The Meaning of Deuteronomy 9:23 Explained

Deuteronomy 9:23

KJV: Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.

YLT: and in Jehovah's sending you from Kadesh-Barnea, saying, Go up, and possess the land which I have given to you, then ye provoke the mouth of Jehovah your God, and have not given credence to Him, nor hearkened to His voice;

Darby: And when Jehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and take possession of the land which I have given you, ye rebelled against the word of Jehovah your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.

ASV: And when Jehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Likewise when the LORD  sent  you from Kadeshbarnea,  saying,  Go up  and possess  the land  which I have given  you; then ye rebelled  against the commandment  of the LORD  your God,  and ye believed  him not, nor hearkened  to his voice. 

What does Deuteronomy 9:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 9:15-29 - Moses' Intercession For A Rebellious People
During the remainder of this chapter Moses continues to remind the people of their rebellions. It is well, when we are tempted to self-adulation, to listen to that faithful monitor, conscience, recording our evil past. We are apt to forget our many provocations of God, especially when the smart of the rod is over. But we have all had our Horebs, Taberahs, Marahs, Kibroth-hataavahs and Kadesh-barneas, 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Again and again would the people have been destroyed, if human justice had decided their case. But Moses, the mediator, knew the holy love of God's heart; and expressed it in his prayers on their behalf. See Deuteronomy 9:18; Deuteronomy 9:20; Deuteronomy 9:25-29. We are reminded of Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us within the veil, Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:26-27; Hebrews 9:24. Let us imitate Moses in his life of intercessions; and mark well his arguments that we may use them for ourselves and others. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 9

1  Moses dissuades them from the opinion of their own righteousness
7  Moses reminds them of the golden calf

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 9:23 mean?

And Likewise when sent Yahweh you from Kadesh Barnea saying go up and possess - the land which I have given you then you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God and not you did believe Him nor obey His voice
וּבִשְׁלֹ֨חַ יְהוָ֜ה אֶתְכֶ֗ם מִקָּדֵ֤שׁ בַּרְנֵ֙עַ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר עֲלוּ֙ וּרְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לָכֶ֑ם וַתַּמְר֗וּ פִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֤א הֶֽאֱמַנְתֶּם֙ ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם בְּקֹלֽוֹ

וּבִשְׁלֹ֨חַ  And  Likewise  when  sent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּרְנֵ֙עַ֙  Kadesh  Barnea 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בַּרְנֵעַ 
Sense: a city in the extreme south of Judah.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עֲלוּ֙  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
וּרְשׁ֣וּ  and  possess 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.
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.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
נָתַ֖תִּי  I  have  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
וַתַּמְר֗וּ  then  you  rebelled  against 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרָה  
Sense: to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against.
פִּ֤י  the  commandment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלֹ֤א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֶֽאֱמַנְתֶּם֙  you  did  believe 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹלֽוֹ  His  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.