Deuteronomy 26:7

KJV

And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:

KJV (with Strong's)

And when we cried {H6817} unto the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of our fathers {H1}, the LORD {H3068} heard {H8085} our voice {H6963}, and looked {H7200} on our affliction {H6040}, and our labour {H5999}, and our oppression {H3906}:

Complete Jewish Bible

So we cried out to ADONAI, the God of our ancestors. ADONAI heard us and saw our misery, toil and oppression;

Berean Standard Bible

So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.

American Standard Version

and we cried unto Jehovah, the God of our fathers, and Jehovah heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 26:7 is a pivotal verse within the liturgical declaration for the offering of firstfruits, serving as a concise historical creed recounting Israel's desperate cry to God during their severe affliction in Egypt. It powerfully affirms God's attentive ear, compassionate gaze, and decisive action in response to their suffering, highlighting His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His active involvement in the deliverance of His people from bondage. This verse encapsulates the core message of divine responsiveness and the foundational reason for Israel's gratitude and worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 26:7 is an integral part of the "firstfruits ceremony" outlined in [Deuteronomy 26:1-11](/deuteronomy/26 "Deuteronomy 26 - Firstfruits and Tithes"). This chapter prescribes a ritual declaration to be recited by every Israelite farmer as they present the first of their harvest to the LORD. The preceding verses (Deuteronomy 26:1-4) detail the physical act of bringing the basket of firstfruits to the priest. Verses 5-10 then provide the specific liturgical confession, a historical summary of Israel's journey from a "wandering Aramean" (Jacob) to a mighty nation, their suffering in Egypt, and God's miraculous deliverance. Verse 7 specifically recalls the moment of their desperate appeal to God, immediately preceding His powerful intervention described in [Deuteronomy 26:8](/deuteronomy/26-8 "Deuteronomy 26:8 - God's Mighty Hand"). This declaration serves not only as an act of worship but also as a profound act of remembrance, ensuring that future generations understand their heritage and the source of their blessings.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Deuteronomy is presented as Moses' farewell speeches to the generation of Israelites poised to enter the Promised Land, forty years after the Exodus. They are on the plains of Moab, looking across the Jordan River into Canaan. The instructions in [Deuteronomy 26](/deuteronomy/26 "Deuteronomy 26 - The Firstfruits Ceremony") are designed to establish the religious and social framework for their life in the land, emphasizing covenant fidelity. The historical memory of their time in Egypt, particularly their "affliction, and our labour, and our oppression," was a foundational narrative for Israel. They had been slaves, a people without land or power, utterly dependent on divine intervention. This memory was crucial for cultivating humility, gratitude, and a deep understanding that their prosperity in Canaan was not due to their own merit but solely to God's gracious fulfillment of His covenant with their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (cf. [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob")).

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Responsiveness**, portraying God as one who is not distant or indifferent but actively hears the cries of His people and responds to their suffering. This is a recurring motif, from the lament of the Israelites in [Exodus 2:23-25](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23-25 - God Hears Israel's Groaning") to the prophetic calls for justice. Secondly, it highlights **Covenant Faithfulness**, as God's intervention is explicitly linked to His identity as "the LORD God of our fathers," signifying His commitment to the promises made to Abraham. Their deliverance from Egypt was the initial, dramatic fulfillment of the covenant, establishing Israel as His chosen people. Finally, the verse is central to the theme of **Remembrance and Gratitude**. The entire firstfruits ceremony, culminating in this declaration, was designed to instill a deep sense of gratitude for God's past acts of salvation and to prevent the people from forgetting their humble origins or attributing their blessings to their own efforts (cf. [Deuteronomy 8:11-18](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11-18 - Do Not Forget the LORD")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cried (Hebrew, _tsa'aq'_):** This verb signifies a loud, desperate cry for help, often in a context of distress, oppression, or injustice. It is not merely a whisper or a prayer, but an urgent, audible appeal born out of deep suffering. It implies a sense of helplessness and a recognition that only an outside power can bring deliverance.
* **Affliction (Hebrew, _'oni'_):** This term refers to deep misery, destitution, or wretchedness. It speaks to a state of being downtrodden, humiliated, and experiencing profound hardship, often associated with poverty or oppression. It encompasses the physical, emotional, and spiritual distress of the Israelites.
* **Oppression (Hebrew, _lachats'_):** This word denotes pressure, distress, or persecution, often implying a crushing burden or severe constraint. It highlights the sustained, intense pressure exerted by the Egyptians, which restricted Israel's freedom and subjected them to cruel and relentless treatment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers":** This clause emphasizes the Israelites' desperate appeal to God, acknowledging Him as the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their cry was not to a generic deity but to the specific God who had established a relationship with their ancestors and made promises to them. It underscores their reliance on His covenant faithfulness in their time of dire need.
* **"the LORD heard our voice":** This signifies God's attentiveness and responsiveness. It is not merely an act of passive hearing but implies a divine perception and acknowledgment of their distress. It highlights God's active engagement with the laments of His people, affirming His personal interest in their plight.
* **"and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression":** This tripartite phrase powerfully conveys God's profound compassion and intimate awareness of their suffering. "Looked on" implies a careful, discerning gaze, not a casual glance. The three terms ("affliction," "labour," "oppression") comprehensively describe the multifaceted nature of Israel's suffering in Egypt, emphasizing the depth and breadth of their hardship, all of which was fully perceived by God.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 26:7 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Repetition** and **Tripartite Listing**, seen in "affliction, and our labour, and our oppression." This repetition of similar concepts, each with a slightly different nuance, serves to emphasize the totality and severity of Israel's suffering in Egypt, ensuring the listener fully grasps the depth of their distress and, by contrast, the magnitude of God's deliverance. The use of **Liturgical Language** is evident throughout the entire declaration (Deuteronomy 26:5-10), as this verse is part of a prescribed, communal recitation. This formal, ritualistic language imbues the words with solemnity and significance, embedding the historical memory deeply into the national consciousness. Furthermore, the verse functions as part of a **Historical Credo**, a concise summary of foundational historical events that define Israel's identity and relationship with God. This narrative brevity makes the story memorable and easily repeatable, serving as a constant reminder of God's saving acts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 26:7 encapsulates a profound theological truth about the character of God: He is a God who hears, sees, and acts on behalf of His suffering people. This verse reveals God's deep empathy and commitment to justice, demonstrating that no cry for help goes unheard, and no suffering goes unnoticed by Him. It reinforces the covenantal relationship, reminding Israel that their existence and prosperity are entirely dependent on God's grace and faithfulness, not their own merit. This foundational understanding of God's responsiveness was intended to cultivate a spirit of humility, gratitude, and unwavering trust in His continued provision and protection as they entered the Promised Land.

