Deuteronomy 31:16

And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

Deuteronomy 31:16 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Moses’ farewell address to Israel before his death. Deuteronomy records Moses’ final speeches as the nation prepared to enter the Promised Land. Here the LORD warns Moses about what will happen after he dies.

Meaning

“Thou shalt sleep with thy fathers” is a gentle way of speaking about death. It means Moses will be gathered to his ancestors, but he will not enter the land because of his disobedience at Meribah (Numbers 20:12). The LORD then foretells that the people will “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land.” This strong picture of spiritual adultery means they will worship the Canaanite deities instead of remaining faithful to Yahweh. They will forsake Him and break the covenant He made with them.

Biblical connections

The warning continues in Deuteronomy 31:17-18, where God says His anger will be kindled and He will hide His face. Yet God also commands Moses to write a song as a witness against Israel (Deuteronomy 31:19). This shows both the certainty of human failure and God’s care in providing a reminder for future generations.

Application

This verse calls readers to examine their own faithfulness. Idolatry is not limited to carved images; anything that takes God’s place in the heart becomes a false god. The warning also reminds us that sin has consequences, but God remains patient and provides warnings to draw His people back.

Reflection

God knew Israel would fail, yet He still made a covenant with them and continued to guide them. This points to His longsuffering nature and the need for a mediator. The old covenant would be broken, but God’s faithfulness endures, and He provides a way of restoration through His mercy.