King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where [there was] no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Complete Jewish Bible:
who led you through the vast and fearsome desert, with its poisonous snakes, scorpions and waterless, thirsty ground; who brought water out of flint rock for you;
Berean Standard Bible:
He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.
American Standard Version:
who led thee through the great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Who led{H3212} thee through that great{H1419} and terrible{H3372} wilderness{H4057}, wherein were fiery{H8314} serpents{H5175}, and scorpions{H6137}, and drought{H6774}, where there was no water{H4325}; who brought thee forth{H3318} water{H4325} out of the rock{H6697} of flint{H2496};
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 21:6
- And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Numbers 20:11
- And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].
Jeremiah 2:6
- Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
Deuteronomy 1:19
- ¶ And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.
Psalms 114:8
- Which turned the rock [into] a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
Isaiah 63:12
- That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
Isaiah 63:14
- As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 8:15
Deuteronomy 8:15 is part of Moses' second discourse to the Israelites, which is found in the book of Deuteronomy. This book is presented as a series of speeches that Moses gives to the Israelites as they are encamped in the plains of Moab, preparing to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
**Themes:**
1. **God's Providence and Guidance:** The verse emphasizes God's role in leading the Israelites through the harsh conditions of the wilderness, highlighting His care and provision for His people even in the most difficult circumstances.
2. **Trials and Testing:** The wilderness journey is depicted as a time of testing, where the Israelites faced various dangers and hardships designed to teach them dependence on God and obedience to His commands.
3. **Divine Protection:** The mention of "fiery serpents" and "scorpions" alludes to the lethal threats that God protected the Israelites from during their journey.
4. **God's Miraculous Power:** The reference to bringing water from a rock of flint showcases God's ability to perform miracles to sustain His people, reinforcing the idea that He is capable of overcoming natural limitations for their benefit.
**Historical Context:**
The historical context of Deuteronomy 8:15 is rooted in the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their subsequent wilderness wanderings. After being freed from slavery, the Israelites traveled through the Sinai Peninsula, an arid and inhospitable region filled with the dangers mentioned in the verse. The journey was prolonged due to their disobedience and lack of faith, as recounted in the book of Numbers.
The specific incident referred to with the water from the rock occurred twice (Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 20:2-13), where Moses, following God's instruction, struck a rock to provide water for the people and their livestock. This act of divine intervention not only saved the Israelites from dehydration but also served as a tangible sign of God's presence and faithfulness.
In summary, Deuteronomy 8:15 encapsulates the themes of divine guidance, protection, and provision during the formative period of Israel's history, reminding the people of God's past faithfulness as they stand on the brink of a new chapter in the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H3372
There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרֵא
Transliteration: yârêʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing). - Strong's Number: H4057
There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְבָּר
Transliteration: midbâr
Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness. - Strong's Number: H8314
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרָף
Transliteration: sârâph
Pronunciation: saw-rawf'
Description: from שָׂרַף; burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color); fiery (serpent), seraph. - Strong's Number: H5175
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָחָשׁ
Transliteration: nâchâsh
Pronunciation: naw-khawsh'
Description: from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss); serpent. - Strong's Number: H6137
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַקְרָב
Transliteration: ʻaqrâb
Pronunciation: ak-rawb'
Description: of uncertain derivation; a scorpion; figuratively, a scourge or knotted whip; scorpion. - Strong's Number: H6774
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִמָּאוֹן
Transliteration: tsimmâʼôwn
Pronunciation: tsim-maw-one'
Description: from צָמֵא; a thirsty place, i.e. desert; drought, dry ground, thirsty land. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H6697
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צוּר
Transliteration: tsûwr
Pronunciation: tsoor
Description: or צֻר; from צוּר; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous); edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also בֵּית צוּר. - Strong's Number: H2496
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַלָּמִישׁ
Transliteration: challâmîysh
Pronunciation: klal-law-meesh'
Description: probably from חָלַם (in the sense of hardness); flint; flint(-y), rock.