Deuteronomy 29 2

Deuteronomy 29:2 kjv

And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;

Deuteronomy 29:2 nkjv

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land?

Deuteronomy 29:2 niv

Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.

Deuteronomy 29:2 esv

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,

Deuteronomy 29:2 nlt

Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, "You have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to his whole country ?

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 2 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:2 conveys Moses' direct address to the Israelites, solemnly reminding them of their firsthand observation of all the powerful and decisive acts that the Lord God performed in the land of Egypt. This encompassed not only the judgment on Pharaoh himself, but also on his entire network of servants and his whole nation. The verse emphasizes the undeniable evidence of God's unique sovereignty, power, and justice, establishing a historical foundation for the covenant renewal that follows.

Deuteronomy 29 2 Context

Deuteronomy 29:2 initiates a pivotal section of Moses' final addresses to the Israelites. It opens a new covenant renewal discourse (starting from Deut 29:1 according to many texts), occurring as the people stand poised to enter the Promised Land. This solemn assembly is set on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. Moses, nearing the end of his life, convenes "all Israel" not just to remind them of the initial Horeb (Sinai) covenant, but to re-establish and elaborate upon its terms for this new generation. This generation, although born in the wilderness, inherited the covenant promises and burdens. While most had not personally witnessed the plagues in Egypt, they lived by the reality of that deliverance and were recipients of God's continuous provision. Thus, Moses calls them to remember, grounding their present and future obedience in the undeniable, divinely accomplished history of their liberation. The entire chapter, and indeed the entire book, serves as a call for Israel to live faithfully in covenant with YHWH as they prepare to inherit the land promised to their ancestors.

Deuteronomy 29 2 Word analysis

• And Moses (וּמֹשֶׁה, u-Moshe): Moses, as the God-appointed mediator of the covenant, introduces this crucial declaration. His authority ensures the gravity and divine source of the message.
• called unto all Israel (קָהַל אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, qahal el kol-Yisrael): "Called unto" (meaning "assembled" or "convened") implies a formal, inclusive summons. "All Israel" underscores that this message is for the entire community, symbolizing collective responsibility and solidarity across all tribes.
• and said unto them (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, va-yomer alehem): A straightforward narrative transition, but here, it sets the stage for a critical reminder delivered directly from the revered leader.
• Ye have seen (אַתֶּם רְאִיתֶם, attem re'item): A powerful and direct appeal to their knowledge and experience. The Hebrew verb ra'ah ("to see") signifies not just physical sight, but also mental comprehension, understanding, and even experience. Though many were born after the Exodus plagues, they had lived through the wilderness miracles and held a deep collective memory and understanding of God's powerful acts, either personally or through parental witness and tradition. This makes their knowledge undeniable.
• all that the Lord did (כֹּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה, kol asher asah YHWH): "All" emphasizes the complete and exhaustive nature of God's actions. "The Lord" (YHWH – the personal, covenantal name of God) highlights the unique, active, and sovereign divine agent behind these historical events, underscoring His distinct identity and unmatched power.
• before your eyes (לְעֵינֵיכֶם, le'eineichem): This phrase intensifies "Ye have seen," emphasizing the clear, direct, and indisputable nature of the witnessed events. It removes any doubt and personalizes the collective experience. It suggests the knowledge is firsthand and undeniable.
• in the land of Egypt (בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, b'eretz Mitzrayim): Specifies the historical and geographical theater where God publicly showcased His omnipotence over a world superpower, making His acts tangible and verifiable.
• unto Pharaoh (לְפַרְעֹה, lePhar'oh): God's direct, focused judgment on Pharaoh, who embodied Egyptian power and was considered a divine figure himself. This was a decisive demonstration of YHWH's superiority over all earthly rulers and false deities.
• and unto all his servants (וּלְכָל עֲבָדָיו, ul'kol avadav): Extends the judgment beyond the king to his entire governmental, military, and societal infrastructure, indicating the comprehensive nature of God's sweeping decree.
• and unto all his land (וּלְכָל־אַרְצוֹ, ul'kol artzo): The final and most encompassing scope, signifying that every aspect of Egypt – its people, its resources, its economic stability, and even its myriad pagan gods tied to the land's fertility and well-being – fell under YHWH's devastating judgment, affirming His absolute sovereignty over all creation.

• "And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them": This introductory phrase establishes the authoritative and collective nature of the covenant address. It signifies that the following words are a divine charge delivered through God's appointed leader to His entire chosen people.
• "Ye have seen... before your eyes": This double emphasis on seeing creates a powerful rhetorical appeal. It shifts the burden of proof onto the Israelites themselves, compelling them to acknowledge the undeniable reality of God's actions and making their future obedience (or disobedience) a conscious choice based on witnessed truth.
• "all that the Lord did... unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land": This phrase highlights the totality, effectiveness, and targets of God's judgment. It shows a complete and comprehensive victory of YHWH over a fully functioning, powerful pagan nation and its perceived gods, leaving no doubt about His supreme authority and unique power.

Deuteronomy 29 2 Bonus section

• This verse effectively serves as a historical prologue to the renewed covenant, a common feature in ancient Near Eastern treaties where a superior ruler (suzerain) would recall his beneficent acts for a vassal before outlining terms and obligations. Here, YHWH is the divine Suzerain.
• The phrase "Ye have seen" and "before your eyes" underlines a key Deuteronomic theological theme: God's works are openly displayed for His people to witness, making faith and obedience an informed response to historical truth rather than blind adherence. This emphasis on tangible evidence grounds their faith.
• The explicit mentioning of Pharaoh, his servants, and his land emphasizes the scope of divine judgment and indirectly serves as a polemic against Egyptian idolatry, proving the impotence of Egyptian deities and the supremacy of YHWH over their land, their power structure, and even their natural resources.
• This verse sets the stage for the serious warnings that follow in Deut 29-30, reminding the Israelites that if God so comprehensively judged the most powerful nation of that era for opposing Him, He would likewise judge His own people if they broke covenant.

Deuteronomy 29 2 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:2 functions as the foundational premise for the covenant renewal at Moab. Moses anchors Israel's renewed commitment not in abstract theological tenets, but in their concrete historical experience. By proclaiming, "Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes," he demands a response from a people who have undeniable evidence of God's unparalleled power and faithfulness. The comprehensive judgment executed upon Pharaoh, his officials, and the entire land of Egypt vividly illustrates YHWH's absolute sovereignty over earthly empires and false gods alike. This profound recollection is not merely a historical note; it serves as a powerful reminder of God's unique redemptive work and strict justice, thereby underscoring the obligation of the new generation to fear, obey, and remain exclusively loyal to the God who delivered them from the greatest power of their known world. It provides the rationale and moral imperative for their covenantal responsibilities as they enter the Promised Land.