Deuteronomy 8 10

Deuteronomy 8:10 kjv

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

Deuteronomy 8:10 nkjv

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:10 niv

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:10 esv

And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:10 nlt

When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Deuteronomy 8 verses

Deuteronomy 8 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 8:10 signifies a pivotal command for the Israelites, instructing them to bless the LORD their God as a direct response to their experience of prosperity in the promised land. This verse highlights the profound connection between divine provision and human gratitude. It emphasizes that physical satisfaction, especially through the abundance of the "good land," should immediately trigger remembrance and acknowledgment of God as the sole provider. The act of "blessing" God in this context means to praise, acknowledge, and express deep thankfulness for His goodness and faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises, specifically regarding the land He sovereignly gifted to them.

Deuteronomy 8 10 Context

Deuteronomy 8:10 is embedded within Moses' second discourse to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. The entire chapter serves as a crucial reminder of God's past dealings with them in the wilderness and a warning concerning their future conduct in prosperity. Moses emphasizes that God disciplined them in the wilderness (vv. 2-5) and humbled them (v. 3) to teach them reliance on His word and to reveal what was in their hearts. This harsh but formative period contrasts sharply with the abundance of the land they are about to enter—a land of hills, valleys, brooks, fertile fields, and precious minerals (vv. 7-9). The historical context is critical: the Israelites are transitioning from a dependent wilderness existence to an independent, settled life in a fertile land. This verse, therefore, directly addresses the spiritual danger that comes with material comfort—the tendency to forget God, ascribe success to oneself, or neglect His commands once immediate needs are met. It aims to inoculate them against the very pride and idolatry that would later plague Israel's history.

Deuteronomy 8 10 Word analysis

• When you have eaten: (וְאָכַלְתָּ, və·’ā·ḵaltā) - The Hebrew word for "eaten" is from the root אָכַל ('akal), meaning "to eat" or "to consume." This emphasizes a physical act of consumption. The structure wə-akalʹtā indicates completion of the action, signifying not just a momentary meal, but a state of having finished eating.
• and are satisfied: (וְשָׂבָעְתָּ, və·śā·ḇa‘tā) - From the root שָׂבַע (sâva'), meaning "to be satisfied," "to be full," "to have enough." This is not merely eating, but achieving a state of fullness and contentment. This term often appears in conjunction with divine blessing and provision (e.g., Ps 37:19; Joel 2:26). It implies a genuine experience of provision beyond mere survival.
• you shall bless: (וּבֵרַכְתָּ, ū·ḇê·raḵ·tā) - From the root בָּרַךְ (barakh), meaning "to bless," "to praise," "to kneel." When applied to God, it means to acknowledge His sovereignty, goodness, and worth; to laud and praise Him. It is an act of adoration and gratitude. It's not a request for blessing from God, but an act of bestowing honor and praise upon Him. This is a divine command, indicated by the imperative implication.
• the LORD your God: (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH ’Ĕlōheykha) - YHWH is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging character, emphasizing His faithfulness to Israel. אֱלֹהֶיךָ (Eloheykha), "your God," underscores the personal and intimate covenant relationship established between God and His people Israel. It signifies their unique allegiance and His specific providence over them. The combination reinforces the idea of worship and gratitude directed specifically to the God of the covenant, distinct from any other deity.
• for the good land: (עַל־הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה, ‘al-hā·’ā·reṣ haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh) - אָרֶץ ('arets) is "land," and טוֹבָה (tovah) is "good" or "pleasant," denoting its fertility, abundance, and desirability. This "good land" is the promised inheritance, flowing with milk and honey (Exo 3:8). The phrase indicates the object for which gratitude is due – the concrete, physical provision that God supplied, rather than general good fortune.
• He has given you: (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לָךְ, ’ă·šer nā·ṯan-lāḵ) - נָתַן (nathan) means "to give," "to place," "to bestow." This emphasizes that the land is not earned or taken by human power but is a sovereign, unmerited gift from God. The suffix "you" (לָךְ) reinforces the personal nature of this divine act of giving to each Israelite as part of the covenant community. This directly counters any thought of self-reliance or self-merit for their prosperity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When you have eaten and are satisfied": This phrase establishes the pre-condition for the blessing. It directly connects the experience of fullness and physical provision to the required act of gratitude. It sets a baseline of material comfort that might otherwise lead to forgetfulness, contrasting it with the humble learning in the wilderness.
• "you shall bless the LORD your God": This is the core command. It emphasizes active, deliberate thanksgiving directed towards the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It's a proactive acknowledgement of dependence and adoration, serving as a spiritual counter-measure against the pride and self-sufficiency that prosperity can breed.
• "for the good land He has given you": This phrase clarifies the specific reason for blessing. It specifies that the object of gratitude is not merely the food consumed, but the entire land—the ultimate symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and generous provision to Israel. It reminds them that their inheritance and sustained livelihood are divine gifts. This also implicitly functions as a polemic against local fertility cults that claimed credit for the land's bounty. The land’s goodness comes from YHWH, not from Canaanite gods or human effort.

Deuteronomy 8 10 Bonus section

The specific Hebrew grammatical construction in "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless..." (waw-consecutive perfect verb followed by a perfect verb with waw-consecutive) highlights the logical consequence: if this happens (eating and satisfaction), then this must follow (blessing God). It signifies a direct, mandatory response, not an optional one. The emphasis on "the good land He has given you" contrasts starkly with Egypt (Exo 1:8-14) or the wilderness (Deut 8:15-16), where hardship and direct divine intervention were clear. In the Promised Land, the ongoing abundance could mask God's continuous, underlying provision, making conscious gratitude all the more vital. This verse sets a theological precedent for understanding all provision as grace, establishing a deep-seated spiritual discipline essential for preventing spiritual complacency.

Deuteronomy 8 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:10 delivers a crucial message for humanity's relationship with the Creator: prosperity should lead to worship, not forgetfulness. Following forty years of wilderness dependency where every meal and drink was a clear miracle from God, Israel was entering a land of natural abundance. This verse anticipates the temptation to attribute their newfound prosperity to their own diligence or the fertility of the land itself, rather than to divine grace. It establishes a theological principle that genuine satisfaction, derived from God's abundant provision, should be met with sincere and public acts of blessing and acknowledgment of His lordship.

This commandment served multiple purposes. Spiritually, it ensured that material well-being reinforced their covenant with YHWH, rather than eroding it. Practically, it likely refers to specific practices such as saying grace before and after meals, and giving thanks for the harvest. The Jewish practice of "Birkat Hamazon" (Blessing after Meals) directly finds its roots in this verse, demonstrating the lasting impact of this instruction. The challenge of prosperity, as highlighted here, is one that echoes throughout the biblical narrative and into contemporary life: the risk of allowing comfort to breed indifference or self-reliance, thereby losing sight of God as the ultimate source of all good things. The "good land" becomes a metaphor for any blessing God bestows, from daily sustenance to spiritual provisions, all demanding a response of heartfelt praise.