Deuteronomy 7 12

Deuteronomy 7:12 kjv

Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

Deuteronomy 7:12 nkjv

"Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 7:12 niv

If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 7:12 esv

"And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 7:12 nlt

"If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 12 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:12 proclaims that if Israel diligently obeys, preserves, and carries out the divine rules and judgments, then the LORD their God will reciprocate by faithfully upholding His covenant and consistently extending His steadfast love, both of which He swore by oath to their patriarchal ancestors. This verse highlights the conditional outworking of God's covenant blessings within the Mosaic covenant, linking Israel's faithful obedience directly to the experience of God's loyal and unwavering commitment.

Deuteronomy 7 12 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 7 opens with strong directives regarding Israel's engagement with the Canaanite nations—commanding complete separation and eradication of their idolatrous practices. This drastic command is immediately followed by the foundational theological rationale: Israel is to obey not because of their own merit or numerical superiority, but because the LORD specifically chose them out of His profound love and fidelity to His oath sworn to their forefathers (Deut 7:6-8). Furthermore, God Himself is described as the "faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love" to those who love Him and keep His commandments for a thousand generations (Deut 7:9-11). Verse 12 then acts as a crucial hinge, shifting from God's initiating faithfulness to the contingent experience of blessings dependent on Israel's active response. Moses, addressing a generation on the threshold of entering the Promised Land, reiterates the Horeb (Sinai) covenant principles. He stresses that while God's election is secure, their continued flourishing, prosperity, and security within the promised land—the tangible benefits of their covenant with God—are directly tied to their ongoing obedience to His revealed will.

Deuteronomy 7 12 Word analysis

• Therefore (וְהָיָה - v'hayah): An introductory word functioning to introduce a logical consequence. It signals that what follows is the resultant outcome or fulfillment based on a preceding condition or action. It points to a direct causal relationship.

• because (עֵקֶב - ekev): This term establishes the definitive ground or reason. It explicitly states that the ensuing divine action is "on account of," or "as a consequence of" Israel's compliance. It makes the connection between Israel's conduct and God's response explicit and foundational.

• you obey (תִּשְׁמְעוּן - tishme'un): From the pivotal Hebrew verb shema, meaning "to hear," "to listen," but crucially "to understand and obey." It encompasses not just auditory reception, but an attentive listening that results in compliant action, indicating a posture of submission and readiness to follow.

• these rules (הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה - ha'mishpatim ha'elleh): "Mishpatim" refers to God's legal pronouncements, ethical decisions, and ordinances. These are the specific divine directives and principles governing Israel's life, intended to shape their societal and moral fabric in distinction from other nations.

• and keep them (וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם - u'shemartem): From shamar, meaning "to guard," "preserve," or "observe carefully." It implies diligence in upholding the commands, a continuous and watchful adherence, safeguarding them from being violated or forgotten, indicating careful maintenance.

• and do them (וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם - va'asitem otam): From asah, meaning "to do," "make," "perform." This signifies the practical, active execution of the commands in daily life. Obedience is demonstrated not merely by knowing or agreeing, but by concrete action and fulfillment of the stipulations.

• the LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - YHWH Eloheykha): YHWH is God's unique covenant name, revealing His self-existence and unwavering faithfulness. "Your God" emphasizes His particular, intimate, and exclusive relationship with Israel, signifying His sovereignty and proprietary claim over them as His chosen people.

• will keep with you (וְשָׁמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ - v'shamar YHWH Eloheykha l'kha): This is a direct parallel to Israel's "keeping" of the commands. Here, shamar signifies God's faithfulness in upholding His side of the covenant. It implies His continuous performance and protective watchfulness over His promises.

• the covenant (אֶת־הַבְּרִית - et ha'b'rit): A foundational concept, referring to the formal, binding agreement initiated by God with Israel. This covenant established their relationship, duties, and reciprocal benefits, founded on divine promise and calling them to loyalty.

• and the steadfast love (וְאֶת־הַחֶסֶד - v'et ha'chesed): "Chesed" is a profound theological term meaning God's covenant loyalty, enduring kindness, unwavering faithfulness, and compassionate love. It is not an emotion but a committed, active benevolence within a relationship.

• that he swore to your fathers (אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ - asher nishba la'avoteikha): "Swore" highlights the solemn, unchangeable, and absolutely binding nature of God's promise. The oath to "your fathers" (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) underscores the historical continuity and divine reliability of His commitment, which serves as the ultimate, unalterable foundation for all subsequent covenant interactions.

• "because you obey these rules and keep them, and do them": This triad emphasizes a complete, active, and integrated form of obedience. It involves attentive hearing, internalizing and guarding the precepts, and finally, consistently performing them in life. It describes wholehearted devotion.

• "the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love": This structure highlights the reciprocity within the covenant: Israel's faithfulness activates God's promised response. God's "keeping" His covenant implies fulfilling its terms for Israel, while His "keeping steadfast love" assures Israel of His enduring, loyal commitment, always rooted in His unmerited favor.

• "the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers": This phrase ties the Mosaic covenant (with its conditional aspects for blessings in the land) back to the unconditional Abrahamic covenant. It confirms that God's current interactions and His ongoing faithful love for Israel are consistent with and flow from His foundational, unwavering oath made to their patriarchal ancestors, ensuring a strong thread of divine continuity.

Deuteronomy 7 12 Bonus section

The linkage of "covenant" (brit) and "steadfast love" (chesed) in this verse is highly significant. While the brit refers to the formal agreement with its stipulations and mutual obligations, chesed provides the theological backdrop—the loyal, committed love from God that undergirds and motivates the covenant itself. God's faithfulness, rooted in His chesed to the patriarchs, is the enduring force that drives Him to respond to Israel's obedience. This also sets the stage for understanding divine patience despite Israel's frequent failures, as God's chesed endures, seeking reconciliation and true faithfulness, pointing toward the ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant where God empowers inner obedience rather than simply commanding it from without.

Deuteronomy 7 12 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:12 succinctly captures the essence of the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel, particularly as Israel prepares to enter the promised land. While God's election of Israel and His initial covenantal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were born out of His sovereign love and an unconditional oath, this verse underscores that the experience and tangible enjoyment of the covenant's blessings are fundamentally conditional upon Israel's active and diligent obedience. The repeated emphasis on "hearing," "keeping," and "doing" stresses a complete, internalized, and outward-manifested submission to God's revealed will. In return for such faithfulness, God promises to "keep"—to faithfully uphold and activate—both the broad covenant relationship and His specific, steadfast love. This isn't about earning salvation, which is by grace through God's prior choice; rather, it's about walking in conformity with their redeemed status and enjoying the promised provisions and intimacy that God desires for His people. It reveals that true blessings, especially in the context of a lived-out covenant in a specific land, flow from a posture of obedient love, consistent with the foundational oath God had unchangeably sworn to the patriarchs.