Deuteronomy 29:5
New International Version
Yet the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.

New Living Translation
For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

English Standard Version
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.

Berean Standard Bible
For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

King James Bible
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

New King James Version
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

New American Standard Bible
And I have led you in the wilderness for forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.

NASB 1995
“I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.

NASB 1977
“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.

Amplified Bible
I have led you in the wilderness forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

Christian Standard Bible
I led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I led you 40 years in the wilderness; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out;

American Standard Version
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxed old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxed old upon thy foot.

English Revised Version
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
For 40 years I led you through the desert. During that time your clothes and shoes never wore out.

Good News Translation
For forty years the LORD led you through the desert, and your clothes and sandals never wore out.

International Standard Version
Though I've led you for 40 years in the desert, neither your clothes nor your shoes have worn out.

Majority Standard Bible
For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

NET Bible
I have led you through the desert for forty years. Your clothing has not worn out nor have your sandals deteriorated.

New Heart English Bible
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your shoes have not worn out on your feet.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes have not become old upon you, and thy shoe hath not become old upon thy foot.

World English Bible
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I cause you to go in a wilderness [for] forty years; your garments have not been consumed from off you, and your shoe has not worn away from off your foot;

Young's Literal Translation
and I cause you to go forty years in a wilderness; your garments have not been consumed from off you, and thy shoe hath not worn away from off thy foot;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall lead you forty years in the desert: your garments did not fall away from you, and thy shoe was not warn away from thy foot.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He hath brought you forty years through the desert: your garments are not worn out, neither are the shoes of your feet consumed with age.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He led you for forty years through the desert. Your garments have not been worn out, nor have the shoes on your feet been consumed by age.

New American Bible
I led you for forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes did not fall from you in tatters nor your sandals from your feet;

New Revised Standard Version
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. The clothes on your back have not worn out, and the sandals on your feet have not worn out;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not worn out upon you and your shoes are not worn out upon your feet.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your garments are not worn out by you and your shoes are not worn out from your feet.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he led you forty years in the wilderness; your garments did not grow old, and your sandals were not worn away off your feet.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant in Moab
4Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear. 5For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. 6You ate no bread and drank no wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 9:21
For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

Exodus 16:35
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

Joshua 5:6
For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Deuteronomy 8:4
Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

Psalm 78:24-25
He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven. / Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.

Psalm 105:40-41
They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. / He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

Exodus 12:34-39
So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing. / Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. ...

Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Exodus 14:19-20
And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, / so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.

Exodus 15:22-25
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. / And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.) / So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” ...

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 6:31-35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” / Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ...

John 6:49-51
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. / This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. / I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. / They all ate the same spiritual food ...


Treasury of Scripture

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old on you, and your shoe is not waxen old on your foot.

I have led

Deuteronomy 1:3
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

your clothes

Deuteronomy 8:4
Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

Nehemiah 9:21
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

Matthew 6:31,32
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? …

and thy shoe

Joshua 9:5,13
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy…

Matthew 10:10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

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Deuteronomy 29
1. Moses exhorts them to obedience, reminding of the works they had seen
10. All are presented before the Lord to enter into his covenant
18. The great wrath on him who flatters himself in his wickedness
29. Secret things belong unto God














During the forty years
This phrase refers to the period of Israel's wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The number forty in the Bible often symbolizes a period of testing, trial, or probation. In Hebrew, the word for forty is "ארבעים" (arba'im), which is used frequently in the Old Testament to denote significant periods of time, such as the forty days and nights of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12) or the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18). This time in the wilderness was a formative period for the Israelites, where they learned to rely on God's provision and guidance.

I led you
The leadership of God is emphasized here, highlighting His direct involvement in the lives of the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "led" is "נָחָה" (nahah), which means to guide or lead. This underscores the personal and active role God played as a shepherd to His people, guiding them through the wilderness. It reflects the intimate relationship between God and Israel, where He is not a distant deity but a present and caring leader.

in the wilderness
The wilderness, or "מִדְבָּר" (midbar) in Hebrew, is a place of desolation and barrenness, often used in Scripture as a setting for testing and spiritual growth. It is in the wilderness that the Israelites experienced God's miraculous provision and learned to trust Him. The wilderness journey is symbolic of the Christian life, where believers may face trials and challenges but are assured of God's presence and guidance.

neither your clothes
This phrase highlights the miraculous preservation of the Israelites' clothing during their journey. The Hebrew word for clothes is "בֶּגֶד" (beged), which can also imply covering or garment. This preservation signifies God's provision and care, ensuring that their basic needs were met despite the harsh conditions. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to sustain His people through difficult times.

nor the sandals on your feet
The mention of sandals, or "נַעַל" (na'al) in Hebrew, further emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's provision. In the ancient Near East, footwear was essential for protection against the rough terrain. The fact that their sandals did not wear out is a testament to God's supernatural care. This detail illustrates the completeness of God's provision, attending to even the smallest needs of His people.

wore out
The phrase "wore out" comes from the Hebrew root "בָּלָה" (balah), meaning to decay or wear away. The preservation of the Israelites' clothing and sandals is a powerful symbol of God's sustaining power. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual truth that God preserves and upholds His people, ensuring that they are equipped for the journey He has set before them. This miraculous preservation is a testament to God's covenant faithfulness and His commitment to His promises.

(5) See on Deuteronomy 8:4.

Verse 5. - Having referred to the gracious dealing of God with them in the wilderness, Moses introduces Jehovah himself as speaking to them (cf. Deuteronomy 11:14). (On vers. 5 and 6, see Deuteronomy 8:3, 4; and on vers. 7 and 8, see Deuteronomy 2:26, etc.; Deuteronomy 3:1, etc.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
During the forty
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

years
שָׁנָ֖ה (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

I led
וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ (wā·’ō·w·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

you
אֶתְכֶ֛ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

in the wilderness,
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

neither your clothes
שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ (śal·mō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 8008: A wrapper, mantle

nor the sandals
וְנַֽעַלְךָ֥ (wə·na·‘al·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5275: A sandal tongue, a sandal, slipper

on
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your feet
רַגְלֶֽךָ׃ (raḡ·le·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

wore out;
בָל֤וּ (ḇā·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1086: To fail, to wear out, decay


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 29:5 I have led you forty years (Deut. De Du)
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