And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.
- BSB Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.
- NKJV And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
- NASB You shall also remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful and comply with these statutes.
- NLT Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these decrees.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Remembering their slavery in Egypt, Israel was to obey these statutes. Gratitude for redemption was the motive for faithful obedience.
Overview
The inclusion of the vulnerable in festal joy was grounded in Israel's memory of bondage and rescue. Having been slaves whom God freed, they were to live out his statutes with compassion. This redemption-shaped obedience anticipates the New Testament call to live for God out of thankfulness for being freed from sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 15:15And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
- Deut 16:15Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
- Eph 2:1–3And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
- Lam 3:19–20Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
- Eph 2:11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
- Rom 6:17–18But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 16:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.