Deuteronomychapter 34
12 verses · BSBDeuteronomy book hub →
Original Language
Deuteronomy 34— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
In Jewish life
Jewish practice and Jewish teaching both have something to say about Deuteronomy 34. Three things follow: where it is read, what is done because of it, and how the rabbis have taught it. The purpose is to inform a Christian reader what Jews believe and how Judaism was and is practised.
The reading
Weekly portion 54 of 54
וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה V'Zot HaBerachah, Deuteronomy 33:1 to 34:12
Read with it: Joshua 1:1 to 1:18 in Ashkenazi use, and Joshua 1:1 to 1:9 in Sephardi use.
The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →
Where the rabbis cite this chapter
6 rows sit beside their verses in the text, on 5 verses of this chapter. No row that speaks to the chapter as a whole is recorded. Every quote links to its full source.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria (sefaria.org); excerpts follow each version’s license, and every passage opens at its source.
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
The whole land shown to him from Pisgah1
Deuteronomy 34:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ramban on Deuteronomy 34:1
AND THE ETERNAL SHOWED HIM [MOSES] ALL THE LAND — all the Land of Israel beyond the Jordan [westward] — and then the verse states that He showed him even Gilead, as far as Dan.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Deuteronomy 34:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Deuteronomy 34:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Deuteronomy 34:3
ואת הנגב means THE SOUTH COUNTRY. — Another explanation is, that it refers to the cave of Machpelah (which was in the Negeb), as it is said, (Numbers:22) “And they went up to the south country, and came to Hebron” (where this cave was situated) (Sifrei Devarim:20).
Read it in full at Sefaria · Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934
Deuteronomy 34:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Buried in a valley, and no man knows the place5
Deuteronomy 34:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Deuteronomy 34:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Deuteronomy 34:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Deuteronomy 34:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
No prophet since has risen like Moses9
Deuteronomy 34:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Deuteronomy 34:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ramban on Deuteronomy 34:10
“[This means] that Moses’ heart was familiar with Him and he spoke with Him whenever he wished, as it is stated, and now I will go up unto the Eternal; 307 Exodus:30. Stay ye, that I may hear what the Eternal will command concerning you.” 308 Numbers:8.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Onkelos Deuteronomy 34:10
And there has not ever arisen a prophet within Yisroel like Moshe, whom Adonoy knew [ appeared to ] face-to-face.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 [with Onkelos translation]
Deuteronomy 34:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ramban on Deuteronomy 34:11
This is connected with the [preceding] verse, And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel — in all the signs etc.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Deuteronomy 34:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ramban on Deuteronomy 34:12
This alludes to the division of the Red Sea concerning which it is said, And Israel saw the great hand. 347 Exodus:31. AND IN ALL THE GREAT TERROR. This is a reference to the Revelation. Literally: “‘the stand’ ( ma’amad ) at Mount Sinai.” See Vol. II, p., Note.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976