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כָּל הַמִּצְוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לְמַ֨עַן תִּֽחְי֜וּן וּרְבִיתֶ֗ם וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם
The whole commandment that I am commanding you today you shall keep, to do, so that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land that YHWH swore to your fathers.
Opens the chapter with the Deuteronomic keynote pairing שָׁמַר and עָשָׂה ('keep... to do') and a chain of purpose verbs (חיה, רבה, בוא, ירשׁ), framing obedience as the condition for entering and possessing the land promised by oath to the patriarchs.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
כָּלall/everyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct head governing הַמִּצְוָהכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every, whole'; construct before a definite noun idiomatically yields 'the whole commandment' rather than distributive 'every'.
הַמִּצְוָ֗הthe commandmentart + N f sg abs · מִצְוָה (H4687)Absolute noun completing the construct chain (object of תִּשְׁמְרוּן)מִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment', from צוה 'to command'; collective singular for the whole body of covenant stipulation about to be summarized.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause modifying הַמִּצְוָהאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'.
אָנֹכִ֧יIpron 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (independent pronoun, emphatic)אָנֹכִי (H595), emphatic first-person pronoun 'I'; Moses as covenant mediator speaking in the divine command's stead.
מְצַוְּךָ֛commanding youPiel ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · צִוָּה (H6680)Participle, predicate of the relative clause→ Participle: present/durative — an act in progress at the moment of speakingצוה (H6680), Piel 'to command, charge'; the participle casts Moses' commanding as a present, ongoing act ('I am commanding you').
הַיּ֖וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with the article, idiomatic 'today, this day' — the Deuteronomic refrain of covenant immediacy.
תִּשְׁמְר֣וּןyou shall keepQal impf 2mp (+ paragogic nun) · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause, injunctive)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — injunctive future laying an obligation on the hearersשָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, guard, observe'; paragogic נ lends the imperative-toned command a solemn weight.
לַעֲשׂ֑וֹתto doprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitival clause epexegetical to תִּשְׁמְרוּן ('keep... to do')→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — 'so as to do'עָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make, perform'; paired with שָׁמַר in the stock Deuteronomic formula 'keep... to do' — obedience as practice, not mere assent.
לְמַ֨עַןso thatprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction introducing final clauseלְמַעַן (H4616) 'for the sake of, in order that'; introduces the purpose of obedience — life, increase, and possession of the land.
תִּֽחְי֜וּןyou may liveQal impf 2mp (+ paragogic nun) · חָיָה (H2421)Predicate verb of the purpose clause introduced by לְמַעַן→ Yiqtol: modal — purposed/result future, 'that you may live'חָיָה (H2421) 'to live'; the purpose of covenant obedience is life in the land — the great either/or of Deut 30:15-20 already sounded here.
וּרְבִיתֶ֗םand multiplyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · רָבָה (H7235)Weqatal continuing the purpose-result chain→ Weqatal: consecutive future — continuation of the preceding modal sequenceרָבָה (H7235) 'to be many, increase, multiply'; population growth as a further covenant blessing.
וּבָאתֶם֙and you shall comeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · בּוֹא (H935)Weqatal continuing the sequence→ Weqatal: consecutive future — sequential entry into the landבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter, go in'; here of Israel's entry into Canaan.
וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣םand you shall possessconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Weqatal continuing the sequence; predicate governing direct object הָאָרֶץ→ Weqatal: consecutive future — the culminating act of taking possessionיָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to take possession of, inherit, dispossess'; the covenant goal toward which keeping and doing the command tend.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הָאָ֔רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of וִירִשְׁתֶּםאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; here the promised land of Canaan, the territorial goal of the covenant oath.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause modifying הָאָרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'.
נִשְׁבַּ֥עhe sworeNiphal perf 3ms · שָׁבַע (H7650)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, decisive past act — the patriarchal oathשָׁבַע (H7650), Niphal (reflexive 'bind oneself by oath,' cognate with שֶׁבַע 'seven'); YHWH's oath to the patriarchs underwrites the whole chapter's certainty of the land.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of נִשְׁבַּעיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God, traditionally linked to הָיָה 'to be' — 'the One who is/causes to be'.
לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽםto your fathersprep לְ + N m pl constr + 2mp sfx · אָב (H1)Indirect object (dative recipient of the oath)אָב (H1) 'father'; plural 'fathers' = the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, original recipients of the land promise.
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וְזָכַרְתָּ֣ אֶת כָּל הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֹלִֽיכֲךָ֜ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ זֶ֛ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְמַ֨עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜ לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗ לָדַ֜עַת אֶת אֲשֶׁ֧ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר מצותו מִצְוֺתָ֖יו אִם לֹֽא
And you shall remember the whole way that YHWH your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you and to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Opens the retrospective on the forty years (vv. 2-6); the paired infinitives עַנֹּתְךָ // לְנַסֹּתְךָ frame hardship as purposeful pedagogy, and the Ketiv-Qere on מצותו/מִצְוֺתָיו is a notable textual crux.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וְזָכַרְתָּ֣and you shall rememberconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · זָכַר (H2142)Predicate verb (main clause, injunctive)→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — a solemn command to rememberזָכַר (H2142) 'to remember'; active covenantal mindfulness, not mere recollection — the verb governing the whole historical review of vv. 2-16.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
כָּלall/the wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct head governing הַדֶּרֶךְ (object of וְזָכַרְתָּ)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole'; with definite הַדֶּרֶךְ, 'the whole way/journey' — the entire forty-year route.
הַדֶּ֗רֶךְthe wayart + N c sg abs · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Absolute noun completing the construct chain; direct object of וְזָכַרְתָּדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way, road, journey'; the whole forty-year wilderness itinerary viewed as a single formative 'way'.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing subordinate clause modifying הַדֶּרֶךְאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'.
הֹלִֽיכֲךָ֜he led youHiphil perf 3ms + 2ms sfx · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, decisive past act — YHWH's guidance through the wildernessהלך (H3212, Hiphil 'to lead, cause to walk'); YHWH as shepherd-guide through the forty years, the chapter's governing historical claim.
יְהוָ֧הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of הֹלִיכֲךָיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה (divine epithet)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; the recurring covenant formula 'YHWH your God' anchors each historical clause in relationship.
זֶ֛הthesedemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Demonstrative modifying אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה (adverbial accusative of duration)זֶה (H2088) 'this'; idiomatic with a number, 'these forty years' — the wilderness generation's full span.
אַרְבָּעִ֥יםfortynumeral c pl abs · אַרְבָּעִים (H705)Numeral modifying שָׁנָה; adverbial accusative of durationאַרְבָּעִים (H705) 'forty'; the standard biblical figure for a full testing-generation (cf. flood, spies, Elijah).
שָׁנָ֖הyearsN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Head noun of the duration phraseשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; singular used distributively after the numeral.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑רin the wildernessprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phraseמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, desert'; the testing-ground of the exodus generation.
לְמַ֨עַןin order toprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction introducing double final clauseלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that'; introduces the twin purposes of the wilderness journey — humbling and testing.
עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜to humble youPiel inf constr + 2ms sfx · עָנָה II (H6031)Infinitival purpose clause, parallel to לְנַסֹּתְךָ→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'so as to humble you'עָנָה II (H6031), Piel 'to humble, afflict' (distinct homograph from עָנָה I 'to answer'); the wilderness hardship as divine pedagogy, not mere punishment.
לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗to test youprep לְ + Piel inf constr + 2ms sfx · נָסָה (H5254)Infinitival purpose clause, parallel to עַנֹּתְךָ→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'so as to test you'נָסָה (H5254), Piel 'to test, try, prove'; paired with עִנָּה, the twin purposes of the wilderness ordeal.
לָדַ֜עַתto knowprep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָדַע (H3045)Infinitival purpose clause, the ultimate goal of the testing→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — the disclosed aim of the trialיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; God's experiential 'knowing' of the heart proven through testing, not prior ignorance remedied.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the object clause
אֲשֶׁ֧רwhatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun functioning as object clause of לָדַעַתאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'what, that which'.
בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛was in your heartprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2ms sfx · לֵבָב (H3824)Predicate of the verbless relative clause ('what was in your heart')לֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind, inner self'; the seat of will and loyalty — what the wilderness testing was designed to expose.
הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥רwhether you would keepinterrog הֲ + Qal impf 2ms · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb of embedded interrogative clause (object of לָדַעַת)→ Yiqtol: modal/deliberative — the tested question, 'would you keep...?'שָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, observe'; the interrogative הֲ turns the clause into the content of what God 'knew' by testing — genuine, freely-chosen obedience.
