Deuteronomy 3:5-11 Meaning: When Walls Seem Unbeatable
5All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls.
6We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.
7But all the livestock, and the plunder of the cities, we took for plunder for ourselves.
8We took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon.
9(The Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir.)
10We took all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
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.)
5All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.
6And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
7But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.
8And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;
9(Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)
10All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
11For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
5All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many.
6And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.
7But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves.
8And we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon
9(which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir);
10all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
11(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.)
5All these are cities fenced with high walls, two-leaved doors and bar, apart from cities of villages very many;
6and we devote them, as we have done to Sihon king of Heshbon, devoting every city, men, the women, and the infants;
7and all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we have spoiled for ourselves.
8`And we take, at that time, the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorite, which is beyond the Jordan, from the brook Arnon unto mount Hermon;
9(Sidonians call Hermon, Sirion; and the Amorites call it Senir,)
10all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan,
11for only Og king of Bashan had been left of the remnant of the Rephaim; lo, his bedstead is a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length, and four cubits its breadth, by the cubit of a man.
5All these cities were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides unwalled towns very many.
6And we utterly destroyed them, as we had done to Sihon the king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city, men, women and little ones.
7But all the cattle and the spoil of the cities we took as booty for ourselves.
8And we took at that time the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites, that were on this side the Jordan, from the river Arnon to mount Hermon
9(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir):
10all the cities of the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, as far as Salchah and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
11For only Og the king of Bashan remained of the residue of giants: behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? its length was nine cubits, and its breadth four cubits, after the cubit of a man.
Meaning in one sentence
In Deuteronomy 3:5, 11, the description of Og's fortified cities highlights God's faithfulness in giving Israel the land despite impossible obstacles.
Context
Moses is speaking to the generation that will enter Canaan. He reminds them how God gave Israel victory over the Amorite kings Sihon and Og before they crossed the Jordan. Og ruled Bashan, a region known for its sixty fortified cities with high walls, gates, and bars. The passage lingers on those details, then adds a surprising note about Og's iron bedstead, an object that showed his enormous size. Moses is not just telling history; he is building trust. If God could give them the land of giants with impenetrable walls, He could give them Canaan too.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. The first is batsar, translated here as “fortified.” It originally means “to cut off” or “make inaccessible.” These cities were shut tight against any attacker. A second key word is charam, “utterly destroyed.” This is the language of holy war, Israel was not taking booty or settling scores; they were carrying out God's judgment on nations whose sin had reached its limit. The livestock and plunder they kept, but the people were devoted to God. Then there is barzel, “iron.” Og's bedstead was made of iron, whether actual metal or black basalt that looked like it, pointing to his legendary strength. Yet even that giant with his iron bed and high-walled cities fell before God's power. The words together say: nothing is too shut, too strong, or too big for the One who keeps His promise.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage in different ways. Many note the archaeological evidence of Bashan's stone cities and doors, which confirm the account's historical foundation. The bedstead of Og, whether iron or basalt, has been seen as a literal artifact or as a symbol of his giant stature. Some believers wrestle with the command to destroy entire populations, understanding it as a unique judgment in redemptive history tied to the Canaanites' corruption. Others focus on God's faithfulness to His covenant, seeing the victory as a guarantee that He will complete what He started. All hold that the passage demonstrates God's power over every earthly obstacle.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to treat Og's iron bedstead as just a strange curiosity, something to be filed away as trivia. In fact, the bedstead serves a serious purpose: it reinforces how formidable Og was. Nine cubits long, about thirteen and a half feet, and four cubits wide. The point is not the bed but the scale of the enemy God defeated. If Og and his fortified cities could not stand against God, then no obstacle the new generation would face in Canaan could stand either.
Living This Out
Think of something in your life right now that feels as sealed as those cities with high walls, gates, and bars. A relationship that won't heal. A financial situation that seems locked. A fear that won't loosen its grip. This passage doesn't promise you will win every battle easily or that God will remove every hard thing. But it does say that the God who brought down kings with iron beds and sixty fortified cities is not intimidated by what you are facing. You can talk to Him this week about that one wall that feels too high. Ask for the trust to believe He is bigger.
Main takeaway: God's faithfulness does not depend on the weakness of our obstacles; He can give victory over the most fortified strongholds.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God helped His people beat a very big king named Og. His city had huge walls, but God knocked them down. God is strong enough to help you with anything that feels too big.
For ages 9, 12
When Moses told the story of defeating King Og, he wanted the new generation to remember that God keeps His promises even when things look impossible. Og was a giant with a massive iron bed, and his cities had walls so high they seemed untouchable. But God gave Israel the victory anyway. That same God is with you today. Whatever feels like a giant problem, God is bigger.
Questions People Ask
Who was Og, king of Bashan?
Og was the Amorite king who ruled Bashan, a fertile region east of the Jordan River. He is described in Deuteronomy 3:11 as the last survivor of the Rephaim, a race of giants. His kingdom included sixty fortified cities. Moses and the Israelites defeated him after God promised victory.
What was the significance of Og's iron bedstead?
The iron bedstead, measuring about 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide, underscored Og's enormous size and strength. Some scholars suggest the 'iron' may refer to black basalt, a volcanic rock common in Bashan. The bed is mentioned to emphasize that even a giant with legendary stature could not withstand God's power.
Why did God command the complete destruction of the cities in this passage?
The Hebrew word for 'utterly destroyed' (charam) indicates they were placed under a ban, devoted to God as an act of judgment. Christians understand this as a unique command in Israel's history, tied to the Canaanites' long-standing sin (see Genesis 15:16). It was not a general pattern for all warfare but a specific judgment during the conquest.
What are the Rephaim mentioned in verse 11?
Rephaim is a Hebrew term for a group of ancient people of large stature, often translated as 'giants.' They were early inhabitants of the Transjordan region. Og was the last surviving king from this remnant, which made the victory over him especially memorable for the Israelites.
How do the fortified cities in Deuteronomy 3:5 show God's faithfulness?
The detailed description of high walls, gates, and bars highlights how strong the enemy was. By recording that Israel took these cities anyway, the passage shows that God delivered what He promised despite overwhelming odds. It reassures readers that God's power is not limited by human strength or defenses.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study