Deuteronomy 8:10

ΒΆ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

When thou hast eaten {H398} and art full {H7646}, then thou shalt bless {H1288} the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} for the good {H2896} land {H776} which he hath given {H5414} thee.

So you will eat and be satisfied, and you will bless ADONAI your God for the good land he has given you.

When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.

And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:10 stands as a powerful reminder of gratitude and remembrance, delivered by Moses to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This verse encapsulates a core principle of their covenant relationship with God: acknowledging Him as the ultimate source of all blessings, especially in times of abundance.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' farewell discourse to the Israelites, recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy. He is reiterating the laws and covenant stipulations before the new generation enters Canaan. The preceding verses in Deuteronomy 8 recount God's faithful provision during the forty years in the wilderness, teaching them humility and dependence on Him (e.g., Deuteronomy 8:3, where they learned that man does not live by bread alone). Moses warns them against forgetting God once they settle in the fertile land, build prosperous homes, and accumulate wealth. The command to bless the LORD after eating and being full is a direct counterpoint to the potential pride and self-sufficiency that prosperity might bring, a warning explicitly stated later in the chapter (Deuteronomy 8:14).

Key Themes

  • Gratitude and Thankfulness: The primary message is the imperative to express thanks to God for His provision. It's not just for the food itself, but for the "good land" He has given, which yields that food. This emphasizes a holistic appreciation for God's blessings.
  • Remembrance of God's Provision: The act of blessing serves as a spiritual discipline to remember that all prosperity, comfort, and sustenance come from the Lord, not from one's own strength or ingenuity.
  • Avoiding Pride and Forgetfulness: This verse acts as an antidote to the temptation to forget God when life is comfortable. Prosperity can often lead to a sense of self-reliance, which God warns against repeatedly in Deuteronomy.
  • Covenant Relationship: Blessing God acknowledges His faithfulness to His covenant promises, particularly the promise of the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bless the LORD" comes from the Hebrew word barak (Χ‘ΦΈΦΌΧ¨Φ·ΧšΦ°), which means to kneel, to praise, to salute, or to adore. When humans "bless" God, it is an act of praise, adoration, and thanksgiving for His goodness and sovereignty. It's an acknowledgment of His divine favor and provision. The "good land" (eretz tovah) refers to the fertile and desirable qualities of Canaan, contrasting it with the arid wilderness.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 8:10 holds timeless relevance for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a spirit of profound gratitude in all circumstances, especially for our daily provisions and comforts. This verse encourages us to:

  • Practice Daily Thanksgiving: Before and after meals, and throughout the day, remember to acknowledge God as the source of all good things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
  • Combat Materialism: In a world focused on accumulation and consumption, this verse reminds us that true blessing comes from God, not from the things themselves. It helps us avoid the pitfalls of greed and self-sufficiency.
  • Remember God in Prosperity: When life is comfortable and resources are abundant, it is easy to forget the Provider. This verse serves as a vital safeguard against spiritual complacency and pride, urging us to remain humble and dependent on God.
  • Recognize God's Sovereignty: Every blessing, whether food, shelter, health, or opportunity, is a gift from God's hand. Recognizing this truth strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him.

In essence, Deuteronomy 8:10 teaches us that true abundance is not just about having enough, but about having a heart full of thanks for the One who provides it all.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Psalms 103:2

    Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

  • Romans 14:6

    He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

  • Proverbs 3:9

    Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

  • 1 Chronicles 29:14

    But who [am] I, and what [is] my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

  • Deuteronomy 6:11

    And houses full of all good [things], which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

  • Deuteronomy 6:12

    [Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

  • Matthew 14:19

    And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
← Back