Deuteronomy 8:17

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth.

And thou say {H559} in thine heart {H3824}, My power {H3581} and the might {H6108} of mine hand {H3027} hath gotten {H6213} me this wealth {H2428}.

you will think to yourself, 'My own power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.'

You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”

and lest thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:17 (KJV) presents a powerful warning against the dangers of prosperity and self-reliance. As the Israelites stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land, Moses reminded them of the temptations they would face once they were settled and blessed with abundance.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' final addresses to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River. Chapter 8 serves as a retrospective on their 40-year wilderness journey and a forward-looking exhortation about life in Canaan. Moses reminds them that the hardships of the wilderness were designed to humble them and test their obedience (Deuteronomy 8:2). He recounts how God miraculously provided for them – manna, water from the rock, clothes that didn't wear out (Deuteronomy 8:16) – to teach them that man does not live by bread alone but by every word from God (Deuteronomy 8:3). The warning in verse 17 comes as a caution against forgetting these lessons once they enjoyed the fruits of the land, specifically the temptation to attribute their future wealth and success to their own efforts rather than God's blessing.

Key Themes

  • Pride and Self-Sufficiency: The core message is the danger of pride, specifically the thought "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." This represents a spirit of self-reliance that excludes God.
  • Forgetting God's Role: The verse highlights the human tendency to forget God's provision and grace when things are going well. Prosperity can lead to spiritual amnesia.
  • Source of Wealth: It sets up the contrast with the following verse (Deuteronomy 8:18), which explicitly states that it is God who gives the power to get wealth, establishing Him as the ultimate source of all blessing.
  • The Deceitfulness of the Heart: The phrase "say in thine heart" indicates that this proud thought might not even be spoken aloud but can reside internally, revealing a foundational attitude of the heart.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used emphasize the human perspective: "power" (כֹּחַ - koach) refers to strength or ability, and "might of mine hand" (עֹצֶם יָדִי - otzem yadi) literally means the "strength of my hand," stressing personal effort and capability. "Wealth" (חַיִל - chayil) is a versatile word that can mean strength, ability, army, or substance/wealth, reinforcing the idea of personal achievement leading to material gain.

Reflection

This verse serves as a timeless warning. In any era, when people experience success, whether in finances, career, or other achievements, there is a strong temptation to attribute it solely to their own hard work, intelligence, or skill. Deuteronomy 8:17 reminds us that this mindset is dangerous because it fails to acknowledge God's foundational role – the health and ability to work, the opportunities presented, the very resources available are ultimately from Him. Cultivating a spirit of gratitude and remembering God's hand in our blessings is crucial for maintaining humility and a right relationship with our Provider. As James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above."

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 9:4 (12 votes)

    Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:7 (7 votes)

    ¶ For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

  • Daniel 4:30 (7 votes)

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

  • Isaiah 10:8 (6 votes)

    For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?

  • Isaiah 10:14 (6 votes)

    And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

  • Hosea 12:8 (5 votes)

    And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: [in] all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that [were] sin.

  • Deuteronomy 7:17 (5 votes)

    If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations [are] more than I; how can I dispossess them?