Deuteronomy 8 7

Deuteronomy 8:7 kjv

For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

Deuteronomy 8:7 nkjv

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

Deuteronomy 8:7 niv

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land?a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills;

Deuteronomy 8:7 esv

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills,

Deuteronomy 8:7 nlt

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

Deuteronomy 8 verses

Deuteronomy 8 7 Meaning

This verse heralds the abundant blessing awaiting the Israelites, a direct result of the Lord their God's faithful action. It vividly describes the promised land, Canaan, not merely as fertile, but as exceptionally rich in natural water sources—brooks, fountains, and springs—that permeate its diverse terrain, flowing continuously through both valleys and hills. This depicts a land sustained by divine provision, contrasting sharply with their wilderness journey and even with the irrigation methods of other ancient civilizations, emphasizing God's unique and holistic care for His people.

Deuteronomy 8 7 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 8 serves as Moses' crucial exhortation to Israel before they enter the promised land. The preceding verses (8:1-6) emphasize the forty years in the wilderness as a period of testing and humbling, designed to teach Israel reliance solely on God, showing them His providential care through manna and never-wearing garments. This verse (8:7) then introduces the stark contrast to the harsh wilderness experience, painting a vivid picture of the blessed future awaiting them in Canaan. It acts as the glorious counterpoint, highlighting the divine reward for their endured testing. The verses that follow (8:8-10) further elaborate on the land's abundant natural resources and agricultural bounty, leading into the solemn warning against forgetting God once they prosper.

Deuteronomy 8 7 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This particle introduces the reason or explanation for the previous exhortation. It connects God's past actions of testing and leading (Deut 8:1-6) with His future act of bringing them into a rich land, thereby justifying the call for obedience and remembrance.
• the Lord your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH Eloheykha): "The Lord" (YHWH) refers to God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal relationship and faithfulness to Israel as their God, who redeemed them and bound Himself to them. "Your God" signifies an exclusive, covenantal bond. It highlights the divine source of this blessing, stressing that this prosperity is not due to Israel's might or any other deity.
• is bringing you (מֵבִיא אֹתְךָ, mevi' otekha): The Hebrew verb is a present participle, conveying continuous, active movement and certainty. God is not merely sending them, but personally leading them. This is a direct, unilateral act of God's grace, a gift rather than an earned possession.
• into a good land (אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה, el eretz tovah):
  • Land (eretz): Refers to the physical, promised territory of Canaan. It's a tangible, physical inheritance central to God's covenant with Abraham.
  • Good (tovah): Implies not only physical fertility and pleasantness (rich in resources, desirable to dwell in) but also moral goodness—a land blessed and deemed good by a righteous God. It contrasts with the perceived "badness" or difficulty of the wilderness.
• a land of brooks of water (אֶרֶץ נַחֲלֵי מָיִם, eretz nachalei mayim):
  • Brooks (nachalei): Refers to wadis, natural watercourses or stream beds that flow, especially during the rainy season. This denotes a land with sufficient rainfall and natural drainage systems.
  • Water (mayim): The most fundamental life-giving element, precious in a semi-arid region. Its abundant mention immediately indicates a lush environment.
• of fountains and springs (עֲיָנֹת וּתְהֹמֹת, ayanot u'tehomot):
  • Fountains (ayanot): Natural "eyes" of water, where water visibly emerges from the ground. This speaks of accessible, clean, and often constant sources.
  • Springs (tehomot): Literally "deep waters" or "subterranean depths," derived from the root tehom (the deep, Gen 1:2). This signifies reliable, underground water sources, implying water independent of surface rain, like artesian wells or deep aquifers, providing consistent water flow. This specific detail sets the land apart from places like Egypt, which relied on the Nile's annual overflow.
• flowing forth in valleys and hills (יֹצְאִים בַּבִּקְעָה וּבָהָר, yotzi'im ba'bik'ah u'vahar):
  • Flowing forth (yotzi'im): The participle "flowing" (related to "going out") reinforces the continuous, abundant, and widespread nature of the water sources. They are active and yielding.
  • Valleys (bik'ah): Low-lying plains and wide expanses.
  • Hills (har): Mountainous and elevated regions. This comprehensive description ensures that water is not confined to one area but is available throughout the varied topography of the land, from the highest elevations to the lowest depressions, guaranteeing widespread fertility and habitability. This further highlights the superior nature of the land and God's expansive provision.

Deuteronomy 8 7 Bonus section

The description of Canaan as a land specifically irrigated by natural springs from underground sources and rains from heaven (as opposed to river irrigation like Egypt's) served as a direct theological polemic against the contemporary beliefs of the surrounding nations. While cults to Baal and other fertility gods were prevalent in Canaan, claiming control over rain and agricultural bounty, Deut 8:7 and similar passages unequivocally declare YHWH, the God of Israel, as the sole sovereign giver of the land's sustenance. Its abundant water sources are a testament to His inherent power and goodness, not the capricious favor of local deities whose worship was often tied to guaranteeing rain or fertility. This emphasized Israel's absolute dependence on and allegiance to their unique covenant God.

Furthermore, this detailed depiction of a fertile, water-rich land serves as a profound type or shadow in biblical eschatology. It points to a greater, ultimate inheritance, often envisioned as a new creation or heavenly city (the New Jerusalem), where life-giving water flows freely from God's throne (Rev 22:1), signifying perpetual spiritual refreshment and divine presence for His people, far surpassing any earthly paradise.

Deuteronomy 8 7 Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:7 serves as a foundational promise and a powerful image of God's overflowing grace. Following the austere and challenging experience of the wilderness, which God ordained for discipline and to foster dependence on Him, this verse unveils the rich inheritance awaiting them. It vividly portrays Canaan as a naturally well-watered land, unlike the "dry and thirsty land" from which they came. The emphasis on natural sources – brooks, fountains, and deep springs – flowing through varied terrain (valleys and hills) highlights that the land's fertility is intrinsically linked to divine design and provision, not just to seasonal rainfall or complex irrigation like Egypt's reliance on the Nile. This distinguishes the covenant land and stresses God's immediate and holistic involvement in sustaining His people. It is a land ready to yield its abundance, symbolizing not just physical prosperity but also God's commitment to lavishly bless His obedient people. The verse foreshadows how God always provides abundantly for His chosen ones, offering true rest and security far beyond earthly resources, rooting their well-being in His character.