Deuteronomy 29:6

KJV

Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I [am] the LORD your God.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye have not eaten {H398} bread {H3899}, neither have ye drunk {H8354} wine {H3196} or strong drink {H7941}: that ye might know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You didn't eat bread, and you didn't drink wine or other intoxicating liquor; this was so that you would know that 'I am ADONAI your God.'

Berean Standard Bible

You ate no bread and drank no wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.

American Standard Version

Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 29:6 serves as a powerful reminder from Moses to the Israelites, delivered on the cusp of their entry into the Promised Land. This verse encapsulates God's extraordinary and unconventional provision for His people throughout their forty-year wilderness sojourn, specifically highlighting the absence of typical sustenance like bread, wine, or strong drink. This miraculous care was not merely about physical survival but served a profound theological purpose: to deeply embed within the nation the experiential knowledge of Yahweh as their sovereign, faithful God, distinct from any human or natural means of provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Moses' concluding discourse to the nation of Israel on the plains of Moab, immediately preceding their entry into Canaan. The book of Deuteronomy, meaning "second law," functions as a solemn renewal and exposition of the covenant established at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses addresses the generation that matured in the wilderness, distinct from those who departed Egypt, reiterating God's unwavering faithfulness and their corresponding covenant obligations. The immediate literary context of [Deuteronomy 29:1-9](/deuteronomy/29-1 "Deuteronomy 29:1-9 - The Covenant in Moab") sets the stage for a profound covenant renewal ceremony. Here, God's past miraculous interventions and sustained care, despite Israel's frequent rebellion, are presented as the foundational basis for their future obedience and commitment to the covenant stipulations. This verse specifically recalls a pivotal aspect of their wilderness experience, reinforcing the unique relationship between God and His people.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites had spent forty years in the wilderness, a barren and inhospitable environment where conventional agriculture was impossible. Their survival was entirely dependent on divine intervention. In the ancient Near East, bread was the staple of life, and wine was a common beverage and symbol of blessing and prosperity, often associated with the produce of the land. Strong drink (Hebrew: שֵׁכָר, _shekar'_) referred to fermented beverages other than grape wine. By stating that they had neither, Moses underscored the utterly supernatural nature of their sustenance, which included [manna from heaven](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - Manna in the Wilderness") and [water from the rock](/exodus/17-6 "Exodus 17:6 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim"). This experience was designed to wean them off reliance on typical human provisions and the agricultural cycles of Canaanite culture, preparing them to enter a land of abundance without succumbing to the idolatrous practices of its inhabitants who attributed fertility to their false gods.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates several key themes central to Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Provision Beyond Natural Means**, emphasizing that Israel's survival was not due to their own efforts or the land's productivity, but solely to God's direct, miraculous intervention. This extraordinary care extended even to their clothing and footwear, which did not wear out ([Deuteronomy 8:4](/deuteronomy/8-4 "Deuteronomy 8:4 - God's Sustained Care in the Wilderness"), [Nehemiah 9:21](/nehemiah/9-21 "Nehemiah 9:21 - God's Faithfulness to Israel")). Secondly, this unconventional provision served to **Cultivate Absolute Dependence** on God. By withholding typical provisions, God compelled Israel into a state of utter reliance on Him, teaching them that true sustenance and flourishing emanate from Him alone, not from human effort or the abundance of the land they were about to inherit. Lastly, the ultimate purpose was **Knowing God's Character**. The phrase "that ye might know that I am the LORD your God" underscores that the wilderness journey was a living classroom, designed to reveal God's faithfulness, power, and sovereignty. They were to learn experientially that He is the one true God, Yahweh Elohim, who faithfully keeps His covenant promises and provides for His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Know (Hebrew, _yada'_):** This is not merely intellectual knowledge but a deep, experiential, relational knowing. In biblical thought, "to know" often implies intimate personal experience and recognition of truth through encounter. Here, Israel's lack of conventional food and drink, coupled with God's miraculous provision, was designed to forge an undeniable, lived understanding of who Yahweh truly is—their faithful, all-sufficient provider. This knowledge was meant to transform their identity and solidify their covenant relationship.
* **The LORD your God (Hebrew, _YHWH Elohim'_):** This composite divine title is central to the covenant relationship. **YHWH** (often rendered "LORD" in English Bibles) is God's personal, covenant name, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and His intimate, covenant-keeping relationship with Israel. It speaks to His unwavering faithfulness. **Elohim** is the general Hebrew word for God, emphasizing His power, majesty, and creative authority as the supreme deity. Together, "the LORD your God" powerfully declares God's unique identity as both the mighty, sovereign Creator of the universe and the personal, faithful, covenant-keeping God who is intimately involved with Israel. The wilderness experience was a practical, forty-year demonstration of who this YHWH Elohim truly is.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye have not eaten bread,"**: This clause highlights the miraculous nature of Israel's sustenance. For forty years, they did not rely on cultivated grains or baked bread, the staple food of the ancient world. This emphasizes God's direct, supernatural provision of manna, which was unlike any natural food source and required daily dependence.
* **"neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink:"**: This further underscores the extraordinary circumstances. Wine and strong drink were common beverages, often associated with agricultural produce and settled life. Their absence signifies that Israel was not living off the land's bounty or human industry, but solely on God's provision of water from the rock, which was also miraculous and consistent.
* **"that ye might know that I [am] the LORD your God."**: This is the crucial purpose clause, revealing the ultimate theological intent behind God's unique provision. The physical sustenance was a means to a spiritual end: for Israel to experientially and intimately "know" Yahweh as their personal, covenant-keeping God (YHWH Elohim). The bracketed "am" in the KJV correctly implies the self-existent nature of YHWH, reinforcing that their sustenance came from the very being of God Himself, not from any created thing. This knowledge was meant to be foundational for their identity as His people and their obedience in the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 29:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting the Israelites' unconventional wilderness diet (no bread, wine, or strong drink) against the typical human means of sustenance. This stark contrast highlights the supernatural nature of God's provision and underscores Israel's utter dependence on Him. There is also a clear use of **Didacticism**, as the entire verse is framed as a lesson or teaching from Moses, designed to instruct the new generation about God's character and their relationship with Him. The phrase "that ye might know" functions as a **Purpose Clause**, explicitly stating the divine intention behind God's actions, demonstrating that God's provision is not just for physical survival but for spiritual formation and relational knowledge. Finally, the repetition of the divine title "the LORD your God" throughout Deuteronomy, and its specific placement here, serves as a form of **Emphasis**, reinforcing God's unique identity and His covenant fidelity to Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 29:6 profoundly illustrates God's sovereignty over creation and His intimate involvement in the lives of His people, demonstrating that His provision transcends natural limitations. It teaches that true life and sustenance are found not in material abundance or human effort, but in a radical dependence on God alone. This principle resonates throughout scripture, emphasizing that God often leads His people through "wilderness" experiences to strip away self-reliance and deepen their experiential knowledge of Him. The purpose of His provision is always ultimately relational and revelatory, designed to reveal His character as the faithful, all-sufficient "LORD your God" who desires a deep, abiding relationship with His covenant people.

