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Deuteronomy 8

World English Bible

WEB

1You shall observe to do all the commandments which I command you today, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers. 2You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that he might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Yahweh’s mouth. 4Your clothing didn’t grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years. 5You shall consider in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so Yahweh your God disciplines you. 6You shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and hills; 8a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; 9a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. 10You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Yahweh your God for the good land which he has given you. 11Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God, in not keeping his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you today; 12lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; 13and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; 15who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who poured water for you out of the rock of flint; 16who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn’t know, that he might humble you, and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; 17and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” 18But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today. 19It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish. 20As the nations that Yahweh makes to perish before you, so you shall perish, because you wouldn’t listen to Yahweh your God’s voice.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Deuteronomy Chapter 8 serves as a powerful reminder from Moses to the Israelites about their journey through the wilderness and the importance of remembering God's provision and guidance. The chapter begins with a call to remember the entire way that the Lord has led them for forty years, testing them to humble them and to know what was in their hearts (#Moses, #Israelites). This period of wandering was not just a physical journey but a spiritual one, aimed at teaching them reliance on God rather than on their own strength or resources. The Israelites are reminded that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual nourishment alongside physical sustenance (#Deuteronomy 8:3).

As the chapter progresses, Moses warns the people about the dangers of prosperity. Once they enter the Promised Land and experience abundance, they must not forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness. The land they are about to inherit is described as a good and spacious land, flowing with milk and honey, but they are cautioned to remember that it is God who gives them the ability to produce wealth. This serves as a reminder that all blessings come from God, and they must remain humble and grateful, lest they become proud and forget their dependence on Him (#PromisedLand, #God'sProvision). The chapter concludes with a stern warning that if they forget the Lord and follow other gods, they will face dire consequences, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and His people. This chapter encapsulates the themes of remembrance, gratitude, and the importance of faithfulness to God throughout their journey.

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Referenced by

  1. Judges 8:34v11Judges 8:34 notes Israel's forgetfulness of the Lord's deliverance, which is warned against in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, where forgetting God after receiving His blessings leads to downfall.
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:31v22 Chronicles 32:31 describes God testing Hezekiah's heart, similar to Deuteronomy 8:2 where God tests Israel in the wilderness to know what is in their heart.
  3. Psalms 107:4-9v15Psalm 107:4-9 describes God's deliverance of those who wandered in the desert, which parallels Israel's experience in the wilderness as recounted in Deuteronomy 8:15-16.
  4. Psalms 136:16v2Psalm 136:16 speaks of God's guidance through the wilderness, which is elaborated in Deuteronomy 8:2, emphasizing God's provision and testing of Israel.
  5. Hosea 13:6v11Hosea 13:6 warns of Israel's forgetfulness of God in prosperity, paralleling Deuteronomy 8:11-14, where Moses warns Israel not to forget God when they are satisfied in the Promised Land.
  6. Matthew 4:4v3In Matthew 4:4, Jesus responds to Satan's temptation by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasizing that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This highlights the importance of spiritual sustenance over physical needs.
  7. Luke 4:4v3Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 in response to Satan's temptation, emphasizing reliance on God's word over physical sustenance.

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