Deuteronomy 1 · Verse 9

Deuteronomy 1:9

And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
Deuteronomy 1:9, King James Version

Deuteronomy 1:9 in other translations

BSBAt that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone.
WEBI spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you myself alone.
ASVAnd I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
YLT‘And I speak unto you at that time, saying, I am not able by myself to bear you;
DARBYAnd I spoke unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone.
BBEAt that time I said to you, I am not able to undertake the care of you by myself;
WebsterAnd I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

What does Deuteronomy 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 1:9-18
9-18. I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone--a little before their arrival in Horeb. Moses addresses that new generation as the representatives of their fathers, in whose sight and hearing all the transactions he recounts took place. A reference is here made to the suggestion of Jethro (Ex 18:18). In noticing his practical adoption of a plan by which the administration of justice was committed to a select number of subordinate officers, Moses, by a beautiful allusion to the patriarchal blessing, ascribed the necessity of that memorable change in the government to the vast increase of the population.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Moses reminds the people of the happy constitution of their government, which might make them all safe and easy, if it was not their own fault. He owns the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, and prays for the further accomplishment of it. We are not straitened in the power and goodness of God; why should we be straitened in our own faith and hope? Good laws were given to the Israelites, and good men were to see to the execution of them, which showed God's goodness to them, and the care of Moses.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Deuteronomy 1:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.Marand I saidH559
אֲלֵכֶ֔ם'a.le.Khemto youH413
בָּעֵ֥תba.'Etat the timeH6256
הַהִ֖ואha.Hiv'<the> thatH1931
לֵאמֹ֑רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
אוּכַ֥ל'u.KhalI am ableH3201
לְבַדִּ֖יle.va.Dito alone meH905
שְׂאֵ֥תse.'Etto bearH5375
אֶתְכֶֽם\׃'et.Khem<obj.> youH853

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 1:9

  • Exodus 18:18

    Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

  • Numbers 11:17

    And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

  • Numbers 11:11-14

    And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I am not.
Ex 18:18; Nu 11:11-14,17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 1:8

    Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

  • Deuteronomy 1:9

    And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

  • Deuteronomy 1:10

    The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Read all of Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y yo os hablé entonces, diciendo: Yo no puedo llevaros solo:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je vous parlai, en ce temps-là, disant: Je ne puis, moi seul, vous porter.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich sprach zu euch in selbiger Zeit und sagte: Ich allein kann euch nicht tragen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixique vobis illo in tempore: