Deuteronomy 7 8

Deuteronomy 7:8 kjv

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:8 nkjv

but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:8 niv

But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:8 esv

but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:8 nlt

Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 8 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:8 states that the LORD delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage not because of their merit or size (as explicitly denied in the preceding verse), but purely because of His steadfast love for them and His unwavering commitment to the solemn oath He had made to their patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This verse highlights divine grace, covenant faithfulness, and irresistible power as the sole reasons for Israel's miraculous liberation from a life of slavery under Pharaoh's tyranny.

Deuteronomy 7 8 Context

Deuteronomy 7:8 stands as a pivotal statement of divine grace within Moses's final discourses to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. The immediate context, particularly verse 7, explicitly refutes any notion that Israel's election was based on their size, power, or any inherent superiority. Moses declares that Israel was "the fewest of all peoples," directly challenging human pride or merit-based claims. Verse 8 then clarifies the true reason for their election and liberation: God's unilateral love and His unshakeable faithfulness to the ancient covenant sworn to their forefathers.

The broader chapter (Deuteronomy 7) outlines the responsibilities accompanying this special status, emphasizing the need for absolute separation from the corrupting influence of the Canaanite nations—their idols, customs, and intermarriages. This separation is presented not as a burden, but as a preservation of the unique covenant relationship, ensuring that Israel would remain a "holy people" to the LORD. The chapter also promises blessings for obedience and reiterates God's faithfulness in testing and providing for His people in the wilderness, further cementing the theme of His undeserved kindness as the basis for their past and future blessings. Historically, Moses delivers this message on the plains of Moab to the generation about to enter Canaan, underscoring lessons from their parents' forty years in the wilderness and preparing them spiritually for the challenges ahead.

Deuteronomy 7 8 Word analysis

• But because (כִּי - kî): This conjunction signifies a causal relationship, directly introducing the reason for God's actions. It contrasts sharply with the preceding verse (Deut 7:7) which denied Israel's greatness as the reason, thereby setting up God's love and faithfulness as the sole and true explanation. It underscores that God's actions were internally motivated, not externally prompted by Israel's qualities.
• the LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): The divine personal name of the God of Israel. Using Yahweh emphasizes His covenant-keeping character, His unchanging nature, and His intimate, redemptive relationship with His chosen people. It is the God who actively intervenes in human history.
• loved you (חָשַׁק בָּכֶם - ḥāšaq bākem): The Hebrew verb ḥāšaq carries a deep connotation of intense affection, longing, or attachment; to cleave to or set one's love upon someone. It suggests a sovereign, freely chosen affection, not a responsive love evoked by Israel's desirability. This is a primary, unearned love, the very core of God's character revealed in His covenant relationship. It reflects a delight in and a deep commitment to His people, akin to how a strong individual might become intensely devoted to a lesser one.
• and because he would keep (לִשְׁמֹר - lišmōr): Implies guarding, observing, or fulfilling. God's act of "keeping" His oath highlights His absolute trustworthiness and fidelity. It is a purposeful act of maintaining His word, demonstrating His steadfast character (אֶמֶת - ʾemet - truth/faithfulness).
• the oath (הַשְּׁבֻעָה - haššəḇūʿāh): Refers to a solemn, binding promise, often sworn with an appeal to a higher power (in this case, God swore by Himself, Heb 6:13-18). It indicates an unbreakable, legally binding commitment that provides absolute certainty of its fulfillment. Its significance is immense; God’s very character is bound up in His oath.
• which he had sworn unto your fathers (נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם - nišbaʿ laʾăḇōṯêkem): Specifically names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This links Israel's current blessings directly to the ancient covenant promises. It emphasizes the continuity of God's redemptive plan through generations and reinforces that the current generation receives benefits based on God's prior commitments to their ancestors.
• hath the LORD brought you out (הוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם - hōṣîʾ ʾeṯkem): This verb "brought out" is standard language for the Exodus event. It emphasizes the divine initiative and action in leading Israel forth from Egypt. This was not self-emancipation but a divine act of deliverance.
• with a mighty hand (בְּיָד חֲזָקָה - bəyāḏ ḥăzaqāh): A frequently recurring phrase (e.g., Exod 3:19, 6:1, Deut 3:24). It denotes irresistible, overwhelming divine power and authority exercised directly to accomplish His will, often in the face of strong opposition. It signals a display of God's omnipotence that no human force could withstand.
• and redeemed you (וַיִּפְדְּךָ - wayyipḏəkā): From the verb pādāh. This word encompasses the idea of liberation through a decisive act, often involving a cost or strong intervention to secure freedom. In this context, it is God's powerful and unmerited act of deliverance from slavery, essentially "buying back" or setting free His chosen people by overcoming the oppressor. It implies a legal transaction or a powerful act of ransom for release.
• out of the house of bondmen (מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים - mibêt ʿăḇāḏîm): Literally "from the house of slaves/servants." This vividly portrays Egypt as a place of absolute servitude, oppression, and dehumanization. It encapsulates the depth of their prior misery from which God rescued them, highlighting the totality of their liberation.
• from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt (מִיַּד פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם - miyyaḏ parʿōh meleḵ miṣrayim): Pinpoints the specific oppressor and the source of their bondage. "From the hand of" denotes liberation from his authority, control, and oppression. Pharaoh represents the epitome of worldly power and resistance to God, emphasizing the triumph of God's power over all human might.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers": This phrase encapsulates the two ultimate, unchanging foundations of God's relationship with Israel. His gratuitous love and His unwavering covenant faithfulness. These are the twin, sovereign reasons for all His redemptive acts, completely independent of human merit or deservingness. They highlight God's initiative, grace, and relational fidelity.
• "hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt": This portion describes the grand demonstration of the love and faithfulness stated in the first part. It details the actual redemptive event of the Exodus, stressing its divine authorship ("the LORD"), irresistible power ("mighty hand"), the profound depth of the slavery from which they were liberated ("house of bondmen"), and the specific human power that was utterly defeated ("Pharaoh king of Egypt"). This acts as the historical proof and prime example of God's foundational reasons.

