Deuteronomy 11 3

Deuteronomy 11:3 kjv

And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land;

Deuteronomy 11:3 nkjv

His signs and His acts which He did in the midst of Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to all his land;

Deuteronomy 11:3 niv

the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country;

Deuteronomy 11:3 esv

his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land,

Deuteronomy 11:3 nlt

They didn't see the miraculous signs and wonders he performed in Egypt against Pharaoh and all his land.

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 3 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:3 continues the preceding verse by detailing the specific powerful acts of the Lord that the generation addressed by Moses had personally witnessed. It emphasizes that their experience of God's miraculous intervention, characterized by His overwhelming strength and decisive action, formed the basis for His covenant demands upon them. The verse speaks of God's great deeds, specifically pointing to His irresistible "mighty hand" and His decisive "outstretched arm" which symbolize His sovereign power and direct involvement in Israel's deliverance and judgment.

Deuteronomy 11 3 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 11 continues Moses' final address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter falls within the second major discourse of Deuteronomy (chapters 5-26), which reviews the covenant law given at Sinai and reiterates the implications of covenant loyalty or disloyalty. Specifically, Deuteronomy 11:2-7 focuses on calling the present generation of Israelites, who witnessed many of God's mighty acts (or were told about them from direct witnesses), to remember and respond in obedience to the Lord their God. Verse 3 directly details what they observed: the Lord's "great acts," referring to the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the judgments against Pharaoh, his chariots, and the Egyptian army, as well as God's miraculous provision and sustained care in the wilderness. This verse is key in emphasizing that their call to obedience is not based on blind faith but on the historical, tangible, and undeniable evidence of God's unique and mighty power demonstrated on their behalf, differentiating Israel's God from the impotent gods of Egypt or the surrounding nations.

Deuteronomy 11 3 Word analysis

• his great acts: (Hebrew: גְדֻלָּתוֹ - g'dul'lato - "his greatness, his magnificence"). This singular abstract noun refers collectively to the full scope of God's powerful and awesome deeds. It encapsulates the miraculous events, the mighty judgments upon Egypt, and the unparalleled deliverance of Israel. It denotes the manifest demonstrations of God's glorious and supreme power in a historical context.
• that you saw, (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם - asher re'item - "which you saw"). This phrase is crucial. The Hebrew "אתם" (you, plural) highlights the direct, personal, and corporate eyewitness experience of the generation Moses addresses. It underscores that their knowledge of God's power was not mere hearsay but a reality they personally witnessed. This experiential knowledge served as the foundation for their obligation to obey the covenant. It draws a contrast to the "children who have not known and have not seen" in Deut 11:2.
• his mighty hand (Hebrew: יָדוֹ הַחֲזָקָה - yado hachazaqa - "his strong hand"). This is a prominent anthropomorphism, attributing a human physical attribute (hand) to God. The "hand" signifies action, power, and authority. The adjective "mighty" or "strong" denotes irresistible power and ability to execute divine will. It is frequently associated with God's power in delivering Israel from Egypt and exerting control over adversaries, symbolizing decisive and overwhelming force.
• and his outstretched arm (Hebrew: וּזְרֹעוֹ הַנְּטוּיָה - uz'ro'o hantuyah - "and his stretched-out arm"). This is another common anthropomorphism, often paired with "mighty hand." The "arm" indicates active power and strength, especially in execution, exertion, or protection. "Outstretched" suggests the full exertion of power, reaching out to accomplish a great work, often for rescue or judgment. It conveys the idea of an unhindered, ready, and complete exertion of God's power, signifying His determined and direct intervention without constraint.
• Words-group analysis:
• "his great acts that you saw": This phrase connects God's sovereign actions directly to human experience. It establishes a verifiable, shared history between God and Israel, forming the irrefutable basis for His commands. The emphasis on "you saw" means that the covenant call is not abstract, but grounded in their collective personal experience of YHWH's salvific power.
• "his mighty hand and his outstretched arm": This is a well-known biblical hendiadys (the expression of a single idea by two words connected with "and," often two nouns with one modifying the other). Here, both phrases emphasize the same attribute: God's immense and decisive power in action. They serve as a powerful idiom, repeatedly used in the Exodus narrative and beyond, symbolizing God's full, active, and irresistible power, particularly in delivering His people from bondage and in executing judgment. The imagery suggests God literally 'reaching in' and 'pulling out' His people, and striking down their enemies with complete authority.

Deuteronomy 11 3 Bonus section

The strong imagery of "mighty hand" and "outstretched arm" is more than poetic language; it asserts God's unhindered ability to act. Unlike human kings or gods, who might be limited by resources, advisors, or rival powers, God acts with complete sovereignty. This imagery would have served as a powerful counter-narrative to the prevailing polytheistic beliefs, demonstrating YHWH's absolute preeminence. It communicates that God personally engaged in warfare on their behalf, ensuring their liberation was entirely His doing. This theme of God's active power undergirds much of biblical theology, pointing forward to the ultimate demonstration of divine power in Christ's resurrection and the deliverance it secures for humanity.

Deuteronomy 11 3 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:3 succinctly anchors Israel's responsibility to obey the covenant in their personal and collective history with God. Moses does not merely relay abstract commands but appeals to their lived experience of YHWH's unmatched power. The "great acts" were not rumors; they were undeniable spectacles of divine omnipotence: the crushing plagues, the Red Sea's division, the defeat of Pharaoh's seemingly invincible army. The repetition of "his mighty hand and his outstretched arm" emphasizes God's direct, personal, and decisive involvement in their redemption. This phrase, frequently used in connection with the Exodus, powerfully illustrates that God actively, unequivocally, and forcefully delivered them from bondage.

The verse makes it clear that their call to love and serve God (as established in 11:1) is not an arbitrary demand, but a reasonable and expected response to a God who has proven His sovereignty, faithfulness, and salvific might. This experiential knowledge distinguishes their faith from that of other nations whose gods were impotent or passive. The message is deeply foundational: obedience flows from a relationship born out of witnessed divine power and grace. Practically, it means faith is not a mere intellectual assent, but a recognition of what God has already demonstrably done for us, which then shapes our response of devotion and surrender.