Deuteronomy 1:39

37 The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land.

38 Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

And the little ones you said would become captives—your children who on that day did not know good from evil—will enter the land that I will give them, and they will possess it.

40 But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

41 “We have sinned against the LORD,” you replied. “We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God has commanded us.” Then each of you put on his weapons of war, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And the little ones you said would become captives—your children who on that day did not know good from evil—will enter the land that I will give them, and they will possess it.
KJV
Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
WEB
Moreover your little ones, whom you said would be captured or killed, your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, shall go in there. I will give it to them, and they shall possess it.
ASV
Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
DARBY
And your little ones, of whom ye said, They shall be a prey, and your children, who this day know neither good nor evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
BLB
And your⁺ little ones, whom you⁺ said would be for plunder, and your⁺ sons, who have no knowledge today of good and evil, they shall go in there, and to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
ÅB
Og deres barn, som dere sa ville bli til rov, og deres sønner, som enda ikke kan skille godt fra ondt, de skal komme der inn, dem vil jeg gi det, og de skal ta det i eie.
OTB
Dessuten, deres små barn som dere sa ville bli tatt til fange, deres barn som ennå ikke kjenner godt fra ondt, de skal gå inn i landet. Jeg vil gi det til dem, og de skal ta det i eie.
B1930
Og eders barn, som I sa vilde bli til rov, og eders sønner, som ennu ikke kan skille godt fra ondt, de skal komme der inn, dem vil jeg gi det, og de skal ta det i eie.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 7:15–16

    By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 14:3

    Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:11

    Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,

    Read in context
  • Numbers 14:31

    But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it.

    Read in context
  • Jonah 4:11

    So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?”

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 2:3

    All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

    Read in context