מצותו[Ketiv] his commandment(s)N f pl constr + 3ms sfx (Ketiv, unpointed) · מִצְוָה (H4687)Ketiv form of the object of הֲתִשְׁמֹר (cf. Qere מִצְוֺתָיו following)Ketiv מצותו, the unpointed written form; tradition reads instead the Qere מִצְוֺתָיו 'his commandments' — a classic Ketiv-Qere pair, the Masoretes preserving the consonants while directing the reading.
מִצְוֺתָ֖יו[Qere] his commandmentsN f pl constr + 3ms sfx · מִצְוָה (H4687)Direct object of הֲתִשְׁמֹר (Qere reading)מִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment'; the Qere pluralizes what the Ketiv wrote as singular — same sense, 'his commandments'.
אִםorconj · אִם (H518)Disjunctive conjunction completing the alternative ('or not')אִם (H518) 'if'; here in the idiom הֲ...אִם לֹא 'whether... or not', completing the interrogative clause of testing.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the implied repeated verb ('or not [keep them]')לֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
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וַֽיְעַנְּךָ֮ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ֒ וַיַּֽאֲכִֽלְךָ֤ אֶת הַמָּן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא יָדַ֔עְתָּ וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן הוֹדִֽעֲךָ֗ כִּ֠י לֹ֣א עַל הַלֶּ֤חֶם לְבַדּוֹ֙ יִחְיֶ֣ה הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֛י עַל כָּל מוֹצָ֥א פִֽי יְהוָ֖ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָֽם
And he humbled you and let you hunger, and he fed you with the manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH does man live.
Three wayyiqtol verbs narrate the humbling-hungering-feeding sequence, climaxing in the antithetical maxim of v. 3b — bread sustains the body, but every word from YHWH's mouth is what truly grounds human life. Jesus quotes this verse verbatim against Satan (Matt 4:4/Luke 4:4).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
וַֽיְעַנְּךָ֮and he humbled youconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms + 2ms sfx · עָנָה II (H6031)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main storyline verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — first of three sequential divine actsעָנָה II (H6031), Piel 'to humble, afflict'; resumes the עִנָּה of v. 2, now narrated as historical fact.
וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ֒and he let you hungerconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3ms + 2ms sfx · רָעֵב (H7456)Wayyiqtol continuing the narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — deliberate divine causation of hungerרָעֵב (H7456), Hiphil 'to cause to hunger'; the hunger is a purposeful divine act, not incidental deprivation, preceding the feeding.
וַיַּֽאֲכִֽלְךָ֤and he fed youconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3ms + 2ms sfx · אָכַל (H398)Wayyiqtol continuing the narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the climactic act of provision after engineered hungerאָכַל (H398), Hiphil 'to feed, cause to eat'; the hunger-then-feeding sequence is the pedagogical structure of the whole verse.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַמָּן֙the mannaart + N m sg abs · מָן (H4478)Direct object of וַיַּאֲכִלְךָמָן (H4478) 'manna'; the wilderness bread, whose very strangeness ('what is it?', Exod 16:15) is the point of this verse and v. 16 — food outside ordinary human control.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing clause modifying הַמָּןאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יָדַעְתָּלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
יָדַ֔עְתָּyou had knownQal perf 2ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed prior state — non-acquaintance now reversed by experienceיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; neither Israel nor the fathers had prior acquaintance with manna — it was utterly novel provision.
וְלֹ֥אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinates a parallel negated clause (יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ)לֹא (H3808), standard negative particle, coordinated with the preceding negation.
יָדְע֖וּןthey had knownQal perf 3cp (+ paragogic nun) · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb, coordinate with יָדַעְתָּ→ Perfective: completed prior state, negation extended to the ancestorsיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; extends the novelty claim back to the patriarchal generation — manna was unknown even to them.
אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָyour fathersN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Subject of יָדְעוּןאָב (H1) 'father'; the patriarchs, for whom manna was equally unprecedented.
לְמַ֣עַןso thatprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction governing the whole preceding sequenceלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that'; the pedagogical purpose of the humbling-hungering-feeding sequence.
הוֹדִֽעֲךָ֗to make you knowHiphil inf constr + 2ms sfx · יָדַע (H3045)Infinitival purpose clause governing the whole preceding sequence→ Infinitive construct: purpose — the pedagogical aim of the ordealיָדַע (H3045), Hiphil 'to cause to know, make known'; the same root as יָדַעְתָּ above — ignorance is answered by a deliberate divine 'making known'.
כִּ֠יthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Introduces the content clause of what YHWH made known (object of הוֹדִיעֲךָ)כִּי (H3588) 'that, because, for'; introduces the substance of the lesson — the famous negative-positive antithesis on bread and the word of God.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the predicate יִחְיֶה (first clause of the antithesis)לֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
עַלbyprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of means/basis, complement of יִחְיֶהעַל (H5921) 'on, upon, by virtue of'; marks the (denied) basis of life — 'by bread'.
הַלֶּ֤חֶםbreadart + N c sg abs · לֶחֶם (H3899)Object of the preposition עַללֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread, food'; the ordinary staple denied sole sufficiency for human life — quoted by Jesus against Satan (Matt 4:4/Luke 4:4).
לְבַדּוֹ֙aloneprep לְ + N m sg constr + 3ms sfx · בַּד (H905)Adverbial modifier intensifying הַלֶּחֶם ('bread by itself')בַּד (H905) 'separation, isolation'; לְבַדּוֹ idiomatic 'alone, by itself' — bread in isolation from the word of God.
יִחְיֶ֣הdoes liveQal impf 3ms · חָיָה (H2421)Predicate verb (gnomic), subject הָאָדָם→ Yiqtol: gnomic/habitual — a timeless general truth about human lifeחָיָה (H2421) 'to live'; the verb of v. 1 returns in a universal register — true life is not sustained by bread alone.
הָֽאָדָ֔םmanart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of יִחְיֶהאָדָם (H120) 'man, humankind'; generic, not merely Israel — a universal anthropological claim embedded in covenant instruction.
כִּ֛יbutconj · כִּי (H3588)Adversative conjunction introducing the positive counter-clauseכִּי (H3588) here adversative 'but, rather' — the positive half of the antithesis.
עַלbyprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of means/basis, complement of יִחְיֶהעַל (H5921) 'by virtue of'; marks the true basis of life — 'by everything that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH'.
כָּלeverythingN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct head governing מוֹצָא פִי יְהוָהכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; construct chain 'all the going-forth of YHWH's mouth' = every word God speaks.
מוֹצָ֥אthe utterance ofN m sg constr · מוֹצָא (H4161)Construct noun, second member of the chainמוֹצָא (H4161) 'issue, going forth, utterance', from יָצָא 'to go out'; what 'goes forth' from God's mouth — his spoken word.
פִֽיthe mouth ofN m sg constr · פֶּה (H6310)Construct noun, final member governing יְהוָהפֶּה (H6310) 'mouth'; anthropomorphic image for divine speech as the true sustenance of life — quoted by Jesus in the wilderness temptation (Matt 4:4).
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive, completing the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God; source of the life-giving word.
יִחְיֶ֥הdoes liveQal impf 3ms · חָיָה (H2421)Predicate verb (gnomic), repeated for the positive half of the antithesis→ Yiqtol: gnomic/habitual — repeated for rhetorical balanceחָיָה (H2421) 'to live'; repetition of the verb structures the verse as a balanced antithetical couplet.
הָאָדָֽםmanart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of the second יִחְיֶהאָדָם (H120) 'man, humankind'; repeated to complete the antithetical parallel structure.
4
שִׂמְלָ֨תְךָ֜ לֹ֤א בָֽלְתָה֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְרַגְלְךָ֖ לֹ֣א בָצֵ֑קָה זֶ֖ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה
Your garment did not wear out on you, and your foot did not swell, these forty years.
A concrete, almost domestic proof of YHWH's sustaining care alongside the manna — clothing and feet, the humblest necessities, were preserved intact across four decades of wilderness travel.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
שִׂמְלָ֨תְךָ֜your garmentN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · שִׂמְלָה (H8071)Subject of בָלְתָהשִׂמְלָה (H8071) 'garment, cloak'; the outer wrap standing for clothing generally.
לֹ֤אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates בָלְתָהלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
בָֽלְתָה֙wore outQal perf 3fs · בָּלָה (H1086)Predicate verb→ Perfective: negated completed state — a sustained absence of decay across forty yearsבָּלָה (H1086) 'to wear out, become old'; the miraculous non-deterioration of clothing across the wilderness years.
מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָoff youprep מִן + prep עַל + 2ms sfx · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase modifying בָלְתָהעַל (H5921) 'on, upon'; with מִן, 'off of you' — the garment did not wear off your body.
וְרַגְלְךָ֖and your footconj וְ + N f sg constr + 2ms sfx · רֶגֶל (H7272)Subject of בָצֵקָה, coordinate with שִׂמְלָתְךָרֶגֶל (H7272) 'foot'; singular used collectively for 'feet'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates בָצֵקָהלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
בָצֵ֑קָהswelledQal perf 3fs · בָּצֵק (H1216)Predicate verb→ Perfective: negated completed state — no swelling despite forty years of travelבָּצֵק (H1216) 'to swell'; a rare verb describing feet not swelling from decades of walking — a second sign of sustaining divine care alongside the manna.
זֶ֖הthesedemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Demonstrative modifying אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה (adverbial accusative of duration)זֶה (H2088) 'this'; idiomatic with a number, 'these forty years'.
אַרְבָּעִ֥יםfortynumeral c pl abs · אַרְבָּעִים (H705)Numeral modifying שָׁנָה; adverbial accusative of durationאַרְבָּעִים (H705) 'forty'.
שָׁנָֽהyearsN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Head noun of the duration phraseשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; singular used distributively after the numeral.
5
וְיָדַעְתָּ֖ עִם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְיַסֵּ֥ר אִישׁ֙ אֶת בְּנ֔וֹ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מְיַסְּרֶֽךָּ
And you shall know in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, YHWH your God disciplines you.
וְיָדַעְתָּ shifts from narrated fact (vv.3-4) to required inward recognition: the forty years of hardship are to be understood through the father-son discipline analogy (יְיַסֵּר // מְיַסְּרֶךָּ), reframing chastisement as paternal formation rather than mere punishment.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְיָדַעְתָּ֖and you shall knowconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (main clause, injunctive), continuing the weqatal exhortation chain→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — a further command following זָכַריָדַע (H3045) 'to know, recognize'; here inward acknowledgment, not the experiential 'knowing' of v.2's testing — coming to terms with paternal discipline.
עִםwith/inprep · עִם (H5973)Locative prepositional phrase modifying וְיָדַעְתָּעִם (H5973) 'with, together with'; here locational, 'in your heart' — the seat of recognition.
לְבָבֶ֑ךָyour heartN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · לֵבָב (H3824)Object of preposition עִםלֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind'; the same term as v.2 — the site of inward acknowledgment of discipline.
כִּ֗יthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Introduces the content clause of what is to be known (object of וְיָדַעְתָּ)כִּי (H3588) 'that'; introduces the father-son discipline analogy.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust asprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunction introducing the simile clauseכַּאֲשֶׁר, comparative כְּ + אֲשֶׁר (H834) 'just as, in the way that'; introduces the father-son analogy for divine discipline.
יְיַסֵּ֥רdisciplinesPiel impf 3ms · יָסַר (H3256)Predicate verb of the comparative clause→ Yiqtol: gnomic — a general, timeless truth about paternal correctionיָסַר (H3256), Piel 'to discipline, correct, chastise'; root of מוּסָר 'discipline, instruction' — reframes the wilderness hardship of vv.2-5 as fatherly formation, not punitive wrath.
אִישׁ֙a manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of יְיַסֵּראִישׁ (H376) 'man'; generic — 'a man', any father.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
בְּנ֔וֹhis sonN m sg constr + 3ms sfx · בֵּן (H1121)Direct object of יְיַסֵּרבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; the human analogy for Israel's sonship under YHWH's discipline (cf. Deut 1:31; Hos 11:1).
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of מְיַסְּרֶךָּיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; the recurring covenant formula 'YHWH your God'.
מְיַסְּרֶֽךָּdisciplines youPiel ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · יָסַר (H3256)Predicate participle of the main clause (durative), with 2ms object suffix→ Participle: durative/characteristic — YHWH's ongoing fatherly discipline of Israelיָסַר (H3256), Piel participle 'disciplining'; the durative participle frames YHWH's correction as an ongoing paternal relationship, resuming עִנָּה/נִסָּה of vv.2-5 under the father-son metaphor.
6
וְשָׁ֣מַרְתָּ֔ אֶת מִצְוֺ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֖יו וּלְיִרְאָ֥ה אֹתֽוֹ
And you shall keep the commandments of YHWH your God, to walk in his ways and to fear him.
Continues the weqatal chain of exhortation (cf. v.1, v.5): keeping YHWH's commandments is cashed out concretely as walking in his ways and fearing him — the positive counterpart to the discipline analogy just drawn.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְשָׁ֣מַרְתָּ֔and you shall keepconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause, injunctive), resuming the imperative chain→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — command following the discipline lesson of v.5שָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, observe'; the same verb as v.1's keynote, now the practical response to divine discipline.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
מִצְוֺ֖תthe commandments ofN f pl constr · מִצְוָה (H4687)Construct head, direct object of וְשָׁמַרְתָּמִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment'; plural construct governing יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive, completing the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה, in the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
לָלֶ֥כֶתto walkprep לְ + Qal inf constr · הָלַךְ (H3212)Infinitival clause epexegetical to וְשָׁמַרְתָּ (purpose/result)→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — 'so as to walk'הלך (H3212) 'to walk, go'; idiomatic 'walk in his ways' = live according to YHWH's manner of life.
בִּדְרָכָ֖יוin his waysprep בְּ + N c pl constr + 3ms sfx · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Locative/manner prepositional phrase, complement of לָלֶכֶתדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way'; plural 'his ways' = YHWH's characteristic manner of acting, the ethical/covenantal pattern to imitate.
וּלְיִרְאָ֥הand to fearconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָרֵא (H3372)Infinitival clause coordinate with לָלֶכֶת→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — 'and so as to fear'יָרֵא (H3372) 'to fear, revere'; covenantal reverence, not mere terror — paired with 'walking in his ways' as the twin practical response to YHWH's fatherly discipline.
אֹתֽוֹ[obj] himobj marker + 3ms sfx · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker with pronominal suffix, object of וּלְיִרְאָהאֵת (H853) + 3ms suffix, 'him' — object of fearing = YHWH.
7
כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ מְבִֽיאֲךָ֖ אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ טוֹבָ֑ה אֶ֚רֶץ נַ֣חֲלֵי מָ֔יִם עֲיָנֹת֙ וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת יֹצְאִ֥ים בַּבִּקְעָ֖ה וּבָהָֽר
For YHWH your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, springs and deeps, flowing forth in the valley and in the hill country,
כִּי grounds the preceding call to obedience (v.6) in the character of the land itself: the catalogue of water sources (brooks, springs, deeps) opens a threefold description — water, produce, minerals — running through v.9.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
כִּ֚יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground/motive clause (vv.7-9 catalogue the good land)כִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the preceding exhortation (v.6) in the goodness of the land YHWH is giving.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of מְבִיאֲךָיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
מְבִֽיאֲךָ֖is bringing youHiphil ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate participle (durative, main clause)→ Participle: present/durative — the ongoing act of leading Israel into the landבּוֹא (H935), Hiphil 'to bring, cause to come'; the participle casts the land-gift as an act presently underway.
אֶלintoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase of direction/goal, complement of מְבִיאֲךָאֶל (H413) 'to, into'; marks the goal of the leading.
אֶ֣רֶץa landN c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of preposition אֶלאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; first of the chapter's extended land-catalogue (vv.7-9).
טוֹבָ֑הgoodadj f sg abs · טוֹב (H2896)Attributive adjective modifying אֶרֶץטוֹב (H2896) 'good'; the programmatic epithet for the land throughout Deuteronomy, unpacked in the catalogue that follows.
אֶ֚רֶץa land ofN c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Construct head, in apposition to the preceding אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה, governing נַחֲלֵי מָיִםאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; construct opening the first of several appositional land-descriptions.
נַ֣חֲלֵיbrooks ofN m pl constr · נַחַל (H5158)Construct noun governing מָיִםנַחַל (H5158) 'wadi, brook, torrent-valley'; seasonal or perennial watercourses, first item in the water catalogue.
מָ֔יִםwaterN m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Genitive completing the construct chain נַחֲלֵי מָיִםמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; always plural in form.
עֲיָנֹת֙springsN c pl abs · עַיִן (H5869)Noun coordinate with נַחֲלֵי מָיִם (asyndetic apposition)עַיִן (H5869) 'spring, fountain' (lit. 'eye'); plural 'springs' — a further water source in the good land.
