Ramoth, in Gilead, of the Gadite; and Golan, in Bashan, of the Manassahite.

Darby: Bezer in the wilderness, in the plateau, of the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

ASV: namely , Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Namely], Bezer  in the wilderness,  in the plain  country,  of the Reubenites;  and Ramoth  in Gilead,  of the Gadites;  and Golan  in Bashan,  of the Manassites. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:43 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:32-49 - Israel's Peculiar Privileges
Every argument that love and wisdom, the great past and the miracles of the Exodus could suggest, was brought to bear on the hearts of the chosen people, fortifying them against the temptations to backsliding. They were bidden to ask from ancient history and from one end of heaven to another, if any such wonders had ever been known in the history of the nations. But it must be sorrowfully confessed that memory and wonder are not enough to permanently fortify the heart against the insidious entrance of evil. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 5:16.
So eager is the divine heart that none should perish but that all should come to repentance, that guide-posts to refuge are carefully multiplied. Here again their names and locations are specified, lest any should not have met with former notifications, Numbers 35:6; Numbers 35:14; 2 Peter 3:9. [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 4:43 mean?

- Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenite and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites Golan in Bashan for the Manassites
אֶת־ בֶּ֧צֶר בַּמִּדְבָּ֛ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ הַמִּישֹׁ֖ר לָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֑י‪‬ וְאֶת־ רָאמֹ֤ת בַּגִּלְעָד֙ לַגָּדִ֔י גּוֹלָ֥ן בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן לַֽמְנַשִּֽׁי

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.
בֶּ֧צֶר  Bezer 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּצֶר 
Sense: son of Zophah, one of the heads of the houses of Asher.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֛ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
הַמִּישֹׁ֖ר  the  plateau  for 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישֹׁור  
Sense: level place, uprightness.
לָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֑י‪‬  the  Reubenite 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵנִי  
Sense: a descendant of Reuben the son of Jacob.
רָאמֹ֤ת  Ramoth 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָאמֹות  
Sense: a place in Gilead; site dubious.
בַּגִּלְעָד֙  in  Gilead 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּלְעָד  
Sense: a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called ‘Mount Gilead’ or the ‘land of Gilead’ or just ‘Gilead’.
לַגָּדִ֔י  for  the  Gadites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּדִי  
Sense: one of the tribe descended from Gad.
גּוֹלָ֥ן  Golan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֹּולָן  
Sense: a town of Manasseh in the heights of Bashan east of the Jordan; a city of refuge.
בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן  in  Bashan 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּשָׁן 
Sense: a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.
לַֽמְנַשִּֽׁי  for  the  Manassites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשִּׁי  
Sense: descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph and grandson of Jacob.