Deuteronomy 7:6 kjv
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 nkjv
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 niv
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
Deuteronomy 7:6 esv
"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 nlt
For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 7 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:5 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice... then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people..." | God's people as His valued possession based on covenant. |
| Ex 19:6 | "...and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." | Israel's purpose as a consecrated nation, serving as priests. |
| Lev 11:44 | "For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy." | Call for God's people to be holy, reflecting His character. |
| Num 16:3 | "...seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them..." | Confirmation of the congregation's corporate holiness. |
| Psa 33:12 | "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance." | God's chosen people regarded as His heritage. |
| Psa 135:4 | "For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure." | Reiterates Israel's designation as God's cherished treasure. |
| Isa 41:8 | "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen..." | God affirms His direct election of Israel as His servant. |
| Isa 43:10 | "You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen..." | Israel's chosenness linked to their purpose as God's witnesses. |
| Jer 2:3 | "Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His increase..." | Israel is identified as uniquely holy to God. |
| Mal 3:17 | "They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On that day when I make up My jewels..." | Future restoration of God's people as His prized jewels. |
| Amos 3:2 | "“You only have I known of all the families of the earth..." | God's singular and intimate knowledge of Israel among nations. |
| Jn 15:16 | "You did not choose Me, but I chose you..." | Jesus's sovereign choice of His disciples mirrors divine election. |
| Rom 9:11 | "...that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls..." | God's election is founded on His grace, not human effort. |
| Rom 11:1-2 | "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!... God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." | God's enduring faithfulness to His chosen people Israel. |
| Eph 1:4 | "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy..." | God's pre-ordained election of believers unto holiness. |
| Titus 2:14 | "...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us... and purify for Himself His own special people..." | New Testament believers as a "special people" purified for God. |
| Heb 12:10 | "...that we may be partakers of His holiness." | Believers called to share in God's holy nature. |
| 1 Pet 1:15 | "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct..." | Universal call to holiness for believers. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." | Applies the special status of Old Testament Israel to New Testament believers. |
| Rev 1:6 | "...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father..." | Reflects the priestly role given to believers in the New Covenant. |
| Rev 5:9 | "...for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation..." | Redemption gathers a chosen people from all global communities. |
Deuteronomy 7 verses
Deuteronomy 7 6 Meaning
Deuteronomy 7:6 declares Israel's unique status before God. They are "holy," set apart and consecrated for a divine purpose. God, out of His sovereign will and not due to any merit on their part, "chose" them to be "a people for Himself," signifying a deeply intimate and exclusive relationship. This special status makes them His "special treasure," a valued possession distinct from all other nations. This election underscores God's initiative, love, and Israel's resultant unique calling and responsibility to Him.
Deuteronomy 7 6 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 7 delineates the distinct relationship between the Lord and the nation of Israel as they stand ready to enter Canaan. Following Moses' directives against intermarriage and the idolatrous practices of the inhabitants (Deu 7:1-5), verse 6 provides the fundamental rationale for these prohibitions: Israel’s unique standing with God. The verses immediately following (Deu 7:7-8) clarify that this divine selection was not based on Israel's size or strength but on God's profound love and covenant faithfulness to their ancestors. Historically, this passage instructs Israel as a nascent nation on the precipice of inhabiting a land rife with polytheism, reminding them that their identity and mission are rooted solely in God’s sovereign choice and their responsibility to live distinctly as His set-apart people.
Deuteronomy 7 6 Word analysis
- For: Introduces the divine explanation and theological basis for the preceding commands concerning Israel's separation from the Canaanite nations.
- you are: A direct, declarative statement affirming the established reality of Israel's identity, conferred by God.
- a holy people:
- Original Hebrew: קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh) – signifying "set apart," "consecrated," "sacred." This status implies a separation from common or profane uses and a dedication to God for His specific purposes.
- Significance: Their holiness is a divine attribute ascribed to them, necessitating a distinct way of life and a unique relationship of purity and service toward the Lord.
- to the Lord your God: Specifies the singular and exclusive object of their holiness and allegiance. Their consecration is entirely to Yahweh, distinguishing them from all nations serving other deities.
- the Lord your God has chosen you:
- Original Hebrew for "chosen": בָּחַר (bakhar) – to select, to prefer, to elect.
- Significance: Emphasizes God's sovereign, unilateral action in initiating the relationship. This choice is rooted in divine grace, not any inherent merit or numerical advantage on Israel's part, as later explained in the chapter.
- to be a people for Himself: Describes the intimate and exclusive nature of their relationship. Israel is not merely a people, but God's personal possession, demonstrating His ownership, affection, and purpose for them.
- a special treasure:
- Original Hebrew: סְגֻלָּה (segullah) – This key term denotes a highly valued possession, a treasured belonging, private property, or a prized jewel. It conveys an unparalleled value to the owner.
- Biblical Usage: Consistently used to describe Israel's precious status in God’s eyes (e.g., Ex 19:5; Psa 135:4; Mal 3:17).
- Significance: This portrays Israel as uniquely cherished and highly esteemed by God, reflecting His deep affection and investment in them.
- above all peoples on the face of the earth: This clarifies that their distinctiveness and elevated position stem entirely from their unique covenant relationship and God's sovereign choice, rather than from their power, size, or any intrinsic superiority. It underscores their singularity among all other nations as a direct result of being chosen by the Creator of all.
Deuteronomy 7 6 Bonus section
- The concepts in Deuteronomy 7:6 form the bedrock for understanding God's relationship with His people throughout the Old and New Testaments.
- This verse counters the pervasive polytheism and territorial god concepts prevalent in the Ancient Near East by declaring that the one true God, Yahweh, has specifically chosen one people globally.
- The term segullah (special treasure) implies not just possession, but intimacy and divine favor, highlighting the preciousness of God's chosen people in His eyes.
- The New Testament expands this "special treasure" status to believers in Jesus Christ (1 Pet 2:9), underscoring a spiritual continuity of God's election of a people for Himself out of all humanity.
- The privilege of chosenness brought with it serious responsibilities for obedience and faithful service, meant to bring glory to God among the nations, rather than merely self-exaltation.
Deuteronomy 7 6 Commentary
Deuteronomy 7:6 profoundly articulates the foundational truth of Israel's unique identity. It is a theological declaration that justifies their separation from the surrounding idolatrous nations and underpins the ethical demands placed upon them. Israel is defined as a "holy people" and God's "special treasure," not due to any inherent worth, but solely through the sovereign act of God's love and gracious election. This privileged status carries the responsibility to live distinctly and obediently, reflecting God's holiness to a world engrossed in polytheism. This verse assures Israel of their irreplaceable value to God while simultaneously calling them to faithfulness as His peculiar possession.