Deuteronomy 8 9

Deuteronomy 8:9 kjv

A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

Deuteronomy 8:9 nkjv

a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

Deuteronomy 8:9 niv

a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Deuteronomy 8:9 esv

a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

Deuteronomy 8:9 nlt

It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills.

Deuteronomy 8 verses

Deuteronomy 8 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 8:9 proclaims God's gracious promise of an exceedingly rich and bountiful land to the Israelites, a land fundamentally distinct from their desert wanderings and the conditions of Egypt. It signifies an environment of complete and pervasive abundance where basic sustenance is always present, no fundamental need is left unfulfilled, and precious natural resources like iron and copper are readily available, enabling prosperity and technological advancement.

Deuteronomy 8 9 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 8 is a pivotal part of Moses' farewell addresses to the Israelites, delivered just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter serves as a solemn reminder of their forty years of wilderness wandering and the lessons God taught them during that time: primarily, humility, dependence on God, and obedience to His commands.

Verse 9 fits into a description (Deut 8:7-9) of the abundant blessings awaiting them in Canaan, sharply contrasting it with the scarcity and harshness of the desert and the Egyptian reliance on the Nile. The detailed description of the land's agricultural and mineral wealth is not just an incentive but a powerful test. It warns them against the danger of forgetting God once they are prosperous and comfortable, urging them to remember that all prosperity comes from Him. This verse sets the stage for Moses' subsequent exhortations to remember the LORD (v. 10-18) and the severe warnings against idolatry and forgetting His covenant (v. 19-20). The promise of this wealthy land also directly countered contemporary beliefs in polytheism by asserting that the one true God, YHWH, was the ultimate provider of all prosperity, not the various Canaanite gods of fertility or resources.

Deuteronomy 8 9 Word analysis

• land (אֶרֶץ - erets): Specifically refers to the land of Canaan, which is God's promised inheritance for Israel. Beyond geographical location, it embodies the culmination of Abrahamic promises and a place of rest and blessing.
• in which you will eat bread (לֶחֶם - lechem): "Bread" here represents all forms of sustenance, the fundamental means of nourishment. Eating implies security, provision, and the absence of famine.
• without scarcity (בְּלִי מִסְכֵּנֻת - beli miskenut): "Scarcity" (miskenut) implies poverty, want, or destitution. This phrase emphasizes complete absence of lack, a profound and continuous abundance that stands in stark contrast to their recent past in the wilderness, where daily manna was precisely measured.
• in which you will lack nothing (לֹא תֶחְסַר כָּל-בֹּהּוּ - lo tekhesar kol-bohu): An emphatic statement reinforcing the previous phrase. It signifies full and absolute sufficiency. This echoes sentiments like Psalm 23:1, where the LORD as Shepherd ensures the flock "shall not want." This isn't merely having enough food, but possessing all that is needed for well-being and flourishing.
• a land whose stones are iron (אֲבָנֶיהָ בַּרְזֶל - avaneha barzel): "Iron" (barzel) was a highly valuable and strategic resource in the ancient world, representing strength, durability, and the means for superior tools, weapons, and construction. The phrasing "stones are iron" highlights the extraordinary abundance, perhaps even hyperbolically, indicating that iron was readily available within the very ground and mountains. This transcends mere agricultural bounty, signifying industrial and military strength, a holistic wealth.
• and out of whose hills you can dig copper (נְחֹשֶׁת - nechoshet): "Copper" (nechoshet) was another vital metal, especially for the Bronze Age technology that preceded and overlapped with early Iron Age periods. It was used for tools, implements, cultic objects, and early coinage. The phrase "out of whose hills you can dig copper" again emphasizes the natural wealth accessible through mining, pointing to self-sufficiency and the potential for a thriving economy beyond simple agriculture.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing": This grouping emphasizes the immediate, personal, and constant provision of God. It's about fundamental sustenance and welfare being secure and abundant. This removes the anxieties of survival, allowing for flourishing. It marks the transition from dependent wilderness life to settled abundance, though that abundance still requires a heart dependent on God.
• "a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper": This second grouping elevates the promise beyond mere sustenance. It highlights strategic natural resources vital for technological advancement, defense, trade, and infrastructure. This speaks to a holistic national prosperity and sovereignty, indicating that God's blessing extends to all facets of life—not just filling bellies, but equipping a civilization. These metals were foundations of advanced economies, ensuring not just survival but thriving and independence from external resource reliance.

Deuteronomy 8 9 Bonus section

The detailed description of Canaan’s resources in Deut 8:9 served multiple purposes:

• Refutation of Idolatry: In the polytheistic context of the ancient Near East, where local deities were associated with agricultural fertility or specific minerals, this verse underscores YHWH as the sole source of all natural blessings. It provided a powerful argument against worshipping Canaanite gods for land's bounty.
• Holistic Provision: Beyond daily food, God's promise included the raw materials for a robust civilization. Iron and copper enabled advancement in agriculture (better tools), construction (stronger buildings), and defense (superior weapons), signaling God’s comprehensive care for His people's well-being and national strength.
• Historical Accuracy (General): While poetic, historical evidence indicates that the region of Canaan, particularly areas like the Arabah, indeed had ancient copper mines (e.g., Timna Valley) and some iron ore deposits. This adds a layer of concrete reality to God's hyperbolic description, grounding His promise in observable fact.
• Covenantal Expectation: The bounty described here sets a high expectation for Israel’s future prosperity if they remained faithful to the covenant. It established a clear link between obedience and divine blessing, highlighting the consequences of disobedience, as warned later in the chapter and in Deuteronomy 28.

Deuteronomy 8 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:9 paints a picture of exceptional divine generosity, revealing God's plan for Israel's total provision and prosperity in the Promised Land. After decades of miraculous daily provision of manna in the wilderness, which taught them complete dependence, they are now poised to enter a land where abundance would come through natural processes and human labor, but always as a gift from God. The land's description encompasses not only agricultural richness ("bread without scarcity," "lack nothing") but also critical mineral wealth (iron and copper).

This promise counters the human tendency to attribute prosperity solely to one's own efforts or to other deities. The inclusion of iron and copper, strategic resources for tools, weapons, and industry, signifies God's intention for His people to thrive comprehensively – economically, technologically, and securely. It underlines that God’s blessing covers every dimension of human flourishing. However, this divine generosity comes with a vital condition, implicit in the surrounding verses: the remembrance of God and obedience to His commandments. Prosperity without piety leads to forgetting God and eventual downfall. Thus, the verse serves both as a glorious promise and a profound reminder that all good things come from the LORD, challenging His people to humble gratitude and faithful devotion rather than prideful self-reliance. It points typologically to the spiritual riches found in Christ, where believers are truly lacking in no good thing, sustained by heavenly bread, and equipped with spiritual armor (Eph 1:3; 6:10-18).