Deuteronomy 8:18

Translation
King James Version
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
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KJV (with Strong's)
But thou shalt remember H2142 the LORD H3068 thy God H430: for it is he that giveth H5414 thee power H3581 to get H6213 wealth H2428, that he may establish H6965 his covenant H1285 which he sware H7650 unto thy fathers H1, as it is this day H3117.
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Complete Jewish Bible
No, you are to remember ADONAI your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.
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Berean Standard Bible
But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
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American Standard Version
But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day.
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World English Bible Messianic
But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
But remember the Lord thy God: for it is he which giueth thee power to get substance to establish his couenant which he sware vnto thy fathers, as appeareth this day.
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Young's Literal Translation
`And thou hast remembered Jehovah thy God, for He it is who is giving to thee power to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant which He hath sworn to thy fathers as at this day.
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See also
Proverbs 10:22Hosea 2:8Deuteronomy 7:8Psalms 127:1Psalms 127:2Deuteronomy 7:12Psalms 144:1
In the KJVVerse 5,156 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Deuteronomy 8:18 serves as a pivotal exhortation within Moses' valedictory address to the new generation of Israelites, standing on the precipice of entering the Promised Land. It profoundly asserts that any future prosperity, capacity for labor, or acquisition of wealth will not originate from their inherent strength or ingenuity, but solely from the LORD their God. This divine provision is inextricably linked to God's unwavering faithfulness in establishing His ancient covenant with their forefathers, underscoring that material blessings are not ends in themselves, but rather instruments in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, serving as a perpetual call to remember His sovereignty, grace, and covenant fidelity.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Deuteronomy 8:18 is strategically positioned at the culmination of Moses' earnest admonition in Deuteronomy chapter 8. The preceding verses (Deuteronomy 8:1-17) meticulously recount the forty years of wilderness wandering, a period designed by God to humble Israel and teach them absolute dependence on His word and provision, exemplified by the miraculous manna and their miraculously preserved garments (Deuteronomy 8:2-4). Moses starkly contrasts this era of scarcity and direct reliance on God with the impending abundance of the Promised Land, depicted as a land flowing with agricultural riches and natural resources (Deuteronomy 8:7-9). The central danger Moses urgently highlights is that in their future prosperity, the Israelites might "forget the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 8:11) and presumptuously attribute their success to their own strength, leading to spiritual pride and apostasy (Deuteronomy 8:12-14). Verse 18 directly confronts this potential amnesia, unequivocally declaring God as the singular source of all blessing and the ultimate purpose behind it, thereby grounding their future prosperity in divine grace rather than human merit.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: This powerful discourse is delivered to a generation of Israelites who were born during the wilderness sojourn and did not personally experience the Exodus from Egypt. They are currently encamped on the plains of Moab, poised to cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan, a land fundamentally different from the arid wilderness they had known. Canaan was a fertile, agricultural society, where inhabitants frequently attributed prosperity, fertility, and successful harvests to local pagan deities like Baal and Asherah. Moses' message directly challenges this pervasive pagan worldview by asserting Yahweh, the God of Israel, as the exclusive provider of all good things, including the "power to get wealth." The "covenant" referenced in the verse specifically alludes to the solemn promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which encompassed land, numerous descendants, and universal blessing (e.g., Genesis 12:1-3). The establishment and fulfillment of this covenant through their prosperity in the land would serve as an irrefutable, tangible demonstration of God's faithfulness to these ancient promises, thereby distinguishing Israel from the surrounding nations who relied on their own might or false gods.
  • Key Themes: Deuteronomy 8:18 significantly contributes to several profound themes woven throughout Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Provision, asserting that God is the ultimate and exclusive source of all blessings, including the capacity for material prosperity. This directly counters human pride and self-reliance, which Moses explicitly warns against in verses such as Deuteronomy 8:17. Secondly, the verse underscores the critical importance of Remembering God (a theme reiterated in Deuteronomy 8:11-14) not only in times of adversity but, crucially, in times of abundance. Forgetting God is presented as the root cause of disobedience and spiritual decline, a tragic pattern that would recur throughout Israel's subsequent history. Finally, it highlights the Covenantal Purpose of Prosperity. God's blessing is not merely for individual comfort or national accumulation; rather, it is instrumental in "establish[ing] his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers." This profoundly links individual and national prosperity directly to God's larger redemptive plan and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, demonstrating that blessings are a divinely ordained means to fulfill ultimate divine purposes, a concept echoed in God's desire to make Israel a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:3).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • power (Hebrew, kôaḥ', H3581): This term (H3581) denotes vigor, strength, ability, or might. In the context of Deuteronomy 8:18, it signifies not merely the physical capacity to labor, but the holistic enablement from God that allows for productivity and success. It encompasses intellectual capacity, skill, opportunity, health, and even favorable circumstances—all ultimately originating from divine grace. It is the intrinsic capacity or wherewithal that God grants, allowing individuals to achieve and prosper.
  • wealth (Hebrew, ḥayil', H2428): This multifaceted word (H2428) can mean "force," "strength," "valor," "virtue," "army," or "riches." Here, it specifically refers to material prosperity, riches, or substance. However, its broader semantic range suggests that the "wealth" God provides is not just accumulated possessions but also the ability to be productive, effective, and even valiant in one's endeavors. It implies a robust, flourishing state, encompassing not only financial gain but also the strength and capacity to generate and manage resources.
  • remember (Hebrew, zâkar', H2142): This primitive root (H2142) means "to mark (so as to be recognized)," "to remember," or "to mention." In this imperative, it signifies much more than mere intellectual recall. It implies an active, intentional, and heartfelt recollection that shapes one's actions, attitudes, and worship. To remember God in this context means to acknowledge His past faithfulness, His present sovereignty, and His future promises, allowing this remembrance to inform one's gratitude, obedience, and stewardship, particularly in times of prosperity.

Verse Breakdown

  • "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God": This opening imperative serves as a direct command and a vital counterpoint to the warnings in the preceding verses about forgetting God. It is a call to conscious, active, and appreciative recollection of God's character, His past faithfulness, and His ongoing sovereignty. This remembrance is especially crucial in the context of material blessing, serving as a safeguard against pride and self-sufficiency. Remembering implies gratitude, worship, and obedience, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of all good.
  • "for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth," This explanatory clause provides the fundamental theological reason for remembering God. It unequivocally declares that the capacity, skill, opportunity, and means to acquire material prosperity ("power to get wealth") originate solely from God. This statement directly refutes any notion of self-sufficiency or the attribution of success to human effort alone, emphasizing divine enablement as the absolute prerequisite for any form of true and lasting prosperity. It highlights God's active involvement in the economic lives of His people.
  • "that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day." This final clause reveals the profound theological purpose behind God's provision of wealth. The granting of prosperity is not an end in itself, nor is it merely for the comfort or accumulation of the individual or nation. Instead, it is a divinely ordained means by which God fulfills and confirms His solemn promises (covenant) made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The concluding phrase "as it is this day" powerfully underscores the ongoing, tangible evidence of God's faithfulness, reminding the Israelites that their very presence on the border of the Promised Land, poised for blessing, is a living testament to God's unswerving commitment to His word and His redemptive plan.

Literary Devices

Deuteronomy 8:18 is rich with powerful literary devices that amplify its message. Central to the verse is Exhortation, as Moses passionately urges the people to remember God, employing a direct, second-person address ("thou shalt"). The verse functions as a profound Warning against the spiritual dangers inherent in prosperity, particularly the temptation towards pride and self-sufficiency. There is a strong element of Contrast established between human strength and divine provision, emphatically highlighting that true power and wealth originate from God, not from human effort or ingenuity alone. The pervasive use of Covenant Language ("establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers") anchors the present blessings within the framework of God's ancient, unchanging promises, providing a deep theological foundation for understanding prosperity. Finally, the verse employs a clear Cause and Effect structure: remembering God (the cause) is intrinsically linked to understanding His role as the giver of wealth (the immediate effect), which in turn serves His overarching covenant purposes (the ultimate effect).

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Deuteronomy 8:18 stands as a foundational text for developing a biblical theology of prosperity and stewardship. It asserts God's absolute sovereignty over all aspects of human existence, including economic well-being, directly challenging the pervasive human tendency to claim self-sufficiency or attribute success solely to personal effort. Prosperity, far from being a sign of personal merit, a reward for good works, or a license for self-indulgence, is unequivocally presented as a divine gift, intrinsically linked to God's covenant purposes and His broader redemptive plan. This understanding cultivates profound humility and constant gratitude, compelling believers to recognize God as the ultimate source of "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). It reframes wealth not as a personal possession to be hoarded, but as a sacred resource entrusted by God to be stewarded for His glory, the advancement of His kingdom, and the blessing of others. This perspective transforms the pursuit and enjoyment of prosperity into an act of worship and obedience, ensuring that material blessings serve spiritual ends and contribute to God's unfolding purposes in the world.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Deuteronomy 8:18 profoundly challenges contemporary believers to critically examine their understanding of success, achievement, and prosperity in a world often driven by self-reliance and material accumulation. In a culture that frequently equates wealth with personal ingenuity, hard work, or sheer luck, this verse radically reorients our perspective, reminding us that every capacity, every opportunity, and every blessing ultimately flows from the sovereign hand of God. It calls us to cultivate a posture of profound humility, continuous gratitude, and active remembrance, ensuring that our material abundance does not lead to spiritual amnesia, pride, or a diminished sense of dependence on our Creator. Instead, our prosperity should deepen our reliance on God, prompting us to remember His faithfulness and to utilize the "power to get wealth" He provides—whether it be talent, resources, or opportunities—not for selfish gain, but as a means to further His kingdom, bless others, and tangibly demonstrate His covenant love and faithfulness to a watching world. This verse serves as a powerful antidote to covetousness, self-aggrandizement, and spiritual complacency, fostering a spirit of generous stewardship and purpose-driven living.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does actively remembering God as the ultimate source of your abilities and blessings transform your daily work ethic, financial decisions, and career aspirations?
  • What practical steps can you implement in your life to consciously counteract the temptation to forget the LORD when experiencing prosperity or success?
  • In what specific ways can the "wealth," talents, or "power" God has entrusted to you be intentionally leveraged to advance His covenant purposes and bless others in your community or globally?
  • How does the truth of Deuteronomy 8:18 challenge prevalent cultural narratives about "self-made success" and individual achievement, and what implications does this have for your worldview?

