For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the nations on the way here.
Parallel translations
- WEB (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the middle of the nations through which you passed;
- KJV (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;
- NKJV (for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by,
- NASB (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we passed through the midst of the nations through which you passed;
- NLT “You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left.
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
Moses reminds them of their time in Egypt and their passage through pagan nations. They have firsthand knowledge of idolatry's environment.
Overview
Moses recalls Israel's experience in Egypt and among the nations they passed through on their journey. This sets up a warning against the idolatry they have witnessed. Knowing the corrupting cultures around them, Israel is being prepared to resist temptation, a perennial call for God's people to remain distinct and faithful in a fallen world.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Deut 2:4and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
- Deut 2:19But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
- Deut 3:1–2Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei.
- Deut 2:24“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.
- Deut 2:9Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
Resources, by level
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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 29:16 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.