The Meaning of Deuteronomy 2:30 Explained

Deuteronomy 2:30

KJV: But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

YLT: 'And Sihon king of Heshbon hath not been willing to let us pass over by him, for Jehovah thy God hath hardened his spirit, and strengthened his heart, so as to give him into thy hand as at this day.

Darby: But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obdurate, that he might give him into thy hand, as it is this day.

ASV: But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Sihon  king  of Heshbon  would  not let us pass  by him: for the LORD  thy God  hardened  his spirit,  and made his heart  obstinate,  that he might deliver  him into thy hand,  as [appeareth] this day. 

What does Deuteronomy 2:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 2:16-37 - Conquering Beyond Jordan
In the earlier verses of this portion we catch a glimpse of the former history of Palestine, with the wars of conquest and changes of tenure that swept over it. The Almighty Governor of the world was, as the Apostle Paul said afterward, determining seasons and frontiers. Nations enervated by their sins are continually being judged by the Prince of the kings of the earth. See Leviticus 18:28; Acts 17:26-27; Revelation 1:5; Matthew 25:32.
A pacific and fair offer, in all good faith, was made to Sihon, which he refused to accept. The heart which is already hardened by sin becomes harder with every fresh rejection of God's love. In that sense we understand how the Lord hardened his heart. No ice is so hard as that which freezes at night after a day of thaw. The sun that melts wax, hardens clay; but the fault is not with the sun, but with the clay. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 2

1  The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites
9  nor with the Moabites
16  nor with the Ammonites
24  but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 2:30 mean?

But not would Sihon king of Heshbon let us pass through for hardened Yahweh your God - his spirit and made obstinate his heart that He might deliver him into your hand as [it is] day this -
וְלֹ֣א אָבָ֗ה סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן הַעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ הִקְשָׁה֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ אֶת־ רוּח֗וֹ וְאִמֵּץ֙ לְבָב֔וֹ לְמַ֛עַן תִּתּ֥וֹ בְיָדְךָ֖ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה ס

וְלֹ֣א  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
סִיחֹן֙  Sihon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: סִיחֹון  
Sense: king of the Amorites at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן  of  Heshbon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶשְׁבֹּון  
Sense: the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
הַעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ  let  us  pass 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בּ֑וֹ  through 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הִקְשָׁה֩  hardened 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
יְהוָ֨ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רוּח֗וֹ  his  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וְאִמֵּץ֙  and  made  obstinate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמֵץ  
Sense: to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.
לְבָב֔וֹ  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
לְמַ֛עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
תִּתּ֥וֹ  He  might  deliver  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְיָדְךָ֖  into  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
כַּיּ֥וֹם  as  [it  is]  day 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation