Deuteronomy 33:28
in Deuteronomy 33So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew.
KJV
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 33
Commentary
8 notes on this verseIsrael then shall dwell in safety alone,.... The Canaanites being thrust out of their land, and Israel put into the possession of it, should dwell in safety, or "confidently" (l); without fear of enemies, though surrounded with them on all hands; and though alone, a separate people, distinct from all others their neighbours round about them; see Num 23:9. So the spiritual Israel dwell in the eternal God, their mansion, or dwelling place; in Christ, their rock; and in a strong city, the church, where they are in the utmost safety.
This site's exposition
So Israel dwells securely
on Deuteronomy 33:28-29
The question “Who is like you” was asked of God at the sea in Exodus 15:11. Moses' last words in the Torah ask it of the people, “a people saved by the LORD”.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Distinct and separated from all other nations, with whom I will not have them mingle themselves. The fountain - That is, the posterity of Jacob, which flowed from him as waters from a fountain, in great abundance. The fountain is here put for the river or streams which flow from it, as Jacob or Israel who is the fountain is often put for the children of Israel.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Israel then shall dwell - alone - This people shall not be incorporated with any other people under heaven. A prophecy which continues to be fulfilled to the very letter. Every attempt to unite them with any other people has proved absolutely ineffectual. The fountain of Jacob - His offspring, shall possess a most fertile land; such was Palestine.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun--The chapter concludes with a congratulatory address to Israel on their peculiar happiness and privilege in having Jehovah for their God and protector. who rideth upon the heaven in thy help--an evident allusion to the pillar of cloud and fire, which was both the guide and shelter of Israel.
MOSES lived to be 120 years of age, and his life was divided into three periods of 40 years. The first 40 he spent as the son of Pharaoh's daughter in the Courts of Egypt. The second in the wilderness, at the foot of Horeb, as a shepherd, and the third 40 he reigned as king in Jeshurun, leading the Lord's people from Egypt to the borders of the promised land. Observe how each of these periods terminated. The time of his apprenticeship in Egypt concluded with his refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, his avowal of brotherhood with the afflicted Israelites, his attempt to avenge their wrongs and his consequent flight from Egypt, because of the king. Brethren, it is to be desired that thus our original connection with the world may once and for all be snapped—we are not of it though we are in it—and may Divine Grace so work in us that, like Moses, we may count the reproach of Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, and, therefore, may flee from all worldly conformity, resolving to come out from among the ungodly, not touching the unclean thing, but separating ourselves, cost what it may, from the world which lies in the Wicked One. It will be well for us, if that which divides us from the world shall be as clear, sharp, definite and impassable as that which cut off Moses from Egypt. The second part of Moses' life was spent in the solitudes of Horeb and was concluded by a manifestation of God and a commission for service. He saw Jehovah in the burning bush—the bush burned with fire, but was not consumed—and he was bid to deliver the Lord's message to Pharaoh. Yes, and our times of quiet meditation are good for nothing if they do not end and culminate in bright discoveries of God and a call to heavenly labor. It is of little avail to be in the wilderness unless God is seen there.
MOSES lived to be 120 years of age, and his life was divided into three periods of 40 years. The first 40 he spent as the son of Pharaoh's daughter in the Courts of Egypt. The second in the wilderness, at the foot of Horeb, as a shepherd, and the third 40 he reigned as king in Jeshurun, leading the Lord's people from Egypt to the borders of the promised land. Observe how each of these periods terminated.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine - The King James Version does not preserve the symmetry of the clauses. Render it: “Israel shall dwell in safety; alone shall the fountain of Jacob be” (compare Psa 68:26; Isa 48:1); “in a land,” etc.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁכֹּן֩ | vaiyishkon | and it has dwelt | H7931 → | 129 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| בֶּ֤טַח | betach | security | H983 → | 42 times |
| בָּדָד֙ | badad | alone | H910 → | |
| עֵ֣ין | ʾein | [the] spring of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| יַעֲקֹ֔ב | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֶ֖רֶץ | ʾeretz | a land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| דָּגָ֣ן | dagan | grain | H1715 → | 40 times |
| וְתִיר֑וֹשׁ | vetiroosh | and new wine | H8492 → | 38 times |
| אַף־ | ʾaf- | also | H637 → | 134 times |
| שָׁמָ֖יו | shamav | heavens his | H8064 → | 421 times |
| יַֽעַרְפוּ | yaarfu | they drop | H6201 → | |
| טָֽל׃ | tal | dew | H2919 → | 31 times |
וַיִּשְׁכֹּן֩and it has dwelt
vaiyishkonH7931 →129 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
בֶּ֤טַחsecurity
betachH983 →42 times
בָּדָד֙alone
badadH910 →
עֵ֣ין[the] spring of
ʾeinH5869 →887 times
יַעֲקֹ֔בJacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֶ֖רֶץa land of
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
דָּגָ֣ןgrain
daganH1715 →40 times
וְתִיר֑וֹשׁand new wine
vetirooshH8492 →38 times
אַף־also
ʾaf-H637 →134 times
שָׁמָ֖יוheavens his
shamavH8064 →421 times
יַֽעַרְפוּthey drop
yaarfuH6201 →
טָֽל׃dew
talH2919 →31 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 23:6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- Jeremiah 33:16
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
Through
Revelation 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
it leads to
- Revelation 22:14–15
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Revelation 20:15
And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- Revelation 3:5
Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His…
- Isaiah 35:8
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
- Revelation 22:14–15
Where this verse is studied
About Deuteronomy

Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 803: “Israel's God and God's Israel” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch.
