You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.
Parallel translations
- KJV And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt 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 15:15You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today.
- Deut 16:15You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh chooses; because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase, and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful.
- Eph 2:1–3You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- Lam 3:19–20Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
- Eph 2:11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands);
- Rom 6:17–18But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
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.