Deuteronomy 10:22

KJV

Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thy fathers {H1} went down {H3381} into Egypt {H4714} with threescore and ten {H7657} persons {H5315}; and now the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath made {H7760} thee as the stars {H3556} of heaven {H8064} for multitude {H7230}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Your ancestors went down into Egypt with only seventy people, but now ADONAI your God has made your numbers as many as the stars in the sky!

Berean Standard Bible

Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

American Standard Version

Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now Jehovah thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 10:22 powerfully encapsulates God's profound faithfulness and the miraculous fulfillment of His covenant promises to Israel. Moses, addressing a new generation on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, draws a stark contrast between their humble origins—a mere seventy souls who entered Egypt—and their present vast numbers, attributing this astonishing multiplication entirely to the Lord's sovereign power and unwavering commitment to His word. This verse serves as a foundational reminder that Israel's identity and strength are rooted not in themselves, but in the miraculous work of their God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Moses' second major discourse in Deuteronomy (chapters 5-26), delivered on the plains of Moab as the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan. This discourse serves as a comprehensive covenant renewal, reiterating the Law, recounting Israel's history, and urging the new generation to remember God's mighty acts and covenant faithfulness. Specifically, Deuteronomy 10:12-22 forms a cohesive unit, following Moses' call to "fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him" ([Deuteronomy 10:12](/deuteronomy/10-12 "Deuteronomy 10:12 - The Essence of the Law")). The preceding verses emphasize God's choice of Israel, His impartiality, and His love for the stranger, culminating in a reminder of their own humble beginnings and God's transformative power, as highlighted by their miraculous increase from the small group that went down to Egypt (see [Genesis 46:27](/genesis/46-27 "Genesis 46:27 - Jacob's Family Enters Egypt")). The verse thus reinforces the call to obedience and gratitude by grounding it in God's demonstrated faithfulness throughout their history.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Deuteronomy 10:22 speaks to a pivotal moment in Israelite history: the end of their forty-year wilderness wandering and their imminent entry into the land of Canaan. The generation that had experienced the Exodus was largely gone, and Moses was addressing their descendants, who needed to grasp their heritage and destiny. The reference to "threescore and ten persons" (70 individuals) directly recalls the small, vulnerable family of Jacob who sought refuge in Egypt during a famine, a detail recorded in [Genesis 46:26-27](/genesis/46-26 "Genesis 46:26-27 - Jacob's Descendants Entering Egypt"). For an ancient Near Eastern people, a large population was a profound sign of divine blessing, prosperity, and national strength, often signifying a king's or nation's favor with their gods. The dramatic transformation from a small clan to a vast nation, despite centuries of enslavement and hardship, would have been seen as nothing short of a divine miracle, underscoring God's unique power and commitment to His chosen people, in stark contrast to the typical fate of enslaved or displaced populations.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 10:22 powerfully articulates several core theological and narrative themes. The most prominent is **Divine Multiplication and Fulfillment of Promise**, showcasing God's supernatural ability to take a seemingly insignificant beginning and multiply it beyond all human expectation. This directly fulfills the foundational covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would be as numerous as [the stars of heaven](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise of Countless Offspring to Abraham") or the sand on the seashore ([Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "Genesis 22:17 - God's Covenant Promise to Abraham")). The Israelite nation's vast growth is presented as irrefutable evidence of God's power and His unwavering commitment to His word. Secondly, the verse highlights **God's Unwavering Faithfulness**. Despite the Israelites' periods of disobedience, their challenges in the wilderness, and the harsh oppression they endured in Egypt, God remained true to His covenant, bringing them out as a mighty nation. Finally, Moses' instruction to remember their **Humble Beginnings** serves as a vital lesson in humility. It is not meant to diminish their present stature but to magnify God's grace and power, reminding them that their strength, identity, and multitude come not from their own merit or might, but solely from the Lord's divine providence and unmerited favor, as emphasized throughout [Deuteronomy 8](/deuteronomy/8 "Deuteronomy 8 - Remember the Lord Your God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Threescore and ten (Hebrew, _shiv'im'_):** This precise numerical designation, meaning "seventy," refers to the specific number of Jacob's immediate family (excluding his sons' wives) who entered Egypt with him (cf. [Genesis 46:27](/genesis/46-27 "Genesis 46:27 - Jacob's Family Enters Egypt")). The number seventy holds symbolic significance in the biblical narrative, often representing completeness or a foundational group, as seen with the seventy nations listed in Genesis 10 or the seventy elders appointed by Moses in [Exodus 24:1](/exodus/24-1 "Exodus 24:1 - Seventy Elders Go Up Mount Sinai"). Here, it serves to emphasize the incredibly small and vulnerable origin of the vast nation of Israel, highlighting the miraculous nature of their subsequent growth.
* **Stars of heaven (Hebrew, _kokhvei ha'shamayim'_):** This is a powerful, recurring biblical metaphor used to describe an innumerable, countless multitude. It directly echoes God's foundational promises to Abraham regarding his descendants (e.g., [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham of Countless Offspring") and [Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "Genesis 22:17 - God's Covenant Promise to Abraham")). The imagery evokes not only vastness but also the divine, celestial origin of this blessing, implying that such a multitude is beyond human capacity to create or count, thus underscoring the supernatural agency of God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons;":** This clause serves as a historical anchor, recalling the humble and vulnerable beginnings of the Israelite nation. It points back to the patriarch Jacob (Israel) and his small family, emphasizing their initial dependence and lack of inherent power or multitude. The number "seventy" starkly contrasts with their present vast population, setting the stage for the miraculous transformation that follows.
* **"and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.":** This clause presents the astonishing outcome of God's faithfulness. The shift from "thy fathers" to "thee" (the current generation) highlights the continuity of God's work across generations. The active verb "hath made" unequivocally attributes the exponential growth from seventy to a countless multitude ("as the stars of heaven") directly to the LORD. This underscores God's sovereign power, His commitment to His covenant promises, and His ability to bring about the impossible, transforming a small, vulnerable clan into a mighty nation.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 10:22 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting the initial "threescore and ten persons" against the current "stars of heaven for multitude." This juxtaposition dramatically highlights the magnitude of God's work and the miraculous nature of Israel's growth, emphasizing the divine agency involved. Closely related is **Hyperbole**, found in the phrase "as the stars of heaven for multitude." While the Israelites were indeed numerous, the phrase is not meant to be a literal count but an exaggeration to convey an immeasurable, countless number, underscoring the extraordinary scale of God's blessing. This hyperbole functions as a **Simile**, comparing the people's vast numbers to the countless stars, a common biblical image for divine blessing and progeny. Furthermore, the verse uses **Anaphora** implicitly, echoing the repeated promises made to the patriarchs, reinforcing the theme of covenant fulfillment. These devices collectively serve to magnify God's power, faithfulness, and the profound impact of His covenant on the destiny of Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 10:22 stands as a profound testament to God's covenant faithfulness and His omnipotent power to bring His promises to fruition, even from the most improbable beginnings. It encapsulates the core biblical narrative of a sovereign God choosing a people, multiplying them, and delivering them, not based on their merit, but on His steadfast love and unwavering commitment to His word. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans are not limited by human limitations or adverse circumstances. The miraculous growth of Israel from a small family to a vast nation is a foundational proof of God's redemptive power, establishing a pattern of divine intervention and blessing that permeates the entire biblical narrative. It underscores the truth that all true growth, strength, and blessing ultimately originate from the Lord's hand.

* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Make Abraham a Great Nation")
* [Exodus 1:7](/exodus/1-7 "Exodus 1:7 - Israel's Multiplication in Egypt")
* [Nehemiah 9:23](/nehemiah/9-23 "Nehemiah 9:23 - God Multiplies Israel in the Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 10:22 offers profound encouragement and a call to humility for believers today. It reminds us that God is utterly faithful to His promises, regardless of how small or insignificant our beginnings may seem, or how overwhelming the obstacles. Just as He multiplied Israel from a mere seventy souls to a vast nation, He is capable of bringing about immense growth and fruitfulness in our lives, our families, our churches, or our ministries, often starting from humble or seemingly impossible circumstances. This verse encourages us to cultivate a deep trust in God's providence, to remember His past faithfulness as a guarantee for His future actions, and to resist the temptation to rely on our own strength or numbers. It calls us to a posture of profound humility, recognizing that all blessings, all strength, and all growth ultimately come from His gracious and powerful hand, prompting us to give Him all the glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recalling God's past faithfulness, both in biblical history and in your own life, encourage you in present challenges or seemingly small beginnings?**
* **In what areas of your life, family, or ministry do you need to trust God for "multiplication" or growth from what appears to be a limited or humble starting point?**
* **How does this verse challenge you to cultivate a deeper sense of humility, recognizing God as the ultimate source of all blessing and success, rather than attributing it to your own efforts?**

### FAQ
**Why is the number 70 significant in this verse and other biblical contexts?**

Answer: The number 70 (or "threescore and ten") in Deuteronomy 10:22 specifically refers to the initial number of Jacob's direct descendants (excluding his sons' wives) who went down into Egypt, as detailed in [Genesis 46:27](/genesis/46-27 "Genesis 46:27 - Jacob's Family Enters Egypt"). This number is significant because it highlights the incredibly small and vulnerable origin of the nation of Israel, making their subsequent multiplication all the more miraculous and clearly attributable to divine intervention. Beyond this historical reference, the number 70 often carries symbolic weight in the Bible, sometimes representing completeness or a foundational group. For example, there are 70 nations listed in [Genesis 10](/genesis/10 "Genesis 10 - The Table of Nations"), 70 elders of Israel who went up Mount Sinai with Moses ([Exodus 24:1](/exodus/24-1 "Exodus 24:1 - Seventy Elders Ascend Sinai")), and Jesus sent out 70 (or 72) disciples in [Luke 10:1](/luke/10-1 "Luke 10:1 - Jesus Sends Out Seventy-Two Disciples"). In Deuteronomy 10:22, its primary function is to underscore the dramatic contrast between Israel's meager beginnings and their divinely-granted vast multitude.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 10:22, with its powerful imagery of multiplication from a humble beginning, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the establishment of His church. The promise to Abraham that his descendants would be "as the stars of heaven for multitude" ([Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise of Countless Offspring to Abraham")) was not merely a physical promise to ethnic Israel, but a spiritual promise fulfilled in Christ, the true "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ, the True Seed of Abraham")). Through His atoning work, Christ has gathered a new, spiritual Israel, a countless multitude drawn from "every tribe and language and people and nation" ([Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Redeemed from Every Nation")) who believe in Him. Just as God multiplied Jacob's small family into a nation, so too has Christ, from His humble earthly origins and a small band of disciples, built His church, against which "the gates of hell shall not prevail" ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - Peter's Confession and the Church's Foundation")). The "multitude" of God's redeemed people, spiritually born into His family through faith in Christ, far surpasses any physical nation, truly becoming "as the stars of heaven" in their countless number and eternal destiny, fulfilling God's ancient promise in a glorious, global, and spiritual reality ([Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9 - A Great Multitude from Every Nation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 46:27

And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, [were] two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, [were] threescore and ten.

Genesis 15:5

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Exodus 1:5

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already].

Deuteronomy 1:10

The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Nehemiah 9:23

Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess [it].

Deuteronomy 28:62

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

Numbers 26:51

These [were] the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.