Deuteronomy 8 17

Deuteronomy 8:17 kjv

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:17 nkjv

then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'

Deuteronomy 8:17 niv

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."

Deuteronomy 8:17 esv

Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'

Deuteronomy 8:17 nlt

He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.'

Deuteronomy 8 verses

Deuteronomy 8 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 17 expresses a foundational warning from God to Israel. It identifies the dangerous, insidious thought that could arise in their hearts upon entering and prospering in the Promised Land. The verse highlights the sin of pride and self-sufficiency, where individuals credit their own strength, ability, and labor for the wealth and blessings they receive, rather than acknowledging God as the true source and giver of all good things. This internal declaration of self-reliance is a forgetting of God's grace and a deviation from the covenant relationship.

Deuteronomy 8 17 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 8 is a powerful and poignant discourse by Moses to the new generation of Israelites on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Having witnessed their parents' generation fall due to disobedience and unbelief, Moses earnestly warns this new generation. The chapter primarily serves as a reminder of God's gracious and disciplined leadership through the forty years in the wilderness – how He humbled them, tested them, fed them with manna, and taught them complete dependence on Him.

Verse 17 directly follows a detailed description of the promised land's abundant resources – land of wheat and barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, olive trees, honey, and a land where they would not lack anything, a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills they could dig copper. This vivid portrayal of future prosperity creates the immediate context for the warning: the very blessings intended to be evidences of God's faithfulness could, ironically, become a stumbling block if they foster self-sufficiency rather than gratitude and remembrance. The verse cautions against the subtle, inward shift from trusting God to trusting one's own capabilities once material blessings abound. It sets the stage for the command in verse 18 to remember God as the one who grants the power to get wealth.

Deuteronomy 8 17 Word analysis

• And you say (וְאָמַרְתָּ \textit{ve'amarta}): Literally, "and you shall say." The verb is active, emphasizing their personal utterance. The use of future tense indicates a strong likelihood or expectation of this thought arising. This is not just an accidental thought but a dangerous predisposition against which they must guard.
• in your heart (בִּלְבָבֶךָ \textit{bilvavecha}): The "heart" in Hebrew thought refers not merely to emotions, but to the entirety of one's inner being: intellect, will, thoughts, intentions, and core character. This emphasizes that the sin begins internally, a private disposition hidden from human view but exposed to God. It is a fundamental attitude of self-dependence.
• My power (כֹּחִי \textit{kochi}): From \textit{koach}, meaning "strength," "ability," "force," "vigor." The suffix '-i' denotes "my." This refers to intrinsic human might or physical capability, suggesting personal exertion and energy. It represents the claim of inherent strength.
• and the might (וְעֹצֶם \textit{ve'otsem}): From \textit{otsem}, meaning "vastness," "intensity," "greatness," "abundance," "force." Used in conjunction with \textit{koach}, it intensifies the claim of personal capability, highlighting a comprehensive or overwhelming personal ability. It implies substantial and potent capacity.
• of my hand (יָדִי \textit{yadi}): The "hand" is a biblical symbol of action, labor, effort, and instrumentality. "Might of my hand" signifies earned success resulting from one's own skill, hard work, and initiatives. It represents human agency and independent achievement.
• have gained me (עָשָׂה לִי \textit{asah li}): Literally "has made for me" or "has produced for me." This phrase implies creation, acquisition, or achievement through personal effort. It asserts self-origination of prosperity, severing the link to divine providence.
• this wealth (הַחַיִל הַזֶּה \textit{hachayil hazzeh}): \textit{Chayil} (wealth) is a rich Hebrew term meaning "strength," "valor," "army," "virtue," but also "wealth" or "substance" in the context of accumulated possessions or prosperity. The definite article "this" (\textit{hazzeh}) points to the specific material abundance and success they are about to experience in the land. It is the tangible fruit of what they believe to be their own doing.

Words-group analysis:

• "My power and the might of my hand": This parallel construction forcefully conveys the complete human-centeredness of the attribution. It speaks of a proud heart claiming full responsibility and credit for its own accomplishments. There's an emphatic rejection of any external (divine) contribution. This self-attribution is rooted in pride and forgetfulness of the wilderness journey and divine provision.
• "have gained me this wealth": This phrase completes the declaration of self-sufficiency. It asserts that the material blessings, the desired "wealth," are not gifts or outcomes of divine favor, but direct products of their individual efforts and capabilities. This attitude negates divine sovereignty and providence, reducing God to an unnecessary external factor.

Deuteronomy 8 17 Bonus section

The thought expressed in Deut 8:17, though unspoken to others ("in your heart"), is profoundly dangerous because it misattributes glory. God is intensely jealous for His glory and will not share it with another (Is 42:8). Forgetting that God "gives you the power to get wealth" (Deut 8:18) is not just intellectual forgetfulness but a spiritual rebellion. This particular verse highlights the insidious nature of pride; it often manifests subtly within the quiet chambers of the heart before it externalizes in actions of ingratitude or arrogance. The warning also sets up the dire consequences outlined in subsequent verses in Deuteronomy 8, emphasizing that failure to remember and obey God will result in destruction, mirroring the fate of the nations they dispossessed. The verse serves as a crucial theological boundary, clearly delineating God's role as ultimate provider and humanity's posture of humble dependence. It establishes the foundational truth that genuine prosperity and true wisdom begin with reverent acknowledgment of God as the benevolent sovereign.

Deuteronomy 8 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:17 cuts to the heart of a universal human temptation: pride in prosperity. Moses anticipates that once Israel enjoys the Promised Land's bounty, they might subtly, or even subconsciously, forget God's continuous provision. The verse does not prohibit honest labor or diligence; rather, it warns against the internal declaration of self-sufficiency where success is attributed solely to personal merit and effort. This forgetfulness stems from a deeper spiritual ailment – the refusal to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of life, health, strength, and opportunity. It directly challenges the covenant relationship, where Israel's existence and prosperity are utterly dependent on their God. Such a mindset sets the stage for apostasy, as future prosperity would lead them away from God rather than drawing them closer in gratitude and humble dependence. This warning serves as a timeless principle, reminding us that all blessings, whether talents, opportunities, or material gain, are gifts from God, empowering us to achieve what He has purposed.

Practical examples:

• A businessman succeeding greatly might think, "My sharp intellect and business acumen created this empire," forgetting divine health, market conditions, or wisdom granted.
• A talented musician might attribute their success entirely to their practice and skill, overlooking the innate talent, physical ability, or opportunities God provided.
• Someone graduating with honors might say, "My hard work alone secured this degree," without acknowledging God's grace in sustained concentration or opening doors to resources.