Deuteronomy 8:2-4

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you 1these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, 2testing you 3to know what was in your heart, 4whether you would keep his commandments or not.
3 And he humbled you and 5let you hunger and 6fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that 7man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word[a] that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
4 8Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 8

In this chapter Moses repeats the exhortation to observe the commands of God, and urges the Israelites to it, from the consideration of the great and good things God had done for them in the wilderness, and even in those instances which were chastisements, and were of an humbling nature, De 8:1-6, and on the consideration of the blessings of the good land they were going to possess, De 8:7-9 for which blessings they are exhorted to be thankful, and are cautioned against pride of heart through them, and forgetfulness of God, and of his goodness to them while in the wilderness, and when brought into the land of Canaan, which they were to ascribe to his power and goodness, and not their own, De 8:10-18, and the chapter is concluded with a warning against idolatry, lest they perish through it as the nations before them, De 8:19,20.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Deuteronomy 1:3; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 29:5; Amos 2:10
  • 2. ver. 16; Exodus 15:25
  • 3. [2 Chronicles 32:31]
  • 4. [Exodus 16:4; Judges 3:4]
  • 5. Exodus 16:2, 3
  • 6. Ex. 16:12, 14, 15, 35; [Numbers 11:6-9; Numbers 21:5]
  • 7. Cited Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; [John 6:49-51]
  • 8. Deuteronomy 29:5; Nehemiah 9:21

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.