* [Psalm 78:19-20](/psalms/78-19 "Psalm 78:19-20 - Doubting God's Provision")
* [Matthew 4:4](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 29:6 offers timeless lessons for believers today, reminding us that God's methods of provision are often unconventional, designed not just to meet our physical needs but to cultivate a deeper spiritual reliance on Him. In a world that often encourages self-sufficiency and material accumulation, this verse calls us to embrace a posture of radical dependence on God, especially in seasons of scarcity, uncertainty, or when conventional solutions seem absent. Just as God forced Israel to look beyond bread and wine to Himself, so too does He invite us to recognize that our ultimate sustenance, security, and flourishing come from Him alone, not from our jobs, savings, or human systems. Every experience of His faithfulness, particularly when it comes through unexpected means, is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of His character, His love, and His power. When we see Him provide, we grow in our knowledge that He truly is "the LORD our God" – faithful, powerful, and intimately involved in every detail of our lives, shaping us to trust Him more fully.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "bread and wine" (i.e., conventional sources of security or comfort) might God be calling me to release my grip on, in order to cultivate deeper dependence on Him?**
* **How have I experienced God's unconventional provision in my own life, and what did those experiences teach me about His character?**
* **In what ways does my daily life demonstrate that I truly "know" the LORD as my God, not just intellectually, but experientially?**

### FAQ
**Why did God specifically withhold bread, wine, and strong drink from Israel in the wilderness?**

Answer: God withheld these common provisions not to deprive Israel, but to demonstrate His unique and supernatural power, and to cultivate absolute dependence on Him. Bread, wine, and strong drink were staples produced through agriculture, symbolizing human effort and the bounty of the land. By providing manna and water from the rock instead, God ensured that Israel's survival was undeniably a result of His direct, miraculous intervention. This experience was designed to prevent them from attributing their sustenance to their own efforts or to the gods of the land they were about to enter. It was a forty-year object lesson, teaching them that true life and provision come from God's word and His hand, not from natural means, as echoed in [Matthew 4:4](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 29:6, with its emphasis on God's supernatural provision and the ultimate goal of knowing Him, finds its profoundest fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The wilderness experience, where Israel was sustained by manna and water, foreshadows Christ as the true and ultimate spiritual sustenance. Jesus declares Himself to be the "[bread of life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")" (John 6:35), stating that those who come to Him will never hunger and those who believe in Him will never thirst. Unlike the manna, which sustained physical life but did not prevent death, Jesus offers eternal life to those who feed on Him spiritually (John 6:49-51). Furthermore, the purpose "that ye might know that I am the LORD your God" is fully realized in Christ. To know God is to know Jesus, for He is the "[exact imprint of His nature](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")" (Hebrews 1:3) and the one through whom the Father is fully revealed (John 14:9). In Christ, we receive not just physical provision, but the spiritual life, wisdom, and righteousness that truly allow us to know God intimately and eternally, living by His every word (Matthew 4:4) and finding our ultimate satisfaction in Him alone.

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

Deuteronomy 8:3

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Ephesians 5:18

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Exodus 16:35

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Numbers 20:8

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Psalms 78:24

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

Psalms 78:25

Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

1 Corinthians 9:25

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.