Deuteronomy 3:2 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 3:2 Commentary: 'Do Not Fear Him', God's Deliverance
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the command to fear not in Deuteronomy 3:2, rooted in God's prior victory over Sihon and His promise to deliver Og.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands Israel not to fear Og because He has already given the victory, as He did with Sihon.
- Key words: Fear (יָרֵא, yare), hand (יָד, yad), give (נָתַן, natan).
- Main debate: None significant; the verse is straightforward in all traditions.
- Theological theme: Divine sovereignty over human fear and the certainty of God’s promises.
- Best use: A preaching or teaching text on facing fear with faith grounded in God’s track record.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh said to me, “Don’t fear him; for I have delivered him, with all his people and his land, into your hand. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jehovah said unto me, Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And Jehovah saith unto me, Fear him not, for into thy hand I have given him, and all his people, and his land, and thou hast done to him as thou hast done to Sihon king of the Amorite who is dwelling in Heshbon.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Jehovah said to me, Fear him not; for into thy hand have I given him, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord said to me: Fear him not: because he is delivered into thy hand, with all his people and his land: and thou shalt do to him as thou hast done to Sehon king of the Amorrhites, that dwelt in Hesebon.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y díjome Jehová: No tengas temor de él, porque en tu mano he entregado á él y á todo su pueblo, y su tierra: y harás con él como hiciste con Sehón rey Amorrheo, que habitaba en Hesbón.
E disse-me o SENHOR: Não tenhas medo dele, porque em tua mão entreguei a ele e a todo seu povo, e sua terra: e farás com ele como fizeste com Seom rei amorreu, que habitava em Hesbom.
L’ Éternel me dit: Ne le crains point; car je le livre entre tes mains, lui et tout son peuple, et son pays; tu le traiteras comme tu as traité Sihon, roi des Amoréens, qui habitait à Hesbon.
Aber der HERR sprach zu mir: Fürchte dich nicht vor ihm; denn ich habe ihn und all sein Volk mit seinem Lande in deine Hände gegeben; und du sollst mit ihm tun, wie du mit Sihon, dem König der Amoriter, getan hast, der zu Hesbon saß.
Toen zeide de HEERE tot mij: Vrees hem niet, want Ik heb hem, en al zijn volk, en zijn land, in uw hand gegeven; en gij zult hem doen, gelijk als gij Sihon, den koning der Amorieten, die te Hesbon woonde, gedaan hebt.
E l’Eterno mi disse: “Non lo temere, poiché io ti do nelle mani lui, tutta la sua gente e il suo paese; e tu farai a lui quel che facesti a Sihon, re degli Amorei, che abitava a Heshbon”.
Tedy rzekł Pan do mnie: Nie bój się go; bom go dał w ręce twoje, i wszystek lud jego, i ziemię jego, i uczynisz mu, jakoś uczynił Sehonowi, królowi Amorejskiemu, który mieszkał w Hesebon.
И сказал мне Господь: не бойся его, ибо Я отдам в руку твою его, и весь народ его, и всю землю его, и ты поступишь с ним так, как поступил с Сигоном, царем Аморрейским, который жил в Есевоне.
耶和華 對我 說：『不要 怕 他！因 我已將他 和 他的眾民，並 他的地，都 交 在你手中；你要待 他 像 從前待 住 希實本 的 亞摩利 王 西宏一樣。』
And the Lord said to me, Have no fear of him: for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hands; do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who was ruling in Heshbon.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 3:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the plain sense of this verse. God commands Moses not to fear King Og because the outcome is already determined. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that Og’s 'gigantic appearance and the formidable array of forces' could discourage, but God declares Og shares the fate of Sihon. Keil and Delitzsch observe that Og was 'likewise given into their hand.' The perfect tense of 'I have delivered' (Hebrew natanati, a qatal verb) expresses a settled divine decree, not a future hope. Gill’s Exposition links this directly to Numbers 21:34, where God spoke the same words concerning Sihon. Cambridge Bible adds cross-references to Deuteronomy 1:27 and 2:33, showing a consistent pattern: God’s command to 'fear not' rests on His prior promise, not on Israel’s strength. The command does not minimize the enemy but elevates the God who fights for Israel. The sovereign word precedes the battle, and that word is enough.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God commands Moses not to fear because He has already given the enemy into Israel's hand, echoing His promise to deliver Sihon.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| God's command not to fear | All traditions understand this as direct divine assurance intended to counter natural fear of a formidable enemy. | None; the meaning is universally accepted. |
| The certainty of God's deliverance | The perfect tense 'I have delivered' is seen as a declaration of settled divine will, making victory certain before the battle. | Some emphasize the already-accomplished decree; others focus on the future enactment. Both agree on the certainty. |
| The role of past victories as pattern | Christians across traditions agree that the reference to Sihon serves to strengthen faith by recalling God's faithfulness. | No significant debate; the verse functions as a straightforward assurance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Deuteronomy 3:2 appears in Moses’ sermon to the new generation poised to enter Canaan. The immediate context describes Israel’s victory over Og of Bashan, a king so legendary that his iron bedstead (nine cubits long) is mentioned as a curiosity (Deuteronomy 3:11). Og belonged to the Rephaim, a race of giants that struck terror in ancient hearts. His kingdom comprised sixty fortified cities with high walls, gates and bars (vv. 4-5).
