Deuteronomy 29 16

Deuteronomy 29:16 kjv

(For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

Deuteronomy 29:16 nkjv

(for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by,

Deuteronomy 29:16 niv

You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here.

Deuteronomy 29:16 esv

"You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.

Deuteronomy 29:16 nlt

"You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:16 serves as a foundational reminder to the Israelite people of their unique history with God, specifically recounting their suffering in Egypt and their protected journey through various foreign nations. Moses emphasizes this experiential knowledge as the basis for the covenant renewal and the ensuing warnings against idolatry, highlighting God's singular power and faithfulness demonstrated through their liberation and preservation amidst pagan cultures.

Deuteronomy 29 16 Context

Deuteronomy 29:16 is situated within Moses' final discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the promised land. Chapters 29 and 30 particularly detail a covenant renewal ceremony, reminding the new generation (and the surviving older ones) of their obligations to Yahweh. Verse 16 specifically precedes the explicit warnings against idolatry (vv. 17-18) and the severe curses for covenant unfaithfulness. By recalling their vivid collective memory of the oppressive environment in Egypt and their journey through lands teeming with pagan nations, Moses lays an irrefutable historical foundation. This shared past demonstrates God's unique power to save and sustain, directly contrasting with the impotent and often abhorrent practices of the gods they encountered. The verse implies that, having seen God's deliverance from such formidable powers and protection through dangerous territories, the Israelites have no excuse for turning to "other gods" in Canaan.

Deuteronomy 29 16 Word analysis

• for you know (כִּי אַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם - ki attem yeda'tem):

  • כִּי (ki): A conjunction meaning "for," "because," "indeed," or "surely." It introduces the reason or justification for Moses' previous statement or upcoming warnings.
  • אַתֶּם (attem): The second-person plural pronoun, "you." It emphasizes the direct, personal involvement and awareness of the audience—the entire assembly, regardless of age.
  • יְדַעְתֶּם (yeda'tem): A Qal perfect, second-person plural of the verb יָדַע (yada'), "to know." This is not merely intellectual or abstract knowledge, but often implies intimate, experiential, or well-established communal knowledge. It refers to what they have personally seen, heard, and undergone, or what has been thoroughly transmitted to them. It underscores their undeniable complicity if they abandon this known truth.

• how we lived (אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשַׁבְנוּ - et asher yashavnu):

  • אֵת אֲשֶׁר (et asher): A direct object marker followed by "that" or "which," indicating "concerning that which" or "how."
  • יָשַׁבְנוּ (yashavnu): A Qal perfect, first-person plural of the verb יָשַׁב (yashav), "to sit," "to dwell," "to live." Here, it denotes their period of residence and existence, particularly emphasizing their protracted and difficult dwelling in servitude. It implies endurance and survival.

• in the land of Egypt (בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - b'eretz Mitzrayim):

  • בְּאֶרֶץ (b'eretz): "in the land of."
  • מִצְרָיִם (Mitzrayim): Egypt. A crucial symbolic and literal place of oppression, sophisticated idolatry (with numerous deities), and the site of God's most spectacular demonstrations of power (the plagues, the Red Sea). This serves as the primary benchmark of God's redemptive work.

• and how we came through (וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְנוּ - v'et asher avarnu):

  • וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר (v'et asher): "and how," connecting it to the previous clause.
  • עָבַרְנוּ (avarnu): A Qal perfect, first-person plural of the verb עָבַר (avar), "to pass over," "to pass through," "to cross." It signifies their journey, traversing the wilderness, implying movement through various dangers and territories.

• the midst of the nations (בְּקֶרֶב הַגּוֹיִם - b'kerev hagoyim):

  • בְּקֶרֶב (b'kerev): "in the midst of," "amongst." This preposition highlights their immersion or envelopment within foreign territories, not just passing by them, but often interacting with or being observed by them. It denotes proximity and potential danger.
  • הַגּוֹיִם (hagoyim): The definite article "the" combined with גּוֹיִם (goyim), "nations," "peoples," referring to the gentile nations surrounding Israel. These nations were typically polytheistic, often hostile, and morally corrupt in their practices (e.g., child sacrifice, widespread immorality).

• through whom you passed (אֲשֶׁר עֲבַרְתֶּם - asher avartem):

  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): Relative pronoun "through whom" or "where."
  • עֲבַרְתֶּם (avartem): A Qal perfect, second-person plural of the verb עָבַר (avar), "to pass through." The shift to the second-person "you" (from "we" earlier) strongly emphasizes that they, the present generation (or their parents who were part of the group), had this direct experience. It underscores their undeniable first-hand or inherited experience, removing any possibility of ignorance or excuse for turning to other gods.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt": This phrase establishes the collective memory of the deepest humiliation and suffering (slavery in Egypt) and concurrently the greatest demonstration of divine power (the Exodus). It highlights the definitive historical origin of their identity as God's redeemed people, chosen and rescued by His mighty hand from the apex of pagan civilization.
• "and how we came through the midst of the nations through whom you passed": This clause extends the historical memory from their deliverance out of Egypt to their sustained preservation during the wilderness journey. Being "in the midst of nations" speaks to their vulnerability and exposure to potential enemies and, critically, to pagan ideologies and practices. God's act of bringing them "through" these nations highlights His ongoing protection and guidance, proving His sufficiency even in dangerous and idol-saturated environments. The shift to "you passed" emphasizes the immediate, undeniable experience of the audience present. This progression of memories serves to illustrate God's consistent faithfulness across varied circumstances, making any deviation from Him inexcusable.

Deuteronomy 29 16 Bonus section

• Educational Imperative: The "you know" (yeda'tem) carries an imperative to remember and transmit. It's not just a statement of fact, but a charge to continuously internalize this foundational history for generations to come, linking past acts of God to future obedience.
• Continuity of God's Providence: The verse seamlessly transitions from their long period of dwelling in Egypt to their constant state of passing through the nations. This demonstrates that God's faithful presence and provision were consistent, whether they were settled in slavery or nomadic in freedom, providing sustained care across different environments.
• A Polemic against Syncretism: This memory directly counters any inclination towards religious syncretism, a constant temptation for Israel. Their past demonstrated God's uniqueness and supremacy over all other so-called gods, rendering any combination of YHWH with pagan deities illogical and an insult to His demonstrated power.
• Preparation for the Promised Land: Recalling the "nations through whom you passed" prepares them for the pagan nations they are about to face and conquer in Canaan, implicitly warning against adopting their abominations and gods. Their history showed that dwelling among them while remaining faithful to YHWH required vigilance and God's sustained protection.

Deuteronomy 29 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:16 is a powerful reminder woven into the fabric of covenant renewal. Moses' appeal to the experiential knowledge of "how we lived in Egypt" and "how we came through the nations" is not mere historical recounting but a profound rhetorical and theological move. It serves as an unshakeable premise for the stringent warnings against idolatry that follow. Having personally (or generationally) experienced the depths of Egyptian slavery and witnessed YHWH's overwhelming power over its gods and Pharaoh, and then having been miraculously protected and sustained through decades of travel amidst hostile, pagan nations, the Israelites were left with no conceivable reason or excuse to adopt foreign deities or practices. This verse establishes that their intimate, communal history with the living God stands in stark contrast to the lifeless, impotent gods of the surrounding cultures, providing a solid, undeniable foundation for their absolute devotion and exclusive loyalty to YHWH alone. This passage stresses that fidelity is born out of memory, out of a recognition of who God is and what He has done, especially His unparalleled deliverance and providence in hostile, idolatrous environments.