Deuteronomy 7 8 Bonus section

• The concept of God's unmerited love for Israel (demonstrated in Deut 7:8) is echoed powerfully in the New Testament concerning God's love for the Church and for individual believers. Just as Israel was chosen despite their lack of merit, believers are chosen and redeemed by God's grace through Christ, not by their works (Eph 1:4-6, 2:8-9).
• The phrase "house of bondmen" is a profound descriptor for spiritual bondage to sin and death from which humanity is liberated through Christ's redemptive work, paralleling Israel's physical bondage in Egypt (Rom 6:6-7, Gal 5:1). The Exodus serves as a historical type for the greater spiritual salvation brought by Jesus.
• The "mighty hand" and "stretched out arm" of God in the Exodus is a recurring motif not only in the Old Testament but also referenced in the New Testament to speak of God's ultimate power to deliver His people and execute judgment (Acts 7:36, Heb 8:9 referencing the Old Covenant). This motif asserts that no power can thwart God's sovereign will or prevent Him from keeping His promises.
• The covenant with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) was not a mere suggestion but an oath sworn by God Himself, making it irrevocable and guaranteeing its fulfillment, even when human faith faltered (Rom 3:3, Heb 6:17-18). This underscores God's absolute immutability and the reliability of His divine word.

Deuteronomy 7 8 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:8 stands as a profound theological statement defining the nature of God's relationship with His people. It unequivocally asserts that Israel's selection and redemption were acts of sheer, unmerited grace. God did not choose Israel because they were powerful, numerous, or inherently righteous (as explicitly stated in verse 7). Rather, the motivation was purely divine: His inexplicable, sovereign love (חָשַׁק - ḥāšaq) and His unshakeable faithfulness to the covenant He solemnly swore to their ancestors.

The Exodus, central to Israelite identity, is presented here not as a reward for obedience, but as a demonstration of God's prior commitment and affection. He "brought them out" and "redeemed" them through His "mighty hand," signifying an irresistible divine intervention that overcame the overwhelming power of Pharaoh and the deeply entrenched slavery of Egypt. This deliverance from the "house of bondmen" showcases God's compassionate sovereignty—He sees, He remembers His promises, and He acts powerfully to liberate.

This verse therefore establishes a paradigm for understanding God's salvation throughout biblical history: it is always initiated by His love and fulfilled by His covenant fidelity, achieved through His sovereign power. It humbles humanity, stripping away any claim to self-sufficiency or deservingness, and directs all praise and allegiance to the faithful God. For Israel, this served as a foundational truth as they entered the Promised Land, reminding them that their blessings were not earned, but bestowed by grace, requiring constant gratitude and unwavering loyalty to the Giver.