וּתְהֹמֹ֔תand deepsconj וְ + N c pl abs · תְּהוֹם (H8415)Noun coordinate with עֲיָנֹת, subject of יֹצְאִיםתְּהוֹם (H8415) 'deep, subterranean waters'; the same term used of the primordial deep (Gen 1:2), here the underground sources feeding springs.
יֹצְאִ֥יםflowing/going outQal ptc mp abs · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate participle, subject עֲיָנֹת וּתְהֹמֹת→ Participle: durative — the springs and deeps continually 'going out' in the terrainיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out, come forth'; describes water emerging from valley and hill terrain.
בַּבִּקְעָ֖הin the valleyprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · בִּקְעָה (H1237)Locative prepositional phrase modifying יֹצְאִיםבִּקְעָה (H1237) 'valley, plain'; the lowland half of a terrain merism.
וּבָהָֽרand in the hill countryconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Locative prepositional phrase, coordinate with בַּבִּקְעָה (merism for the whole terrain)הַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill country'; with בִּקְעָה forms a merism — water flowing everywhere in the land, lowland and highland alike.
8
אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ
a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey,
The second movement of the land-catalogue: the classic 'seven species' (wheat, barley, vine, fig, pomegranate, olive oil, honey) later codified in rabbinic tradition as the produce for which the land is praised and for which the grace-after-meals blessing (cf. v.10) is said.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
אֶ֤רֶץa land ofN c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Construct head governing the produce list (continuing apposition to v.7's אֶרֶץ)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; introduces the second movement of the catalogue — cultivated produce.
חִטָּה֙wheatN f sg abs · חִטָּה (H2406)First member of the construct/genitive produce listחִטָּה (H2406) 'wheat'; the premier grain, first of the traditional 'seven species' of the land.
וּשְׂעֹרָ֔הand barleyconj וְ + N f sg abs · שְׂעֹרָה (H8184)Coordinate with חִטָּהשְׂעֹרָה (H8184) 'barley'; second of the seven species, the staple grain of the poor.
וְגֶ֥פֶןand vineconj וְ + N c sg abs · גֶּפֶן (H1612)Coordinate with the preceding grainsגֶּפֶן (H1612) 'vine, grapevine'; third of the seven species — source of wine.
וּתְאֵנָ֖הand fig treeconj וְ + N f sg abs · תְּאֵנָה (H8384)Coordinate with גֶּפֶןתְּאֵנָה (H8384) 'fig tree'; fourth of the seven species.
וְרִמּ֑וֹןand pomegranateconj וְ + N m sg abs · רִמּוֹן (H7416)Coordinate, closing the fruit-tree listרִמּוֹן (H7416) 'pomegranate'; fifth of the seven species.
אֶֽרֶץa land ofN c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Construct head reopening the catalogue for the final pair (oil, honey)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; repeated construct head, marking a second sub-list within the produce catalogue.
זֵ֥יתolive(s) ofN m sg constr · זַיִת (H2132)Construct noun governing שֶׁמֶןזַיִת (H2132) 'olive, olive tree'; sixth of the seven species.
שֶׁ֖מֶןoilN m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Genitive completing זֵית שֶׁמֶן, 'olive oil'שֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil, fat'; with זַיִת, the prized olive oil of the land.
וּדְבָֽשׁand honeyconj וְ + N m sg abs · דְּבַשׁ (H1706)Coordinate with זֵית שֶׁמֶן, closing the catalogueדְּבַשׁ (H1706) 'honey'; seventh of the seven species (likely date/fruit syrup rather than bee honey), closing the produce list with sweetness.
9
אֶ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹ֤א בְמִסְכֵּנֻת֙ תֹּֽאכַל בָּ֣הּ לֶ֔חֶם לֹֽא תֶחְסַ֥ר כֹּ֖ל בָּ֑הּ אֶ֚רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ בַרְזֶ֔ל וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֹֽשֶׁת
a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you will dig copper.
Closes the three-verse land-catalogue (vv.7-9: water, produce, minerals) begun in v.7's כִּי clause; the iron-and-copper note anticipates the technological/military self-sufficiency that could feed the pride warned against in vv.12-14.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
אֶ֗רֶץa landN c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Continues apposition to the land being described (antecedent of the relative clause)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; introduces the third movement — the land's material sufficiency.
אֲשֶׁ֨רin whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle 'who, which, that'.
לֹ֤אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the idiom תֹּאכַל...בְּמִסְכֵּנֻתלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
בְמִסְכֵּנֻת֙in scarcityprep בְּ + N f sg abs · מִסְכֵּנוּת (H4544)Prepositional phrase of manner modifying תֹּאכַלמִסְכֵּנוּת (H4544) 'poverty, scarcity' (hapax legomenon here); 'not in scarcity' = without want, in plenty.
תֹּֽאכַלyou will eatQal impf 2ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: modal/future — the promised experience of eating in the landאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; resumes the eating-theme of vv.3,10 — here abundance rather than manna-dependence.
בָּ֣הּin itprep בְּ + 3fs sfx · בְּLocative prepositional phrase (resumptive, referring to הָאָרֶץ)בְּ 'in' + 3fs suffix, 'in it', resuming feminine אֶרֶץ; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
לֶ֔חֶםbreadN c sg abs · לֶחֶם (H3899)Adverbial accusative (object) of תֹּאכַללֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread, food'; picks up the bread-theme of v.3, now in the land of plenty rather than wilderness scarcity.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תֶחְסַרלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
תֶחְסַ֥רyou will lackQal impf 2ms · חָסֵר (H2637)Predicate verb, coordinate with תֹּאכַל→ Yiqtol: modal/future — negated future of wantחָסֵר (H2637) 'to lack, be lacking'; total sufficiency promised — 'you will lack nothing'.
כֹּ֖לanythingN m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Object of תֶחְסַרכֹּל (H3605) 'all, anything'; with the negation, 'nothing' — total provision.
בָּ֑הּin itprep בְּ + 3fs sfx · בְּLocative prepositional phrase (resumptive)בְּ 'in' + 3fs suffix, 'in it', resuming הָאָרֶץ.
אֶ֚רֶץa landN c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Continues apposition, introducing the mineral clauseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; introduces the final item of the catalogue — mineral wealth.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhoserelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
אֲבָנֶ֣יהָits stonesN f pl constr + 3fs sfx · אֶבֶן (H68)Subject of the verbless clause (predicate בַרְזֶל)אֶבֶן (H68) 'stone'; plural + 3fs suffix, 'its (the land's) stones'.
בַרְזֶ֔לironN m sg abs · בַּרְזֶל (H1270)Predicate of the verbless clause 'its stones are iron'בַּרְזֶל (H1270) 'iron'; the land's rock formations described as iron ore-bearing.
וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָand out of its hillsconj וְ + prep מִן + N m pl constr + 3fs sfx · הָרָר (H2042)Prepositional phrase of source, fronted, modifying תַּחְצֹבהָרָר (H2042, variant of הַר) 'mountain, hill'; plural + 3fs suffix + מִן, 'out of its hills' — the source of the copper.
תַּחְצֹ֥בyou will dig/hewQal impf 2ms · חָצַב (H2672)Predicate verb, subject 'you' (Israel)→ Yiqtol: modal/future — the promised extraction of mineral wealthחָצַב (H2672) 'to hew, quarry, dig out'; mining copper from the hill country.
נְחֹֽשֶׁתcopper/bronzeN f sg abs · נְחֹשֶׁת (H5178)Object of תַּחְצֹבנְחֹשֶׁת (H5178) 'copper, bronze'; the mineral wealth completing the sevenfold sufficiency of the land — grain, fruit, oil, honey, iron, copper.
10
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן לָֽךְ
And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless YHWH your God for the good land that he has given you.
The three-verb weqatal sequence (eat / be satisfied / bless) closes the land-catalogue of vv.7-9 with the response it demands: satisfaction must issue in blessing YHWH, not self-congratulation — the pivot on which the warning of vv.11-17 turns, and the traditional source-verse for the grace-after-meals blessing (birkat ha-mazon).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖and you shall eatconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (main clause), resuming the weqatal exhortation chain→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — the promised act of eating in the landאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; concludes the eating-motif (vv.3,9) now as fulfilled blessing.
וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּand be satisfiedconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · שָׂבַע (H7646)Predicate verb, coordinate with וְאָכַלְתָּ→ Weqatal: consecutive future — the resulting state of fullnessשָׂבַע (H7646) 'to be satisfied, full'; the positive counterpart to the hunger of v.3 — abundance now, not engineered want.
וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙and you shall blessconj וְ + Piel weqatal 2ms · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb, the climactic response required by eating and being satisfied→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — the mandated grateful responseבָּרַךְ (H1288), Piel 'to bless'; the classic grace-after-meals verse — satisfaction must issue in blessing YHWH, not self-congratulation (cf. the warning of vv.12-14,17).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of וּבֵרַכְתָּיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God; the object of Israel's mandated blessing/thanksgiving.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
עַלforprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of cause/ground, complement of וּבֵרַכְתָּעַל (H5921) 'on account of, for'; marks the ground of the blessing — the good land itself.
הָאָ֥רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of preposition עַלאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; with the article, the specific good land just catalogued (vv.7-9).
הַטֹּבָ֖הthe goodart + adj f sg abs · טוֹב (H2896)Attributive adjective modifying הָאָרֶץטוֹב (H2896) 'good'; echoes v.7's אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה, bracketing the catalogue.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying הָאָרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
נָֽתַןhe gaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — YHWH's past gift of the landנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the land as sheer gift, grounding the mandated blessing that follows.
לָֽךְto youprep לְ + 2ms sfx (archaic ־ָךְ spelling) · לְIndirect object (dative recipient) of נָתַןלְ 'to, for' + 2ms suffix, 'to you'; the recipient of YHWH's land-gift; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
11
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם
Take heed to yourself, lest you forget YHWH your God, by not keeping his commandments and his judgments and his statutes, which I am commanding you today,
הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ opens the chapter's pivotal warning (vv.11-17): the same commandment-keeping urged in v.6 is now framed negatively as the safeguard against forgetting YHWH once the good land's blessings (vv.7-10) are enjoyed.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
הִשָּׁ֣מֶרtake heedNiphal impv 2ms · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause, imperative)→ Volitional: imperative — urgent warning commandשָׁמַר (H8104), Niphal reflexive/passive 'guard oneself, take heed, beware'; opens the chapter's central warning (vv.11-17) against forgetting YHWH in prosperity.
לְךָ֔to yourselfprep לְ + 2ms sfx · לְDative of self-interest (reflexive), reinforcing the imperativeלְ + 2ms suffix, ethical dative reinforcing the reflexive imperative 'watch yourself'; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
פֶּןlestconj · פֶּן (H6435)Negative-purpose conjunction introducing the feared outcomeפֶּן (H6435) 'lest'; introduces the danger the warning guards against — forgetting YHWH.
תִּשְׁכַּ֖חyou forgetQal impf 2ms · שָׁכַח (H7911)Predicate verb of the פֶּן-clause→ Yiqtol: modal — the feared future actionשָׁכַח (H7911) 'to forget'; the chapter's key warning-verb (cf. vv.14,19), the opposite of זָכַר (vv.2,18).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of תִּשְׁכַּחיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
לְבִלְתִּ֨יby notprep לְ + negative conj · בִּלְתִּי (H1115)Negative infinitival particle introducing the epexegetical clause שְׁמֹר...וְחֻקֹּתָיובִּלְתִּי (H1115) 'not, except'; with לְ + infinitive construct, negates the following infinitive — 'by not keeping'.
שְׁמֹ֤רkeepingQal inf constr · שָׁמַר (H8104)Infinitive construct governed by לְבִלְתִּי, epexegetical to תִּשְׁכַּח→ Infinitive construct: negated — spells out the concrete content of 'forgetting'שָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, observe'; forgetting YHWH is defined concretely as failing to keep his commandments.
מִצְוֺתָיו֙his commandmentsN f pl constr + 3ms sfx · מִצְוָה (H4687)Direct object of שְׁמֹר, first of three termsמִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment'; first of a three-term stack (commandments, judgments, statutes) for the whole body of covenant law.
וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יוand his judgmentsconj וְ + N m pl constr + 3ms sfx · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Coordinate with מִצְוֺתָיומִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'judgment, ordinance'; second term of the legal triad.
וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יוand his statutesconj וְ + N c pl constr + 3ms sfx · חֻקָּה (H2708)Coordinate, closing the triadחֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute, prescribed limit'; third term, completing the standard Deuteronomic triad for the whole law.
אֲשֶׁ֛רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying the legal triadאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
אָנֹכִ֥יIpron 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (independent pronoun, emphatic)אָנֹכִי (H595), emphatic first-person pronoun; Moses as covenant mediator.
מְצַוְּךָ֖commanding youPiel ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · צִוָּה (H6680)Participle, predicate of the relative clause→ Participle: present/durative — an act in progress at the moment of speakingצוה (H6680), Piel 'to command'; the participle echoes v.1, framing Moses' commanding as ongoing.
הַיּֽוֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with the article, idiomatic 'today' — the Deuteronomic refrain of covenant immediacy.
12
פֶּן תֹּאכַ֖ל וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבָתִּ֥ים טוֹבִ֛ים תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְיָשָֽׁבְתָּ
lest you eat and be satisfied, and build good houses and dwell in them,
Resumes the פֶּן-clause of v.11 with a sequence (eat-be satisfied / build-dwell) that extends through v.13's herds-silver-gold, tracing exactly how unchecked prosperity breeds the forgetting warned against.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
פֶּןlestconj · פֶּן (H6435)Negative-purpose conjunction continuing v.11's warningפֶּן (H6435) 'lest'; continues the feared-outcome clause begun in v.11, now spelling out the sequence of prosperity that risks forgetting.
תֹּאכַ֖לyou eatQal impf 2ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb of the פֶּן-clause→ Yiqtol: modal — anticipated future circumstanceאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the same verb of blessing (v.10) now becomes the first link in a chain that can lead to forgetting.
וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּand be satisfiedconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · שָׂבַע (H7646)Weqatal continuing the sequence begun by תֹּאכַל→ Weqatal: consecutive — continuation of the anticipated circumstanceשָׂבַע (H7646) 'to be satisfied'; repeats v.10's verb, now as a step toward the danger of complacent fullness.
וּבָתִּ֥יםand housesconj וְ + N m pl abs · בַּיִת (H1004)Object of תִּבְנֶהבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; the first item in the catalogue of self-made prosperity (houses, herds, silver/gold, vv.12-13).
טוֹבִ֛יםgoodadj m pl abs · טוֹב (H2896)Attributive adjective modifying וּבָתִּיםטוֹב (H2896) 'good'; fine, substantial houses — the tangible sign of settled prosperity.
תִּבְנֶ֖הyou buildQal impf 2ms · בָּנָה (H1129)Predicate verb, continuing the sequence within the פֶּן-clause→ Yiqtol: modal — anticipated future actionבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; the human achievement that can breed the illusion of self-sufficiency (cf. v.17).
וְיָשָֽׁבְתָּand dwellconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · יָשַׁב (H3427)Weqatal continuing the sequence→ Weqatal: consecutive — the resulting settled stateיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to sit, dwell, settle'; the settled, secure life in the good houses just built.
13
וּבְקָֽרְךָ֤ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ יִרְבְּיֻ֔ן וְכֶ֥סֶף וְזָהָ֖ב יִרְבֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ֖ יִרְבֶּֽה
and your herd and your flock multiply, and silver and gold multiply for you, and all that you have multiplies,
Threefold repetition of רָבה (herds / silver-gold / 'all that is yours') escalates the catalogue of prosperity begun in v.12 to its climax — total material increase, setting up the pride-warning of v.14.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וּבְקָֽרְךָ֤and your herdconj וְ + N c sg constr + 2ms sfx · בָּקָר (H1241)Subject of יִרְבְּיֻן (first of two coordinate subjects)בָּקָר (H1241) 'cattle, herd'; livestock wealth, following houses in the prosperity catalogue.
וְצֹֽאנְךָ֙and your flockconj וְ + N c sg constr + 2ms sfx · צֹאן (H6629)Subject of יִרְבְּיֻן, coordinate with בְקָרְךָצֹאן (H6629) 'flock, sheep and goats'; paired with בָּקָר as the standard livestock-wealth merism.
יִרְבְּיֻ֔ןmultiplyQal impf 3mp (+ paragogic nun) · רָבָה (H7235)Predicate verb (main clause), subject בְקָרְךָ וְצֹאנְךָ→ Yiqtol: modal/future — anticipated growth of wealthרָבָה (H7235) 'to be many, increase'; the herds' natural increase, first of the multiplication-theme (vv.13,17) that risks pride.
וְכֶ֥סֶףand silverconj וְ + N m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Subject of יִרְבֶּהכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver'; monetary/precious-metal wealth, alongside gold.
וְזָהָ֖בand goldconj וְ + N m sg abs · זָהָב (H2091)Subject of יִרְבֶּה, coordinate with כֶּסֶףזָהָב (H2091) 'gold'; paired with כֶּסֶף as the standard silver-and-gold merism for material riches.
