Deuteronomy 6:21 kjv
Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Deuteronomy 6:21 nkjv
then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
Deuteronomy 6:21 niv
tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Deuteronomy 6:21 esv
then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Deuteronomy 6:21 nlt
"Then you must tell them, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand.
Deuteronomy 6 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:9-10 | "Only take care... Make them known to your children and your children's children... tell them what God did" | Command to remember and teach. |
| Deut 4:34 | "Or has any god attempted to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation by trials... with a mighty hand?" | God's unique power in Exodus. |
| Deut 7:19 | "the great trials... the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the LORD your God brought you out" | Recalls God's power in deliverance. |
| Deut 11:19 | "You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house" | Emphasizes ongoing teaching. |
| Exod 3:19-20 | "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt" | God's initial promise of a "mighty hand". |
| Exod 6:6 | "I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians... with a great hand and with an outstretched arm" | God's explicit declaration of deliverance. |
| Exod 13:3 | "Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, from the house of bondage, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out" | Direct command to remember the Exodus. |
| Exod 13:8 | "You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'" | Parallel instruction to teach the Exodus. |
| Josh 4:6-7 | "When your children ask... 'What do these stones mean?' Then you shall tell them..." | Continual need for explaining God's acts. |
| Josh 24:17 | "For it was the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" | Echoes the verse's central statement. |
| Psa 78:1-8 | "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD" | Parental duty to teach divine acts. |
| Psa 105:26-37 | A Psalm recounting the plagues and the Exodus as God's deeds. | Remembering God's power in history. |
| Psa 136:10-12 | "To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt... and brought Israel out from among them, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm" | Liturgical remembrance of the mighty Exodus. |
| Neh 9:9-11 | Recounts God hearing Israel's cry and delivering them with signs and wonders from Egypt. | Nehemiah's prayer recalling Exodus. |
| Mal 4:4 | "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel." | Call to remember foundational teachings. |
| Isa 43:16 | "Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea... who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior;" | God's continued power, echoing Exodus. |
| Acts 7:35-36 | Stephen's sermon on Moses and Exodus, "by the hand of the angel... with wonders and signs in Egypt." | New Testament perspective on the Exodus. |
| 1 Cor 10:1-2 | Paul links Israel's crossing of the Red Sea to Christian baptism, seeing Christ as the deliverer. | Typology of physical and spiritual Exodus. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | "He himself likewise participated in the same things... deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." | Christ's deliverance from spiritual bondage. |
| Jn 8:34-36 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin... If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." | Jesus applies 'slavery' to sin and true freedom. |
| Rom 6:17-18 | "Thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart... and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." | Spiritual application of being freed from bondage. |
| Gal 5:1 | "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." | Emphasizes Christian liberty in Christ. |
| Eph 2:1-5 | "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." | Spiritual liberation, parallel to physical. |
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Deuteronomy 6 21 Meaning
Deuteronomy 6:21 mandates the intergenerational transmission of Israel's foundational narrative: their liberation from Egyptian slavery by the miraculous power of the LORD. It instructs parents to impress upon their children that their identity and existence as a free people are a direct result of God's redemptive act, fostering gratitude, remembrance, and continued covenant loyalty.
Deuteronomy 6 21 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 6 immediately follows the declaration of the Shema ("Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one," 6:4). This verse falls within Moses's impassioned instruction to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the promised land. Having witnessed the wilderness generation's failures due to unbelief and forgetting God's past works, Moses emphasizes the critical importance of diligent teaching and remembering God's commands (6:6-9). The historical context is Israel at the brink of new challenges and temptations in Canaan; therefore, grounding their identity and obedience in the remembrance of God's redemptive power from Egyptian bondage is paramount to prevent idolatry and preserve the covenant. The "why" behind the commands, rooted in salvation history, is stressed here.
Deuteronomy 6 21 Word analysis
- "Then you shall say" (וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ - v'amar-ta): This verb indicates a direct command for active communication and pedagogical instruction. It underscores the responsibility of the parent, not merely to tell but to ensure the story is delivered. This act of speaking is crucial for preserving the communal memory of God's acts.
- "to your son" (לְבִנְךָ֗ - l'vincha): Specifies the primary audience. "Son" is often used collectively to include children, embodying the principle of intergenerational teaching of the covenant. This highlights the family as the primary unit for spiritual formation and faith transmission. It emphasizes continuity of faith through descendants.
