Deuteronomy 6 12

Deuteronomy 6:12 kjv

Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 6:12 nkjv

then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 6:12 niv

be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Deuteronomy 6:12 esv

then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 6:12 nlt

be careful not to forget the LORD, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 6 verses

Deuteronomy 6 12 Meaning

Deuteronomy 6:12 serves as a solemn divine injunction, urgently warning the Israelites against the profound peril of forgetting the LORD. This warning is particularly significant as they anticipate entering and settling in the prosperous Promised Land, where material comfort might lead to spiritual complacency. The verse powerfully recalls God's foundational act of salvation, specifically His monumental deliverance of them from abject slavery in Egypt, highlighting His exclusive claim to their unwavering remembrance and devotion. This "forgetting" is not mere absent-mindedness, but a grave warning against deliberate spiritual neglect, ingratitude, and turning away from the One who truly saved them.

Deuteronomy 6 12 Context

Deuteronomy 6:12 is situated within a crucial segment of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This generation, unlike their rebellious parents, is poised to inherit the land.

• Verse Context: This verse immediately follows Dt 6:10-11, where Moses details the overwhelming material blessings awaiting them: large, fortified cities they did not build; houses filled with good things they did not acquire; dug wells they did not dig; and vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. The transition to Dt 6:12 directly addresses the profound spiritual danger posed by this sudden, unearned prosperity. It's a stark warning: the very blessings that testify to God's generosity can become a stumbling block if the source of those blessings is forgotten.
• Chapter Context: Chapter 6 opens with the exhortation to fear the LORD, walk in His ways, and keep His commandments (v. 1-3). It contains the Shema (v. 4-9), the foundational declaration of Israel's monotheism ("Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!") and the call to love God wholeheartedly. The command to remember and teach God's laws continually permeates this chapter. Verse 12 serves as a pivotal warning that underpins this instruction, highlighting the chief obstacle to fulfilling the Shema – forgetfulness fueled by ease and comfort.
• Historical/Cultural Context: Moses addresses a new generation who only know Egypt through stories. He understands the human tendency to drift away from God during times of ease and success, rather than hardship. The surrounding Canaanite cultures were polytheistic, materialistic, and practiced detestable rituals. This warning is a prophetic caution against assimilating into these practices and forgetting the singular, personal God who delivered them from unparalleled bondage. The phrase "house of slavery" serves as a vivid and potent reminder of their utterly helpless condition before God's mighty intervention, underscoring the gravity of forsaking such a powerful and compassionate Deliverer. It also serves as an implicit polemic: no Canaanite deity performed such a miraculous national deliverance.

Deuteronomy 6 12 Word Analysis

• Be careful (הִשָּׁמֶר / Hishamer): From the Hebrew root shamar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to watch, guard, keep, observe." This is a strong imperative, an urgent and active warning: "Guard yourself!" or "Take heed!" It demands deliberate vigilance and conscious effort to prevent something from happening, highlighting the severity of the potential error.
• lest (פֶּן / Pen): A conjunctive particle expressing apprehension or negative purpose. It means "in case that not," "so that not," or "otherwise." It indicates that the following clause describes a dreaded outcome that must be avoided.
• you forget (תִּשְׁכַּח / Tishkach): From the Hebrew root shakach (שָׁכַח), meaning "to forget, ignore, neglect, cease to care for." This word signifies more than simple memory loss. It implies a willful act of negligence, an active turning away, a deliberate disinterest, or a purposeful disregard for one's relationship with God or His commands. It suggests a spiritual decline fueled by a change in focus and priority.
• the LORD (יְהוָה / YHWH): The covenantal, personal name of God, revealing His intimate relationship with Israel. By using YHWH, the verse emphasizes that the Israelites are warned against forgetting the very One who chose them, entered into covenant with them, and personally acted on their behalf. It highlights the relational treason involved in such forgetting.
• who brought you out (אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאֲךָ / Asher Hotzi'akha): From the Hebrew root yatza (יָצָא), meaning "to go out, bring out." This verb directly references the foundational redemptive act of the Exodus. It highlights God's sovereignty, power, and decisive action in delivering Israel, an act that irrevocably established His authority and their debt of gratitude and obedience.
• of the land (מֵאֶרֶץ / Me'eretz): A prepositional phrase meaning "from the land of." It specifies the geographical origin of their deliverance, distinguishing it from all other nations.
• of Egypt (מִצְרַיִם / Mitzrayim): The powerful and oppressive nation where Israel endured centuries of bondage. Its mention immediately recalls their desperate, helpless situation from which only divine intervention could save them.
• out of the house (מִבֵּית / Mibet): A common idiomatic phrase in Hebrew, "from the house of," signifying a state of belonging or total subjection. It underscores the totality of their prior bondage.
• of slavery (עֲבָדִים / Avadim): Plural of eved (עֶבֶד), meaning "slave" or "servant." This word emphatically describes the severity of their previous condition—complete and dehumanizing bondage. Its inclusion paints a stark contrast between their former misery and the glorious freedom and inheritance awaiting them.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Be careful lest you forget": This opening imperative forms a dramatic call to vigilance. It signifies that "forgetting" God is not an accidental oversight but a conscious spiritual drift that requires active resistance. It implies the need for intentional remembrance and sustained devotion.
• "the LORD, who brought you out": This phrase directly links the identity of God ("the LORD") with His mighty saving act ("who brought you out"). This established relationship forms the core reason for their expected faithfulness. They are to remember the character of their God through His redemptive works.
• "from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery": These two parallel clauses are profoundly significant. "Land of Egypt" indicates geographical and political oppression, while "house of slavery" powerfully conveys the utter destitution and personal bondage they experienced. This vivid double emphasis underscores the miraculous, undeserved, and total nature of God's deliverance, making their potential forgetfulness all the more egregious and tragic.