יִרְבֶּהmultipliesQal impf 3ms · רָבָה (H7235)Predicate verb, subject כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב→ Yiqtol: modal/future — anticipated growthרָבָה (H7235) 'to increase'; wealth's multiplication, repeated for silver/gold.
לָּ֑ךְto youprep לְ + 2ms sfx (archaic ־ָךְ spelling) · לְIndirect object (dative recipient) of יִרְבֶּהלְ + 2ms suffix, 'to you' — marks Israel as the beneficiary of the increase; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
וְכֹ֥לand allconj וְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Subject of the final יִרְבֶּה (of the relative clause)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; summary term extending the increase to every possession.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun modifying כֹּלאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
לְךָ֖you haveprep לְ + 2ms sfx · לְPredicate of the verbless relative clause ('that [is] to you' = that you have)לְ + 2ms suffix, possessive idiom 'that is yours/that you have'; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
יִרְבֶּֽהmultipliesQal impf 3ms · רָבָה (H7235)Predicate verb, subject כֹּל אֲשֶׁר לְךָ→ Yiqtol: modal/future — closes the threefold increase (herds, silver-gold, all possessions)רָבָה (H7235) 'to increase'; third and climactic repetition, summing up the danger of total, all-encompassing increase.
14
וְרָ֖ם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים
then your heart will be lifted up, and you will forget YHWH your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves,
וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ is the pivot of the whole chapter: the sequence of blessing traced in vv.12-13 culminates here in pride, and pride in forgetting the very God whose exodus-deliverance defines him — the participle הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ pointedly recalls the identity Israel is in danger of losing sight of.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְרָ֖םthen it will be lifted upconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · רוּם (H7311)Predicate verb (apodosis of the conditional sequence begun in v.12), subject לְבָבֶךָ→ Weqatal: consecutive/result — the climactic outcome of unchecked prosperityרוּם (H7311) 'to be high, exalted'; here of pride — 'your heart becomes lifted up', the pivotal danger the whole warning aims to prevent.
לְבָבֶ֑ךָyour heartN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · לֵבָב (H3824)Subject of וְרָםלֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind'; the same term as vv.2,5 — now the site of pride rather than humble recognition.
וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙and you will forgetconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · שָׁכַח (H7911)Predicate verb, coordinate with וְרָם — the feared outcome named in v.11 now realized→ Weqatal: consecutive/result — the culmination of the danger sequenceשָׁכַח (H7911) 'to forget'; the exact verb of v.11's warning, now the narrated (feared) consequence of pride.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of וְשָׁכַחְתָּיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ֛who brought you outart + Hiphil ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · יָצָא (H3318)Attributive participle modifying יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ→ Participle: characteristic/identifying — YHWH defined by the exodus deliveranceיָצָא (H3318), Hiphil 'to bring out'; the exodus-identity of YHWH, the very God at risk of being forgotten amid prosperity.
מֵאֶ֥רֶץfrom the land ofprep מִן + N c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Prepositional phrase of source, complement of הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; construct with מִצְרַיִם, 'the land of Egypt'.
מִצְרַ֖יִםEgyptproper noun · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Genitive completing מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִםמִצְרַיִם (H4714) 'Egypt'; the place of slavery from which YHWH delivered Israel.
מִבֵּ֥יתfrom the house ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Prepositional phrase in apposition to מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִםבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; construct with עֲבָדִים, the idiom 'house of slaves' for Egypt.
עֲבָדִֽיםslavesN m pl abs · עֶבֶד (H5650)Genitive completing מִבֵּית עֲבָדִיםעֶבֶד (H5650) 'slave, servant'; the standard Deuteronomic epithet for Egypt as the 'house of slaves' (cf. 5:6; 6:12), a stark contrast with the current promised prosperity.
15
הַמּוֹלִ֨יכֲךָ֜ בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַגָּדֹ֣ל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין מָ֑יִם הַמּוֹצִ֤יא לְךָ֙ מַ֔יִם מִצּ֖וּר הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁ
who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with fiery serpent and scorpion, and thirsty ground where there is no water, who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock,
Extends the participial chain begun in v.14 (הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ) with a vivid catalogue of wilderness terrors (serpent, scorpion, drought) immediately answered by YHWH's provision of water from flint — the same rhetorical pattern as the manna account of v.3, reinforcing that hardship and provision are alike divine acts to be remembered, not forgotten.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
הַמּוֹלִ֨יכֲךָ֜who led youart + Hiphil ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · הָלַךְ (H3212)Attributive participle, continuing the chain of participles describing YHWH (parallel to הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ v.14)→ Participle: characteristic/identifying — YHWH defined by wilderness guidanceהלך (H3212), Hiphil 'to lead, cause to walk'; resumes the guidance-theme of v.2, now within the string of participial epithets for YHWH (vv.14-16).
בַּמִּדְבָּ֣רthrough the wildernessprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase, complement of הַמּוֹלִיכֲךָמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, desert'; the site of testing recalled from vv.2-4, now specified in fearsome detail.
הַגָּדֹ֣לgreatart + adj m sg abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective modifying הַמִּדְבָּרגָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great, large'; intensifies the danger of the terrain just traversed.
וְהַנּוֹרָ֗אand terribleconj וְ + art + Niphal ptc ms abs · יָרֵא (H3372)Attributive participle (Niphal) coordinate with הַגָּדֹל, modifying הַמִּדְבָּר→ Participle: passive/adjectival — 'to be feared, dreadful'יָרֵא (H3372), Niphal participle 'fearsome, dreadful'; same root as v.6's fear-of-YHWH, here of the terrifying wilderness terrain itself.
נָחָ֤שׁserpentN m sg abs · נָחָשׁ (H5175)Noun in apposition, specifying the wilderness dangersנָחָשׁ (H5175) 'serpent, snake'; first of the wilderness hazards named.
שָׂרָף֙fieryN m sg abs · שָׂרָף (H8314)Noun in apposition to נָחָשׁ ('fiery serpent')שָׂרָף (H8314) 'burning one, fiery serpent'; qualifies נָחָשׁ — a venomous snake whose bite burns (cf. Num 21:6-9).
וְעַקְרָ֔בand scorpionconj וְ + N m sg abs · עַקְרָב (H6137)Coordinate with נָחָשׁ שָׂרָףעַקְרָב (H6137) 'scorpion'; second wilderness hazard.
וְצִמָּא֖וֹןand thirsty groundconj וְ + N m sg abs · צִמָּאוֹן (H6774)Coordinate, third item of the danger listצִמָּאוֹן (H6774) 'thirsty/parched ground'; the waterless terrain itself as a hazard.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhererelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying צִמָּאוֹןאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
אֵֽיןthere is noparticle of negation · אַיִן (H369)Predicate of existence-negation, main predicate of the relative clauseאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; negates the existence of water in the terrain just described.
מָ֑יִםwaterN m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Subject of the existential negation אֵיןמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; the very absence at issue in the wilderness danger, resolved in the next clause.
הַמּוֹצִ֤יאwho brought forthart + Hiphil ptc ms abs · יָצָא (H3318)Attributive participle, continuing the chain describing YHWH→ Participle: characteristic/identifying — YHWH's provision amid the waterless dangerיָצָא (H3318), Hiphil 'to bring out, cause to come forth'; the miraculous provision of water answering the very lack just named.
לְךָ֙for youprep לְ + 2ms sfx · לְIndirect object (dative benefactive) of הַמּוֹצִיאלְ + 2ms suffix, 'for you' — the beneficiary of the water-miracle; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
מַ֔יִםwaterN m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Direct object of הַמּוֹצִיאמַיִם (H4325) 'water'; the miraculous provision, echoing and resolving the negated מָיִם just named.
מִצּ֖וּרfrom the rock ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · צוּר (H6697)Prepositional phrase of source, complement of הַמּוֹצִיאצוּר (H6697) 'rock, cliff'; construct with חַלָּמִישׁ, the site of the water-from-rock miracle (Exod 17; Num 20).
הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁthe flintart + N m sg abs · חַלָּמִישׁ (H2496)Genitive completing מִצּוּר הַחַלָּמִישׁחַלָּמִישׁ (H2496) 'flint'; the hardest rock, emphasizing the miraculous nature of water flowing from stone.
