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Deuteronomy 5:2,3
The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb…

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earthis mine: …

Joshua 24:25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

Genesis 15:10
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

into his oath

Deuteronomy 29:14
Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;

2 Chronicles 15:12-15
And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; …

Nehemiah 10:28,29
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; …

which He is making with you today,
The phrase "making with you today" underscores the immediacy and relevance of the covenant. It is not merely a historical event but a present reality for the Israelites. This reflects the biblical theme of God's ongoing relationship with His people, requiring continual commitment and obedience. The use of "today" also serves as a reminder of the urgency and importance of responding to God's call. In a broader theological sense, this can be seen as a type of the New Covenant, which is always "today" for believers, as they are called to live in the light of Christ's finished work and to respond to His grace daily (Hebrews 3:13).

and into His oath,
The inclusion of "His oath" highlights the seriousness and binding nature of the covenant. An oath in biblical terms is a solemn promise, often invoking God as a witness. This reflects the gravity of the commitment being made and the faithfulness of God to His promises. The oath aspect of the covenant assures the Israelites of God's steadfast love and faithfulness, as seen in His promises to the patriarchs (Genesis 22:16-18). This also points forward to the New Testament, where God's oath is fulfilled in Christ, who is the guarantee of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). The assurance of God's oath provides believers with confidence in His unchanging nature and His commitment to His people.

Deuteronomy 29:12 opens with purpose: “so that you may enter.” God is not forcing anyone into relationship; He is inviting. The people stand on the plains of Moab ready to cross the Jordan, and the Lord pauses history to say, “Step in.”

• Moses had already reminded them, “These are the words of the covenant” (Deuteronomy 29:1), framing the entire speech as an invitation.

• Earlier generations heard a similar call at Sinai when they replied, “We will do everything the LORD has said” (Exodus 24:7-8).

• Jesus echoes the same heart centuries later: “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved” (John 10:9). From beginning to end, God seeks willing hearts.

A covenant is far more than a contract; it is a binding relationship initiated by God Himself.

• God made a covenant with Abram: “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram” (Genesis 15:18).

• At Sinai He said, “If you will indeed obey My voice… you shall be My treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5-6), underscoring both privilege and responsibility.

• In Christ, believers step into the “new covenant” ratified by His blood (Luke 22:20;2 Corinthians 3:6), showing the enduring pattern—God pledges Himself to a people, and they respond in faith and obedience.

The word “today” stresses immediacy. Covenant is not merely historical; it is alive in this present moment.

• Moses distinguishes this renewal from Sinai: “The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us alive here today” (Deuteronomy 5:3).

• Joshua will repeat the pattern: “On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people” (Joshua 24:25).

• The writer of Hebrews draws the line to the present: “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” (Hebrews 8:10). God’s dealings are always current, calling each generation to fresh commitment.

An oath adds divine solemnity. God binds His promise with His own character, giving absolute assurance.

• After Abraham’s obedience, God swore by Himself, saying, “By Myself I have sworn” (Genesis 22:16).

• To Isaac He reaffirmed the same sworn word (Genesis 26:3-5).

• Hebrews explains the significance: “God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear… so He confirmed it with an oath” (Hebrews 6:17). When the Lord swears, His word becomes an unbreakable anchor for faith.

Deuteronomy 29:12 invites God’s people to step willingly into a living, binding relationship with Him. The verse assures them—and us—that the covenant originates with the Lord, is offered in the present, and is secured by His own oath. Entering means embracing both privilege and responsibility, confident that the God who summons also sustains.

His oath.--A word here used for the first time in Deuteronomy. It is rendered "curse" inDeuteronomy 29:19-21. It seems to mean animprecation in the name of God(comp.Leviticus 5:4;Genesis 24:41), which may bring a curse if the thing sworn to is not fulfilled. . . .

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