- "We were slaves" (עֲבָדִ֤ים הָיִ֙ינוּ֙ - 'avadim hayinu): "Slaves" ('avadim) denotes bondage, utter subjugation, and helplessness. The use of "we" (including Moses's identification with them) ensures solidarity and communal memory, even for those who did not personally experience the Exodus. This acknowledges a shared history of dependency on a superior power—first Pharaoh, then God. It's a statement of humility and former abasement, emphasizing God's choice and action, not their merit.
- "of Pharaoh in Egypt" (לְפַרְעֹה֙ בְּמִצְרָ֔יִם - l'phar'oh b'mitzrayim): Identifies the specific oppressor and location. Pharaoh represented absolute human power, challenging God's sovereignty. Naming the oppressor sharpens the contrast with the liberator. "Egypt" (Mitzrayim) signifies a place of spiritual and physical bondage, from which God sovereignly delivered His people. This grounds the historical event in a specific, undeniable context.
- "and the LORD" (וַיּוֹצִאֵ֤נוּ יְהוָה֙ - vayyotzie'nu YHWH): The "and" (
ו- vav) marks a shift from bondage to liberation, indicating a sudden, powerful turning point. "The LORD" (יהוה - YHWH) is the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the active, faithful, personal God who acts in history for His people. It highlights His unique and unmatched sovereignty as the true deliverer, superior to Pharaoh or any other deity. - "brought us out" (וַיּוֹצִאֵ֤נוּ - vayyotzie'nu): The causative verb form emphasizes God's direct, effective action. He didn't just facilitate or advise; He performed the deliverance. This underscores divine initiative and power.
- "of Egypt": Reinforces the specific origin from which they were delivered.
- "with a mighty hand" (בְּיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה - b'yad chazaqah): This phrase emphasizes divine power, authority, and decisive intervention. The "hand" of God is a common biblical anthropomorphism for His active power and presence in the world, specifically in judgment and salvation. "Mighty" (chazaqah) conveys overwhelming strength, often irresistible and demonstrating supernatural ability. This powerful intervention differentiates YHWH from impotent idols or human strength. It signifies that Israel's deliverance was not due to their strength but entirely God's.
Deuteronomy 6 21 Bonus section
The phrase "mighty hand" (יָד חֲזָקָה - yad chazaqah) appears frequently in the Exodus narrative and Deuteronomy (e.g., Exod 3:19, 6:1, 13:3; Deut 4:34, 5:15, 7:19). It functions as a signature of Yahweh's direct, overwhelming, and unchallengeable power. The emphasis on God's hand contrasts sharply with human efforts or strength, reminding Israel that their liberation was entirely supernatural and sovereignly enacted by God, not by their own merits or a series of fortunate events. This continuous refrain builds a powerful theological foundation for future generations, teaching them that Israel's very existence as a free nation is a testament to God's unparalleled might and unwavering faithfulness to His promises.
Deuteronomy 6 21 Commentary
Deuteronomy 6:21 serves as a concise creedal statement, encapsulating the essence of Israel's faith and identity. It is more than just historical recounting; it's a theological affirmation. By instructing parents to articulate "We were slaves of Pharaoh... and the LORD brought us out," Moses provides a foundational pedagogy for Israel. This teaching must be personalized ("We were...") and attributed solely to Yahweh's overwhelming power ("with a mighty hand"). The message emphasizes humility – "we were slaves," signifying that Israel had no inherent claim to freedom – and absolute dependence on God's gratuitous action.
This verse teaches that gratitude and obedience are not optional but are the natural response to a God who acts decisively to redeem His people. It implicitly counters any temptation to rely on their own strength, wisdom, or alliances. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful polemic against idolatry prevalent in surrounding nations; no other "god" could challenge Pharaoh or perform such wonders. Only the LORD is the true, living God who controls history and demonstrates His might on behalf of His covenant people. For later generations, remembering this history was crucial for understanding their identity as "the LORD's own people," called to be holy because of His redemptive work.
This historical act of redemption in Egypt sets the precedent for all future divine interventions and points forward to the ultimate deliverance offered through Christ. Just as Israel was liberated from physical slavery, humanity is redeemed from the bondage of sin by God's mighty hand (via the Cross). Thus, this ancient command to remember and teach God's saving acts remains profoundly relevant for all believers, shaping their identity, prompting worship, and motivating obedience.