16
הַמַּֽאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥ מָן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗ וּלְמַ֨עַן֙ נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָ לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶֽךָ
who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, in order to humble you and in order to test you, to do you good in your latter end —
Recapitulates v.2's humbling/testing purpose almost verbatim (עַנֹּתְךָ // נַסֹּתֶךָ) but adds a final, positive telos — לְהֵיטִיבְךָ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶךָ — reframing the whole wilderness narrative (vv.2-6,14-16) as ultimately benevolent, the necessary backdrop for the pride-warning that follows in vv.17-18.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
הַמַּֽאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥who fed youart + Hiphil ptc ms constr + 2ms sfx · אָכַל (H398)Attributive participle, continuing the chain describing YHWH→ Participle: characteristic/identifying — YHWH's ongoing act of feedingאָכַל (H398), Hiphil 'to feed, cause to eat'; resumes v.3's manna narrative within the participial recital of vv.14-16.
מָן֙mannaN m sg abs · מָן (H4478)Direct object of הַמַּאֲכִלְךָמָן (H4478) 'manna'; the wilderness bread of v.3, recalled here in summary.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔רin the wildernessprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase modifying הַמַּאֲכִלְךָמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, desert'.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying מָןאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
לֹאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יָדְעוּןלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
יָדְע֖וּןknewQal perf 3cp (+ paragogic nun) · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed prior state — non-acquaintanceיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; repeats v.3's claim that the manna was unprecedented, even to the fathers.
אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָyour fathersN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Subject of יָדְעוּןאָב (H1) 'father'; the patriarchs, as in v.3.
לְמַ֣עַןin order toprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction introducing the first of two final clausesלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that'; reintroduces the twin purposes of v.2 (humbling, testing) in summary.
עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗to humble youPiel inf constr + 2ms sfx · עָנָה II (H6031)Infinitival purpose clause, parallel to לְמַעַן נַסֹּתֶךָ→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'so as to humble you'עָנָה II (H6031), Piel 'to humble, afflict'; resumes v.2's עַנֹּתְךָ verbatim, summarizing the wilderness ordeal's purpose.
וּלְמַ֨עַן֙and in order toconj וְ + prep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction introducing the second final clauseלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that'; parallel to the preceding, introducing the twin purpose 'to test'.
נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָto test youPiel inf constr + 2ms sfx · נָסָה (H5254)Infinitival purpose clause, parallel to עַנֹּתְךָ→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'so as to test you'נָסָה (H5254), Piel 'to test, try'; resumes v.2's נַסֹּתְךָ, completing the humbling/testing pair.
לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖to do you goodprep לְ + Hiphil inf constr + 2ms sfx · יָטַב (H3190)Infinitival purpose clause, the ultimate positive aim of the whole ordeal→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — the final, benevolent goal beyond humbling and testingיָטַב (H3190), Hiphil 'to do good, benefit'; the wilderness hardship's ultimate telos is Israel's good, not harm — reframing vv.2-3,15 retrospectively.
בְּאַחֲרִיתֶֽךָin your latter endprep בְּ + N f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אַחֲרִית (H319)Temporal prepositional phrase modifying לְהֵיטִיבְךָאַחֲרִית (H319) 'end, latter part, future'; the long-term outcome — the testing's benefit is not immediate but eventual, in Israel's future in the land.
17
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה
and you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have made me this wealth.'
The inner monologue that pride (v.14) produces: attributing all increase to one's own strength (כֹּחִי // עֹצֶם יָדִי) — the precise error v.18 corrects by insisting YHWH gives the very power to get wealth.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖and you sayconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (apodosis, resuming the danger-sequence begun in v.12 via v.14's pride)→ Weqatal: consecutive/result — the culminating self-deceived speech of prideאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the boastful inner speech that pride (v.14) produces.
בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָin your heartprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2ms sfx · לֵבָב (H3824)Locative prepositional phrase modifying וְאָמַרְתָּלֵבָב (H3824) 'heart'; the same organ 'lifted up' in v.14 now speaks its prideful self-justification.
כֹּחִי֙my powerN m sg constr + 1cs sfx · כֹּחַ (H3581)Subject of עָשָׂה (first of two coordinate subjects)כֹּחַ (H3581) 'strength, power'; the human capacity claimed as the source of wealth — directly rebutted in v.18.
וְעֹ֣צֶםand the might ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · עֹצֶם (H6108)Coordinate with כֹּחִי, construct head governing יָדִיעֹצֶם (H6108) 'might, strength'; construct with יָד, 'the might of my hand' — reinforcing the self-attribution.
יָדִ֔יmy handN c sg constr + 1cs sfx · יָד (H3027)Genitive completing עֹצֶם יָדִייָד (H3027) 'hand'; idiom for personal strength/agency, here claimed as the source of prosperity.
עָ֥שָׂהmadeQal perf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the quoted speech, subject כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי→ Perfective: a completed act (in the boastful speaker's own self-understanding)עָשָׂה (H6213) 'to make, do'; the speaker's claim to have made his own wealth by his own strength — the very forgetting warned against.
לִ֖יfor meprep לְ + 1cs sfx · לְIndirect object (dative benefactive) of עָשָׂהלְ + 1cs suffix, 'for me' — the self-directed benefit claimed; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַחַ֥יִלthe wealthart + N m sg abs · חַיִל (H2428)Direct object of עָשָׂהחַיִל (H2428) 'strength, wealth, army'; here material prosperity — the entire catalogue of houses, herds, silver and gold from vv.12-13.
הַזֶּֽהthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Demonstrative modifying הַחַיִלזֶה (H2088) 'this'; points to the tangible wealth just enumerated.
18
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה
But you shall remember YHWH your God, for it is he who gives you power to make wealth, in order to confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
וְזָכַרְתָּ directly answers v.17's boast: not human כֹּחַ but YHWH's gift of כֹּחַ underlies Israel's wealth, and that gift itself serves a further end — establishing the covenant sworn to the patriarchs (echoing v.1), not mere self-enrichment.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙but you shall rememberconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · זָכַר (H2142)Predicate verb (main clause, corrective/adversative to the boast of v.17)→ Weqatal: consecutive/injunctive future — the corrective command countering the pride of v.17זָכַר (H2142) 'to remember'; resumes the chapter's opening verb (v.2) as the direct antidote to the forgetting/boasting of vv.14,17.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of וְזָכַרְתָּיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground of the remembering-commandכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the command to remember in the truth about the true source of power.
ה֗וּאhepron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Emphatic subject pronoun, resuming as antecedent of הַנֹּתֵןהוּא (H1931), third-person pronoun, emphatic 'he himself' — directly countering the 'I/my' of v.17's boast.
הַנֹּתֵ֥ןwho givesart + Qal ptc ms abs · נָתַן (H5414)Attributive/predicate participle, predicate of the verbless clause with הוּא→ Participle: durative/characteristic — YHWH's ongoing gift of powerנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; participle names YHWH, not human strength, as the continuing source of the capacity to prosper.
לְךָ֛to youprep לְ + 2ms sfx · לְIndirect object of הַנֹּתֵןלְ + 2ms suffix, 'to you' — the recipient of the God-given power; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
כֹּ֖חַpowerN m sg abs · כֹּחַ (H3581)Direct object of הַנֹּתֵןכֹּחַ (H3581) 'strength, power'; the very term claimed as self-derived in v.17, here explicitly attributed to YHWH's gift.
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתto makeprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitival clause epexegetical to כֹּחַ ('power to make')→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — specifies what the given power accomplishesעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to make, do'; echoes v.17's עָשָׂה, now correctly framed as enabled by divine gift, not self-generated.
חָ֑יִלwealthN m sg abs · חַיִל (H2428)Object of לַעֲשׂוֹתחַיִל (H2428) 'strength, wealth'; the same term as v.17's הַחַיִל — the wealth whose true source is now corrected.
לְמַ֨עַןin order toprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction introducing YHWH's ultimate purpose in giving powerלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that'; introduces the covenantal purpose behind the gift of power — not personal indulgence, but covenant fulfillment.
הָקִ֧יםto confirmHiphil inf constr · קוּם (H6965)Infinitival purpose clause governed by לְמַעַן→ Infinitive construct: purpose — the divine aim in prospering Israelקוּם (H6965), Hiphil 'to raise up, establish, confirm'; YHWH prospers Israel in order to fulfill, not merely to reward, the patriarchal covenant.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
בְּרִית֛וֹhis covenantN f sg constr + 3ms sfx · בְּרִית (H1285)Direct object of הָקִיםבְּרִית (H1285) 'covenant'; the Abrahamic/patriarchal covenant whose land-and-blessing promises this whole chapter has traced.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying בְּרִיתוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
נִשְׁבַּ֥עhe sworeNiphal perf 3ms · שָׁבַע (H7650)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed, decisive past act — the patriarchal oathשָׁבַע (H7650), Niphal 'to swear, bind oneself by oath'; recalls v.1's נִשְׁבַּע, bracketing the chapter with the patriarchal oath.
לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָto your fathersprep לְ + N m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Indirect object (dative recipient) of נִשְׁבַּעאָב (H1) 'father'; the patriarchs, recipients of the oath, as in v.1.
כַּיּ֥וֹםas this dayprep כְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Comparative/temporal prepositional phrase modifying the whole clauseיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; idiom 'as it is this day' — the covenant's ongoing, present validity.
הַזֶּֽהthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Demonstrative modifying כַּיּוֹםזֶה (H2088) 'this'; completes the idiom 'this very day'.
19
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ אַחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם הַעִדֹ֤תִי בָכֶם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּאבֵדֽוּן
And it shall be, if you indeed forget YHWH your God and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish.
A formal, legally-toned warning (הַעִדֹתִי, the technical verb for invoking covenant witnesses) spelling out the ultimate stakes of the chapter's forgetting-motif: not merely losing blessing but total destruction, framed as a doubled infinitive-absolute construction (שָׁכֹחַ תִּשְׁכַּח // אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן) for maximum solemnity.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְהָיָ֗הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause), introducing the conditional apodosis-protasis structure→ Weqatal: consecutive future — introduces the solemn conditional warningהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; formulaic opener for a solemn future conditional pronouncement.
אִםifconj · אִם (H518)Conditional conjunction introducing the protasisאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the hypothetical (but starkly possible) scenario of apostasy.
שָׁכֹ֤חַindeedQal inf abs · שָׁכַח (H7911)Infinitive absolute intensifying תִּשְׁכַּח (paronomastic construction)→ Infinitive absolute: intensifying — 'if you utterly/surely forget'שָׁכַח (H7911) 'to forget'; infinitive absolute + finite verb intensifies the verbal idea — the gravest possible form of forgetting.
תִּשְׁכַּח֙you forgetQal impf 2ms · שָׁכַח (H7911)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis, intensified by the preceding infinitive absolute→ Yiqtol: modal/conditional — the hypothetical future act of forgettingשָׁכַח (H7911) 'to forget'; the chapter's central danger-word, now in its most emphatic form.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of תִּשְׁכַּחיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗and walkconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · הָלַךְ (H1980)Weqatal continuing the protasis sequence→ Weqatal: consecutive — continuation of the hypothetical apostasyהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk, go'; idiomatic 'walk after' = follow, serve as a devotee.
אַחֲרֵי֙afterprep · אַחַר (H310)Prepositional phrase, complement of וְהָלַכְתָּאַחַר (H310) 'after, behind'; with הלך, the idiom for religious allegiance/following.
אֱלֹהִ֣יםgodsN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵיאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'gods'; here plural of foreign deities, direct rivals to יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
אֲחֵרִ֔יםotheradj m pl abs · אַחֵר (H312)Attributive adjective modifying אֱלֹהִיםאַחֵר (H312) 'other'; the standard Deuteronomic label for foreign deities — 'other gods'.
וַעֲבַדְתָּ֖םand serve themconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms + 3mp sfx · עָבַד (H5647)Weqatal continuing the protasis, object suffix referring to the other gods→ Weqatal: consecutive — continuation of the apostasy sequenceעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve, worship'; cultic service directed at the rival deities.
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֣יתָand worshipconj וְ + Hishtaphel weqatal 2ms · שָׁחָה (H7812)Weqatal continuing the protasis, climax of the apostasy sequence→ Weqatal: consecutive — culminating act of the hypothetical apostasyשָׁחָה (H7812), Hishtaphel 'to bow down, prostrate oneself'; the physical worship-gesture, the climactic act of the feared apostasy.
לָהֶ֑םto themprep לְ + 3mp sfx · לְIndirect object (dative) of וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָלְ + 3mp suffix, 'to them' — referring to the other gods; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
הַעִדֹ֤תִיI testifyHiphil perf 1cs · עוּד (H5749)Predicate verb (main clause, apodosis), Moses' formal witness-declaration→ Perfective (performative): a solemn legal act performed in the speaking — formal covenantal witnessעוּד (H5749), Hiphil 'to testify, warn solemnly'; the technical verb for invoking covenant witnesses (cf. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28).
בָכֶם֙against youprep בְּ + 2mp sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase, complement of הַעִדֹתִיבְּ + 2mp suffix, 'against you' — marking Israel as the party warned; no separate Strong's number is assigned to the bare preposition.
הַיּ֔וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article, 'today' — the solemn moment of formal witness.
כִּ֥יthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Introduces the content clause of the testimony (object of הַעִדֹתִי)כִּי (H3588) 'that'; introduces the substance of Moses' formal warning.
אָבֹ֖דsurelyQal inf abs · אָבַד (H6)Infinitive absolute intensifying תֹּאבֵדוּן (paronomastic construction)→ Infinitive absolute: intensifying — 'you shall utterly/surely perish'אָבַד (H6) 'to perish'; infinitive absolute intensifies the finite verb — the gravest possible consequence.
תֹּאבֵדֽוּןyou shall perishQal impf 2mp (+ paragogic nun) · אָבַד (H6)Predicate verb of the content clause, intensified by the preceding infinitive absolute→ Yiqtol: modal/future — the certain, solemnly declared consequence of apostasyאָבַד (H6) 'to perish, be destroyed'; the covenant-curse consequence of forgetting YHWH for other gods — direct antithesis to the life promised in v.1.
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כַּגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מַאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
Like the nations that YHWH is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not listen to the voice of YHWH your God.
Closes the chapter with the starkest possible warning: the same אבד ('perish/destroy') applied to the dispossessed Canaanite nations (מַאֲבִיד) is the fate awaiting Israel (תֹאבֵדוּן) for the same root failure — not listening to YHWH's voice — bringing the whole chapter's life-or-death stakes (cf. v.1) to their final, unadorned statement.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
כַּגּוֹיִ֗םlike the nationsprep כְּ + art + N m pl abs · גּוֹי (H1471)Comparative prepositional phrase, fronted for emphasis, modifying תֹאבֵדוּןגּוֹי (H1471) 'nation'; the Canaanite peoples whose fate is the negative object-lesson for Israel.
אֲשֶׁ֤רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the clause modifying כַּגּוֹיִםאֲשֶׁר (H834), invariable relative particle.
יְהוָה֙YHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of מַאֲבִידיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
מַאֲבִ֣ידis destroyingHiphil ptc ms abs · אָבַד (H6)Predicate participle of the relative clause→ Participle: present/durative — the ongoing act of destroying the nations before Israelאָבַד (H6), Hiphil 'to destroy, cause to perish'; same root as the verb of Israel's own feared fate (תֹאבֵדוּן) — the identical judgment threatened for identical apostasy.
מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔םbefore youprep מִן + N c pl constr + 2mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase modifying מַאֲבִידפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; idiom 'from before you' — the nations being cleared from Israel's path into the land.
כֵּ֖ןsoadverb · כֵּן (H3651)Correlative adverb resuming כַּגּוֹיִם, introducing the apodosisכֵּן (H3651) 'so, thus'; correlative with כְּ of כַּגּוֹיִם — 'as the nations..., so you...'.
תֹאבֵד֑וּןyou shall perishQal impf 2mp (+ paragogic nun) · אָבַד (H6)Predicate verb (main clause/apodosis), subject 'you' (Israel)→ Yiqtol: modal/future — the solemnly declared consequence, repeated from v.19אָבַד (H6) 'to perish'; repeats v.19's verb, driving home the covenant-curse consequence with the nations as the explicit parallel/warning.
עֵ֚קֶבbecauseconj (constr noun used adverbially) · עֵקֶב (H6118)Causal conjunction introducing the ground of the judgmentעֵקֶב (H6118) 'as a consequence of, because'; introduces the reason for the threatened destruction — disobedience.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תִשְׁמְעוּןלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle.
תִשְׁמְע֔וּןyou would listenQal impf 2mp (+ paragogic nun) · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb of the causal clause→ Yiqtol: modal — the negated capacity/willingness to obeyשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear, listen, obey'; the fundamental covenantal failure — not hearing/heeding YHWH's voice, the chapter's closing indictment.
בְּק֖וֹלto the voice ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · קוֹל (H6963)Prepositional phrase, complement of תִשְׁמְעוּןקוֹל (H6963) 'voice, sound'; construct with יְהוָה, 'the voice of YHWH' — his spoken commandments, a direct echo of v.3's מוֹצָא פִי יְהוָה.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing בְּקוֹל יְהוָהיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of God.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה, closing the chapterאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; the covenant formula 'YHWH your God' closes the chapter exactly as its argument has run throughout — obedience or forgetting, life or destruction.