King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 9:18 Mean?

Deuteronomy 9:18 in the King James Version says “And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water,...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”

Deuteronomy 9:18 · KJV

Context

16

And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.

17

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

18

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

19

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.

20

And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Read Deuteronomy 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Moses' extended intercession demonstrates the costly nature of mediation - he fasts forty days and nights, placing his own body between God's wrath and the people's sin.

The phrase as at the first indicates this was Moses' second forty-day fast. The first brought blessing (receiving the law); the second seeks to avert curse (interceding for covenant-breakers). This doubled sacrifice illustrates the multiplication of effort required to remedy sin compared to establishing righteousness.

Moses' identification with the people's sin, though he personally remained faithful, prefigures Christ's substitutionary atonement. The mediator takes upon himself the burden of others' guilt, standing in the gap between holy God and guilty people.

The description doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger emphasizes that Israel's sin was not mere mistake but willful provocation of God. The Hebrew word for provoke (ka'as) implies deliberately causing grief or vexation - their idolatry was calculated rebellion.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Extended fasting accompanied serious intercession throughout Scripture. Moses' forty-day fast finds parallel in Elijah's forty-day journey to Horeb and Jesus' forty-day wilderness temptation. These periods marked crucial transitions in redemptive history.

Ancient Near Eastern culture recognized fasting as expression of grief, humility, and earnest petition before deity.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Moses' costly intercession teach us about the price of mediating for sinners?
  2. How does Moses' fast prefigure Christ's sacrificial intercession for guilty humanity?
  3. Why does Moses identify with Israel's sin even though he personally remained faithful?
  4. What role does fasting have in earnest prayer and intercession for others?
  5. How should the concept of provoking God to anger shape our view of sin's seriousness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וָֽאֶתְנַפַּל֩1 of 24

“And I fell down”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

לִפְנֵ֨י2 of 24

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָ֖ה3 of 24

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה4 of 24

“as at the first”

H7223

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים5 of 24

“and forty”

H705

forty

יוֹם֙6 of 24

“days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים7 of 24

“and forty”

H705

forty

לַ֔יְלָה8 of 24

“nights”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

לֶ֚חֶם9 of 24

“bread”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

לֹ֣א10 of 24
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָכַ֔לְתִּי11 of 24

“I did neither eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וּמַ֖יִם12 of 24

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

לֹ֣א13 of 24
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁתִ֑יתִי14 of 24

“nor drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

עַ֤ל15 of 24
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כָּל16 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

חַטַּאתְכֶם֙17 of 24

“because of all your sins”

H2403

an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender

אֲשֶׁ֣ר18 of 24
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

חֲטָאתֶ֔ם19 of 24

“which ye sinned”

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת20 of 24

“in doing”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

הָרַ֛ע21 of 24

“wickedly”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

בְּעֵינֵ֥י22 of 24

“in the sight”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

יְהוָ֖ה23 of 24

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃24 of 24

“to provoke him to anger”

H3707

to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 9:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 9:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 34:28Deuteronomy 9:9Psalms 106:232 Samuel 12:16Deuteronomy 10:10Exodus 32:10-14

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