Deuteronomy 6 12 Bonus Section

• The warning in Deuteronomy 6:12 encapsulates a major theme throughout the Pentateuch and subsequent prophetic books: the perpetual danger of Israel forgetting its covenant obligations rooted in God's historical redemptive acts. This "forgetting" often resulted in apostasy, idolatry, and subsequent divine judgment.
• The repetitive phrase "brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" is almost a divine epithet, occurring frequently throughout the Old Testament. Its consistent repetition aimed to indelibly stamp upon the memory of every Israelite the reality of God's unmatched power and graciousness. This foundational narrative served as the ultimate proof of Yahweh's unique identity compared to the impotent gods of surrounding nations.
• From a theological perspective, the danger of forgetting is tied to the concept of God's sovereignty and humankind's dependency. When one forgets God's deliverance, they implicitly begin to believe they achieved their freedom or prosperity through their own might or wisdom, thereby usurping God's place.
• The Hebrew word for "LORD," YHWH, used here, points to the personal, covenantal, and self-existent God who binds Himself to His people. Forgetting "YHWH" is a betrayal of the intimate relationship He initiated.
• The call to remember (often contrasted with forgetting) is a central aspect of biblical piety, not merely as mental recall, but as an active posture of the heart that informs behavior and loyalty. This involves passing on the knowledge and narrative of God's works to future generations, as commanded later in Deuteronomy 6.

Deuteronomy 6 12 Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:12 distills a fundamental warning essential for spiritual survival, applicable far beyond ancient Israel. Moses, through divine inspiration, understood the dangerous paradox of blessings: prosperity can often lead to spiritual amnesia. By focusing on "Be careful lest you forget the LORD," the verse moves beyond mere intellectual recall, emphasizing active, deliberate remembrance. The Hebrew word for "forget" (shakach) here denotes a willful turning away, a neglect of covenantal duty and a disregard for God's Person and deeds. This is not passive memory loss but an act of spiritual betrayal.

The critical counterbalance to this forgetting is the immediate remembrance of "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." This reference to the Exodus is the cornerstone of Israel's identity and their relationship with YHWH. It highlights that God’s gracious intervention transformed them from abject slaves to a free people destined for a land of milk and honey. To forget this foundational act is to lose their identity, betray their Deliverer, and forfeit their purpose.

This timeless principle warns believers in all ages that true prosperity, whether material or spiritual, carries the inherent risk of complacency. When blessings abound, the Giver can become secondary to the gifts. The Christian equivalent recalls deliverance from the "house of spiritual slavery"—the bondage of sin and death—through Christ's redemption. Remembering His ultimate sacrifice prevents pride, cultivates gratitude, and fuels ongoing obedience. Therefore, sustained vigilance and intentional remembrance of God’s redemptive acts—both historical and personal—are vital safeguards against spiritual declension and ingratitude.

• Examples:
  • A person who gains significant wealth and begins to trust in riches rather than the God who provides.
  • A nation founded on biblical principles that slowly forgets its spiritual heritage due to social prosperity.
  • A believer who experiences a profound spiritual breakthrough or healing but then, over time, ceases to attribute it to God's grace, becoming self-reliant.