* [Exodus 2:23-25](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23-25 - God Hears Israel's Groaning")
* [Psalm 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Righteous Cry and the LORD Hears")
* [Psalm 107:6](/psalms/107-6 "Psalm 107:6 - They Cried to the LORD in Their Trouble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 26:7 offers timeless encouragement for believers today, reminding us that the same God who heard the desperate cries of ancient Israel remains attentive to the prayers and groans of His people in every generation. In moments of personal affliction, overwhelming labor, or systemic oppression, this verse assures us that our suffering does not go unnoticed by our compassionate God. It calls us to remember God's past faithfulness in our own lives and in the broader history of redemption, building our faith for present and future challenges. Recounting His deliverance fosters a spirit of profound gratitude, transforming our perspective from complaint to worship, and empowering us to trust that He will continue to act on our behalf, just as He did for Israel. This verse is a powerful invitation to bring our deepest needs and most desperate cries before the Lord, confident in His unwavering attention and His powerful capacity to deliver.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does remembering God's past acts of deliverance, both in biblical history and in your own life, strengthen your faith in present difficulties?**
* **In what specific ways do you experience "affliction," "labour," or "oppression" in your life or in the world around you, and how does this verse encourage you to cry out to God?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for God's faithfulness, as encouraged by this passage?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of "the LORD God of our fathers" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "the LORD God of our fathers" (Yahweh Elohim Avoteinu) is profoundly significant because it explicitly links God's actions to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It reminds the Israelites, and us, that God's intervention was not arbitrary but rooted in His unchanging character and His faithful commitment to the covenant He established with their ancestors (see [Genesis 15:13-16](/genesis/15-13 "Genesis 15:13-16 - God's Covenant with Abram")). By invoking this title, the Israelites were appealing to a God who had already demonstrated His faithfulness across generations, reinforcing the historical continuity of God's redemptive plan and their identity as His chosen people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 26:7 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God heard the cries of Israel in their Egyptian bondage and provided a deliverer, so too has He heard the groans of humanity under the bondage of sin and death, sending His Son as the ultimate Deliverer. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly embodies God's compassionate gaze upon our affliction, labor, and oppression. He did not merely hear our cry from a distance; He entered into our suffering, experiencing human toil, sorrow, and ultimately, the oppression of the cross (cf. [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - He Bore Our Griefs")). Through His death and resurrection, Christ provides the definitive Exodus from spiritual slavery, offering true freedom and rest to all who cry out to Him (cf. [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). Thus, the historical deliverance recounted in Deuteronomy 26:7 foreshadows the greater, eternal deliverance accomplished by Jesus, who is the faithful God of our fathers, now revealed as the Son, bringing us into a new covenant of grace and a spiritual inheritance far greater than the land of Canaan (cf. [Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - A Better Covenant")).

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

Exodus 2:23

¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

Exodus 3:4

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I.

Exodus 3:9

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:21

Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Psalms 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 103:1

¶ [A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.