Deuteronomy 1:29 — Word Study
WLCוָאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם לֹא־ תַֽעַרְצ֥וּן וְֽלֹא־ תִֽירְא֖וּן מֵהֶֽם׃
BSASo I saidʼâmar▸ to youʼêl Do notlôʼ [in any way, never] be terrifiedʻârats▸ [dread, stand in awe] or afraidyârêʼ▸ [fear, revere]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וָאֹמַ֖ר | and I said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect first person common singular |
| אֲלֵכֶ֑ם | to you | Preposition, suffix |
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| תַֽעַרְצ֥וּן | you must be terrified ! | Verb qal imperfect second person masculine plural, suffix |
| וְֽלֹא־ | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| תִֽירְא֖וּן | you must be afraid ! | Verb qal imperfect second person masculine plural, suffix |
| מֵהֶֽם׃ | from them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So I said to you: “Do not be terrified or afraid of them! |
| KJV | Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. |
| ASV | Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. |
| YLT | 'And I say unto you, Be not terrified, nor be afraid of them; |
| WEB | Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. |
| BBE | Then I said to you, Have no fear of them. |
Where they part company is in the use of תַעַרְצ֥וּן — see How Translations Differ.
The structure of the verse features a main clause followed by two commands emphasizing the need to avoid fear.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 1:29
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Moses' Encouragement to the Israelitesgenerated
Deuteronomy 1:29 captures Moses reminding the Israelites of their past fears and encouraging them not to be terrified of the enemies they will encounter. He emphasizes that the Lord, who has been with them, will continue to guide and protect them as they move forward into the Promised Land.
Cross References
The Key Word — תַעַרְצ֥וּן, ta'ar'tzungenerated
The verb עָרַץ (arats) means to tremble or be terrified. It conveys a sense of dread or awe, often in the context of facing overwhelming circumstances. The parsing indicates it is in the Qal form, imperfect, second person masculine plural, suggesting a direct command to the people.
This word captures the emotional response to fear, urging the Israelites not to let dread overtake them in the face of their adversaries. The use of the imperative form emphasizes the urgency and importance of this command.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is אֹמַר, I said, which governs the entire sentence. Following it are two clauses, with the first clause expressing the command not to be terrified, and the second reinforcing the command not to be afraid.
The structure emphasizes the commands given to the Israelites, with the repeated negation highlighting the importance of not succumbing to fear.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תַעַרְצ֥וּן as πτήχητε, which conveys a sense of being struck with fear. This choice reflects a more intense emotional response than the Hebrew term, suggesting a deeper level of urgency in the command.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the Hebrew command but may imply a stronger admonition against succumbing to fear.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 1:29 shows Moses telling the Israelites not to be terrified or afraid of their enemies. He reassures them that God is with them and will fight for them, just as He did in Egypt and the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Moses is instructing the Israelites to remain strong and not let fear overwhelm them as they face their enemies.
Fear is a natural response to danger, but Moses emphasizes faith in God's presence and protection.
Moses recalls their previous fears and reassures them that God has been with them before and will continue to support them.
This command encourages believers to trust in God's guidance and strength in challenging situations.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What fears do I need to confront in my own life, and how can I trust God to help me face them?
- How can I encourage others who are struggling with fear, just as Moses did for the Israelites?
- In what ways has God shown His faithfulness in my life, and how can I remember that in times of fear?
- What steps can I take to strengthen my faith and reduce fear in my daily life?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 1:29 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen I said unto you, dread not, neither be afraid of them. With such like words he had exhorted and encouraged them before the spies were sent, and he still uses the same, or stronger terms,
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(29) Dread not, neither be afraid of them . . .—The reminder that “Jehovah went before them” did not avail, for they had already chosen men to go before them.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges29. Dread not, neither be afraid] See on Deuteronomy 1:21. Numbers 14:9 has only the second verb and in a less emphatic form. Neither be afraid (lo-ta‘arsûn) not elsewhere in prose. But see Deuteronomy 31:6.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible29-33. Then I said unto you — Moses here relates his attempt to inspire the disheartened people with confidence in Jehovah their God, by reminding them of what was done for them in Egypt and in the wilderness.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 1 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So I said to you: “Do not be terrified or afraid of them!
Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them.
So I said to you: “Do not be terrified or afraid of them!
So I responded to you, “Do not be terrified of them!
Tyndale line
Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
Then I said to you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
But I sayd vnto you, Dread not, nor be afrayd of them.
Strictly literal
And I said unto you, Be not afraid, neither fear them;
'And I say unto you, Be not terrified, nor be afraid of them;
And I say to you, Do not be terrified, nor be afraid of them;
And I said unto you, Have no dread, nor be ye afraid of them.
Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, neither be afraid of them.
From the Latin
And I said to you: Fear not, neither be ye afraid of them:
Simplified
So I told you, “Don't be frightened or scared of them!
Then I said to you, Have no fear of them.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches word for word, indicating a strong consistency in this passage. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using אליכם for 'to you', but the overall message remains intact. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial restoration, indicating some level of textual preservation.
וָאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם לֹא־ תַֽעַרְצ֥וּן וְֽלֹא־ תִֽירְא֖וּן מֵהֶֽם׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואמר אליכם לא תערצון ולא תיראון מהם
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: אליכם (to)
[ואמר] [אל׳כם] [לא] [תערצו׳ן] [ולא] תיראו׳ן [מ׳הם]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 1:29
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singularHc/Vqw1cs
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp2mp
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
עָרַץ (arats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cause to tremble or to feel dread. It encompasses a range of meanings, including inspiring awe, being terrified, and treating something with reverence. The word appears in various forms, such as intransitive and causative, indicating both the act of trembling and the ability to instill fear or awe in others.
[עָרַץ] vb. cause to tremble, tremble (in terror, or awe)
Qal
cause to tremble (i.e. strike with awe)
intrans. tremble, feel dread
Niph. terrible in the company of the holy ones
Hiph.
regard, or treat, with awe, as awful
inspire with awe
base
H6206 עָרַץ cause to tremble, tremble (in terror, or awe) .. cause to tremble (i.e. strike with awe)
. intrans. tremble, feel dread
. terrible in the company of the holy ones
. . regard, or treat, with awe, as awful
. inspire with awe
6206 `arats aw-rats'
a primitive root; to awe or (intransitive) to dread; hence,
to harass:--be affrighted (afraid, dread, feared, terrified),
break, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, shake terribly.
עָרַץ (a.rats) — to tremble.
1) to tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cause to tremble, terrify
1b2) to tremble, feel dread
1b) (Niphal) to be awesome, be terrible
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to regard or treat with awe, regard or treat as awful
1c2) to inspire with awe, terrify
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine plural · suffixHVqi2mp/Sn
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.
יָרֵא vb. fear
Qal
fear, be afraid
stand in awe of
fear, reverence, honour
Niph.
be fearful, dreadful
cause astonishment and awe
inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe
Piel. make afraid, terrify
base
H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid
. stand in awe of
. fear, reverence, honour
. . be fearful, dreadful
. cause astonishment and awe
. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe
. make afraid, terrify
3372 yare' yaw-ray'
a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to
frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)
fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,
terrible (act, -ness, thing).
יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.
: frightening(DANGER)
1) to fear, revere, be afraid
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed
1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared
1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe
1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe
1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify
2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour
יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.
: awesome(god)
1) to fear, revere, be afraid
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed
1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared
1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe
1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe
1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify
2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour
Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine plural · suffixHVqi2mp/Sn
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
