Deuteronomy 11:21
New International Version
so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

New Living Translation
so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.

English Standard Version
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers.

King James Bible
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

New King James Version
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.

New American Standard Bible
so that your days and the days of your sons may be increased on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

NASB 1995
so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

NASB 1977
so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

Amplified Bible
so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Christian Standard Bible
so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your fathers.

American Standard Version
that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Contemporary English Version
Then you and your descendants will live a long time in the land that the LORD promised your ancestors. Your families will live there as long as the sky is above the earth.

English Revised Version
that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, upon the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then you and your children will live for a long time in this land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors-as long as there's a sky above the earth.

Good News Translation
Then you and your children will live a long time in the land that the LORD your God promised to give to your ancestors. You will live there as long as there is a sky above the earth.

International Standard Version
so that you and your children may live long on the land that the LORD promised to give your ancestors—as long as the sky remains above the earth."

Majority Standard Bible
so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers.

NET Bible
so that your days and those of your descendants may be extended in the land which the LORD promised to give to your ancestors, like the days of heaven itself.

New Heart English Bible
that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

World English Bible
that your days and your children’s days may be multiplied in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
so that your days are multiplied, and the days of your sons, on the ground which YHWH has sworn to your fathers to give to them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
so that your days are multiplied, and the days of your sons, on the ground which Jehovah hath sworn to your fathers to give to them, as the days of the heavens on the earth.

Smith's Literal Translation
So that your days shall be multiplied, and the days of your sons, upon the land which Jehovah sware to your fathers to give to them, according to the days of the heavens upon the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That thy days may be multiplied, and the days of thy children in the land which the Lord swore to thy fathers, that he would give them as long as the heaven hangeth over the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
so that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your sons, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, that he would give it to them for as long as heaven is suspended above the earth.

New American Bible
so that, as long as the heavens are above the earth, you and your children may live on in the land which the LORD swore to your ancestors he would give them.

New Revised Standard Version
so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That your days and the days of your children, may be multiplied in the land which the LORD your God swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That your days will multiply and the days of your children in the land that LORD JEHOVAH your God swore to your parents to give them, as the days of Heaven on Earth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, upon the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
that your days may be long, and the days of your children, upon the land which the Lord sware to your fathers to give to them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Remember God's Words
20Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, 21so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. 22For if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him—…

Cross References
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Psalm 89:29
I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Psalm 89:36-37
his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun, / like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah

Genesis 13:15
for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever.

Genesis 17:8
And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 26:3
Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.

Genesis 28:13-14
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

Exodus 32:13
Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”

Psalm 37:29
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Psalm 105:8-11
He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— / the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ...

Isaiah 65:9
And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and heirs from Judah; My elect will possess My mountains, and My servants will dwell there.

Isaiah 65:22
No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Luke 1:55
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”


Treasury of Scripture

That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven on the earth.

your days

Deuteronomy 4:40
Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Deuteronomy 5:16
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

as the days

Psalm 72:5
They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

Psalm 89:28,29
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him…

Isaiah 65:20
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

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Deuteronomy 11
1. Another exhortation to obedience
2. by their own experience of God's great works
8. by promise of God's great blessings
16. and by threatenings
18. A careful study is required in God's words
26. The blessing and curse set before them














so that
This phrase introduces a purpose or result, indicating that the actions previously mentioned are intended to lead to a specific outcome. In the context of Deuteronomy, it connects the obedience to God's commandments with the blessings that follow. The Hebrew word often translated as "so that" is "לְמַעַן" (lema'an), which conveys intention or purpose. This highlights the conditional nature of God's promises, emphasizing that the Israelites' adherence to His laws is crucial for receiving His blessings.

as long as the heavens are above the earth
This phrase is a poetic expression denoting perpetuity and the enduring nature of God's promises. The imagery of the heavens above the earth is a common biblical motif used to describe something that is vast, unchanging, and eternal. In Hebrew, the word for "heavens" is "שָׁמַיִם" (shamayim), and "earth" is "אֶרֶץ" (eretz). This expression reassures the Israelites of the everlasting nature of God's covenant, as the heavens and earth are seen as constants in creation.

your days and the days of your children
This phrase emphasizes the generational aspect of God's blessings. The Hebrew word for "days" is "יָמִים" (yamim), which can refer to both literal days and a more extended period or lifetime. The inclusion of "your children" underscores the importance of legacy and the transmission of faith and obedience from one generation to the next. It reflects the biblical principle that the faithfulness of one generation can impact the prosperity and spiritual well-being of future generations.

may be multiplied
The concept of multiplication here refers to the increase and prosperity of life. The Hebrew root "רָבָה" (ravah) means to become many or great. This multiplication is not just in terms of numbers but also in the quality and richness of life. It signifies God's blessing of abundance and prosperity as a reward for obedience. This promise of multiplication is a recurring theme in the covenantal promises made to the patriarchs, highlighting God's desire to bless His people abundantly.

in the land
The "land" refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God swore to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew word "אֶרֶץ" (eretz) is used here, which can mean land, earth, or country. This land is central to the identity and faith of the Israelites, representing not just a physical territory but also a place of divine promise and blessing. The land is a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

that the LORD swore to give your fathers
This phrase recalls the covenantal promises made by God to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew word for "swore" is "נִשְׁבַּע" (nishba), which conveys a solemn promise or oath. This underscores the faithfulness and unchanging nature of God, who binds Himself by His word. The reference to "your fathers" connects the current generation of Israelites to their ancestors, reminding them of their shared heritage and the continuity of God's promises through the ages. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's enduring commitment to His people.

(21) In the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them.--"It is not written here 'to give you,' but 'to give them.' Hence we find the resurrection of the dead taught in the Law." If this were the remark of a Christian commentator, it would be thought fanciful; but it is only the comment of a Jew. And the Jewish belief in the literal fulfilment of these promises to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, simply on the ground of God's word, is an unquestionable fact, whatever may be thought of it. Comp. Acts 7:5, which is singularly pointed. God "gave him (Abraham) none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him," besides.

Verse 21. - (Cf. Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 6:2.) As the days of heaven upon the earth; as long as the heavens continue stretched over the earth, i.e. to the end of time, forever (cf. Job 14:12; Psalm 89:29; Genesis 8:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
so that
לְמַ֨עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

as long as
כִּימֵ֥י (kî·mê)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

the heavens
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

are above
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth,
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

your days
יְמֵיכֶם֙ (yə·mê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

[and those]
וִימֵ֣י (wî·mê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of your children
בְנֵיכֶ֔ם (ḇə·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

may be multiplied
יִרְבּ֤וּ (yir·bū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

in
עַ֚ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the land
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

swore
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע (niš·ba‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to give
לָתֵ֣ת (lā·ṯêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

your fathers.
לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (la·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 11:21 That your days may be multiplied (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 11:20
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