Deuteronomy 29:5

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

And I have led {H3212} you forty {H705} years {H8141} in the wilderness {H4057}: your clothes {H8008} are not waxen old {H1086} upon you, and thy shoe {H5275} is not waxen old {H1086} upon thy foot {H7272}.

I led you forty years in the desert. Neither the clothes on your body nor the shoes on your feet wore out.

For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxed old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxed old upon thy foot.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:5 is a powerful reminder of God's miraculous provision and steadfast care for the Israelites during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Moses, in his final address, recounts how God sustained them in an inhospitable environment, performing wonders beyond natural explanation.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. The entire chapter 29 emphasizes the renewal of the covenant made at Mount Horeb. Moses is reminding the new generation, and those who survived the wilderness, of God's past faithfulness and mighty acts. This serves to encourage them to remember His provision and obey His commands as they prepare to inherit Canaan.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Sustenance: The core message is God's supernatural ability to provide for His people's most basic needs. In a harsh wilderness, where resources were scarce, their clothing and footwear miraculously did not wear out. This speaks to God's comprehensive care for their physical well-being.
  • God's Faithfulness: For four decades, God remained faithful to His covenant promises, actively preserving His people. This verse is a testament to His unwavering commitment, even when the Israelites themselves were often rebellious.
  • Miraculous Preservation: The fact that "your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot" highlights a continuous, ongoing miracle. It wasn't just a one-time event but a sustained act of divine power, preventing natural decay. This miraculous preservation is also attested to in Nehemiah 9:21.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "waxen old" translates the Hebrew word balah (Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧœΦΈΧ”), which means 'to wear out,' 'to decay,' or 'to consume.' The repeated use emphasizes the complete absence of natural deterioration. It underscores that this was not merely durable clothing, but divinely preserved garments and shoes, defying the normal effects of time and use in a challenging desert environment.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 29:5 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Provision: Just as God provided for the Israelites' clothing and shoes, He promises to care for our needs. This verse encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness for our daily sustenance, knowing that if He cared for them in the wilderness, He will care for us (compare with Matthew 6:33).
  • Remembering Past Faithfulness: When facing challenges or "wilderness seasons" in our own lives, we can look back at God's past faithfulness, both to the Israelites and in our personal experiences. Remembering His past acts of provision strengthens our faith for the present and future.
  • God's Attention to Detail: This miracle isn't about grand events like parting the Red Sea, but about the mundane, everyday necessities. It reminds us that God's care extends to every detail of our lives, demonstrating His intimate and personal involvement.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 8:4

    Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

  • Nehemiah 9:21

    Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

  • Deuteronomy 8:2

    And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

  • Deuteronomy 1:3

    And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first [day] of the month, [that] Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

  • Matthew 10:10

    Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

  • Matthew 6:31

    Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

  • Matthew 6:32

    (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
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