Moses retells events from forty years earlier, when Israel first encountered Og at Edrei. Numbers 21:34 parallels this verse almost verbatim: 'Yahweh said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.’” By repeating the account, Moses reinforces the lesson that God fights for His people. The command ‘Fear him not’ (Hebrew al-tira) uses a prohibition with the jussive, forbidding an action that would be natural given Og’s might.
Historically, this victory secured the Transjordan region for the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half-Manasseh. The land of Bashan was known for its rich pasture and oaks. Culturally, the Amorite kings Sihon and Og represented entrenched opposition to God’s plan. The reference to Sihon’s defeat at Heshbon (Numbers 21:25) serves as tangible proof of God’s power. Moses anchors the community’s hope not in their military capability but in the track record of Yahweh’s deliverance.
The literary structure contrasts human fear with divine certainty. Where Moses once trembled (Deuteronomy 1:29), now he commands with the authority of experience. The verse teaches that remembering past victories fuels present obedience.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants for this verse. All major English translations (WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, Douay) agree on the content, with only minor differences in phrasing (e.g., 'I will deliver' vs 'I have delivered'). The Hebrew text (Masoretic) is consistent with the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagint in meaning.
Reception History
This verse has been received primarily as a historical narrative within Israel’s conquest accounts. Jewish tradition remembers it as part of Moses’ farewell address, emphasizing God’s faithfulness to the patriarchs. In Christian interpretation, the verse has been used to illustrate the principle of 'do not fear' based on God’s prior promises. The early church fathers, such as Origen, allegorized the defeat of Og as the victory of Christ over spiritual powers. The reformers, including Luther and Calvin, saw it as an example of justifying faith that trusts God’s word over appearances. More recently, it appears in devotional literature on overcoming fear.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God addresses our fear directly. The command does not shame fear; it meets it with a promise.
- God bases His command on His action. “I have delivered him” is past tense in God’s decree, though the battle is still before them.
- God provides a pattern from history. “As you did to Sihon” reminds Israel that the past victory guarantees the future one.
Five-point outline
- The source of fear: Og’s size, reputation and fortifications (Deuteronomy 3:4, 5, 11).
- The direct command: “Don’t fear him”, a clear prohibition of a natural response.
- The ground of assurance: “I have delivered”, God’s perfect activity assuring victory.
- The precedent: Sihon’s defeat at Heshbon, visible evidence of God’s faithfulness.
- The call to action: “You shall do to him”, obedience that flows from trust.
Illustration hooks
- Facing a new challenge by remembering how God provided in a previous difficulty.
- When a doctor gives a diagnosis, the patient recalls past treatments that worked, reducing fear.
- An employee about to give a presentation remembers a past success and gains confidence.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I know if my fear is reasonable or a lack of faith?
- Does God guarantee victory in every battle I face, or only certain ones?
- What if the outcome doesn’t match God’s promise, did I mishear?
Leading a Discussion
This verse presents a pattern for facing intimidating circumstances. God speaks into the fear, provides a specific promise, and anchors it in proven faithfulness. The discussion invites your group to explore how this pattern applies to personal and communal challenges.
Discussion questions
- What do you think Moses and the Israelites felt when they saw Og’s army and fortified cities?
- Why do you think God says “Don’t fear him” instead of “Don’t worry” or “Trust me”?
- The Hebrew verb “I have delivered” is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. How does that shape the confidence of Israel?
- How does the mention of Sihon function for the audience hearing this forty years later?
- Can you recall a time when God used a past victory to strengthen your trust for a current challenge?
- What are some “Og-like” obstacles in your life right now that seem overwhelming?
- How does this passage help you distinguish between healthy caution and paralyzing fear?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 14:9 | Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.” |
| Numbers 21:23 | Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz. He fought against Israel. |
| Numbers 21:25 | Israel took all these cities. Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. |
| Numbers 21:34 | Yahweh said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” |
| Deuteronomy 2:24 | “Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. |
| Deuteronomy 2:37 | Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near: all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us. |
| Deuteronomy 3:11 | (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.) |
| Deuteronomy 20:3 | and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights a pattern: the deliverance of enemies into Israel's hand here matches the earlier account of Sihon's defeat. The point is that God repeatedly hands over opponents in the same way.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes the pattern of God's deliverance, linking this new enemy to the already-conquered Sihon. The command not to fear rests on the certainty that God will repeat His victory, handing Og and his entire territory over just as He did before.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that God gave the command not to fear at the very moment Og was advancing with his full army against Israel. The reassurance came not before the threat, but in the midst of it, when the danger was most visible and pressing.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB's point is that Moses should not let Og's giant stature and impressive army shake his confidence. Og belonged to a race already marked for destruction, so he was simply destined to meet the same end as Sihon, the king Israel had already defeated.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draws attention to the volcanic landscape of Bashan, whose black basaltic stone and rocky soil perfectly match the biblical report of sixty fortified towns. The region's characteristic stone doors, high walls, and iron gates reflect a durable, ancient building style that agrees with the description of Og's kingdom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that the conquests of Sihon and Og are frequently linked in Scripture because they mark the beginning of Israel's triumphs, and are recalled in the Psalms to the praise of God. He notes that even a formidable giant like Og was no match for God's promise, making these victories a foundation for later confidence.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that the phrase points not to the river itself but to the land beyond it. He notes that Jabbok marked the Ammonite border, so crossing it meant entering enemy territory. This geographical detail sharpens the reader's sense of the setting.