King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 9:5 Mean?

Deuteronomy 9:5 in the King James Version says “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wicked... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:5 · KJV


Context

3

Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

4

Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

5

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

6

Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

7

Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Moses continues: 'Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land.' The doubled negation—'not for thy righteousness... not for uprightness'—emphatically refutes any merit-based claim. Instead, two reasons are given: God's judgment on Canaanite wickedness and God's faithfulness to patriarchal promises. The phrase 'perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' grounds the conquest in covenant faithfulness spanning centuries. God's character and promises, not Israel's worthiness, drive redemptive history.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 17:1-8) promised land and descendants. God's oath to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-5) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15) renewed this promise. The Egyptian sojourn and exodus fulfilled part of the promise—deliverance and multiplication. The conquest would complete it—land possession. Throughout, Israel's unfaithfulness (golden calf, rebellion, murmuring) proved their unworthiness, yet God remained faithful. This pattern anticipates the New Covenant in Christ, secured entirely by God's faithfulness, not human merit.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding salvation as God's gracious work (not human merit) shape your confidence and humility?
  2. What does God's faithfulness to centuries-old promises teach about His covenant reliability?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
לֹ֣א1 of 28
H3808

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

בְצִדְקָֽתְךָ֗2 of 28

Not for thy righteousness

H6666

rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)

וּבְיֹ֙שֶׁר֙3 of 28

or for the uprightness

H3476

the right

לְבָ֣בְךָ֔4 of 28

of thine heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

אַתָּ֥ה5 of 28
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

בָ֖א6 of 28

dost thou go

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְּרִשְׁעַ֣ת׀7 of 28

doth drive them out

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

אֶת8 of 28
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אַרְצָ֑ם9 of 28

their land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כִּ֞י10 of 28
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

בְּרִשְׁעַ֣ת׀11 of 28

doth drive them out

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

הַגּוֹיִ֣ם12 of 28

of these nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הָאֵ֗לֶּה13 of 28
H428

these or those

יְהוָה֙14 of 28

the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙15 of 28

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

מֽוֹרִישָׁ֣ם16 of 28

but for the wickedness

H7564

wrong (especially moral)

מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ17 of 28

from 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

וּלְמַ֜עַן18 of 28
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

הָקִ֣ים19 of 28

thee and that he may perform

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

אֶת20 of 28
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַדָּבָ֗ר21 of 28

the word

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁ֨ר22 of 28
H834

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

נִשְׁבַּ֤ע23 of 28

sware

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

יְהוָה֙24 of 28

the LORD

H3068

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

לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ25 of 28

unto thy fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם26 of 28

Abraham

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

לְיִצְחָ֖ק27 of 28

Isaac

H3327

jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham

וּֽלְיַעֲקֹֽב׃28 of 28

and Jacob

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch


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 9:5 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 9:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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