FAQ

Does this verse promise wealth to all believers?

Answer: Deuteronomy 8:18 does not promise universal material wealth to every individual believer in all circumstances. Rather, its primary purpose is to reveal the source of any wealth or ability to acquire it, should God sovereignly choose to grant it. The emphasis is on remembering God in prosperity and understanding that any capacity for success, productivity, or material gain comes solely from Him, serving His broader covenant purposes. While God does indeed bless His people, the nature and extent of those blessings vary according to His sovereign will and His multifaceted redemptive plan, which, especially in the New Testament, often prioritizes spiritual riches, eternal inheritance, and kingdom advancement over mere material accumulation.

How does "power to get wealth" relate to modern work and finance?

Answer: The principle of "power to get wealth" remains profoundly relevant in a modern context. This "power" encompasses our intelligence, skills, talents, creativity, opportunities, physical and mental health, and even the stability of the economic systems and societies we operate within—all of which are ultimately gifts from God. It means that whether we are entrepreneurs, employees, investors, artists, or innovators, our inherent capacity to be productive, generate resources, and create value is divinely enabled. This understanding should lead to diligent and ethical work, responsible financial practices, and a humble recognition that our success is not solely a result of our own efforts but a grace from God, to be stewarded wisely for His glory and the good of others, rather than for self-aggrandizement or fleeting pleasure.

What does it mean to "remember the LORD thy God" in prosperity?

Answer: To "remember the LORD thy God" in prosperity means much more than mere intellectual recall or occasional acknowledgment. It implies an active, continuous, and grateful posture of the heart that recognizes His absolute sovereignty and faithful provision in every aspect of our lives, particularly when we are experiencing abundance. It involves attributing our successes, resources, and opportunities to His grace, rather than to our own strength, wisdom, or luck. Practically, this translates into consistent worship, diligent obedience to His commands, generous stewardship of the resources He has entrusted to us, and a humble spirit that actively resists pride, self-sufficiency, and the temptation to forget Him, as Moses warned against in Deuteronomy 8:11-14. It is a continuous posture of dependence and gratitude, ensuring that our hearts remain fixed on Him, regardless of our material circumstances.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Deuteronomy 8:18 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's covenant faithfulness and the source of all true and lasting blessing. While the Old Testament covenant promised material blessings in the land as a tangible sign of God's fidelity, Christ redefines and infinitely expands the concept of true "wealth" and "power." He is the "Yes" and "Amen" to all of God's promises (2 Corinthians 1:20), and in Him, believers receive not merely earthly prosperity, but "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). The "power to get wealth" is transcended by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live righteously, bear spiritual fruit, and participate in the advancement of God's eternal kingdom, which is infinitely greater and more enduring than any earthly inheritance. Christ Himself, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9), demonstrating that true wealth is found in Him and His redemptive work on the cross. He empowers His followers not just to acquire material gain, but to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), with the assurance that all necessary things will be provided. Thus, our remembrance of the LORD in prosperity is ultimately a remembrance of Christ, through whom all blessings, both temporal and eternal, flow, enabling us to live lives that establish His new covenant in the world and bring glory to His name.

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Commentary on Deuteronomy 8 verses 10–20

Moses, having mentioned the great plenty they would find in the land of Canaan, finds it necessary to caution them against the abuse of that plenty, which was a sin they would be the more prone to new that they came into the vineyard of the Lord, immediately out of a barren desert.

I. He directs them to the duty of a prosperous condition, Deu 8:10. They are allowed to eat even to fulness, not to surfeiting no excess; but let them always remember their benefactor, the founder of their feast, and never fail to give thanks after meat: Then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God. 1. They must take heed of eating or drinking so much as to indispose themselves for this duty of blessing God, rather aiming to serve God therein with so much the more cheerfulness and enlargement. 2. They must not have any fellowship with those that, when they had eaten and were full, blessed false gods, as the Israelites themselves had done in their worship of the golden calf, Exo 32:6. 3. Whatever they had the comfort of God must have the glory of. As our Saviour has taught us to bless before we eat (Mat 14:19, Mat 14:20), so we are here taught to bless after meat. That is our Hosannah - God bless; this is our Hallelujah - Blessed be God. In every thing we must give thanks. From this law the religious Jews took up a laudable usage of blessing God, not only at their solemn meals, but upon other occasions; if they drank a cup of wine they lifted up their hands and said, Blessed be he that created the fruit of the vine to make glad the heart. If they did but smell at a flower, they said, Blessed be he that made this flower sweet. 4. When they gave thanks for the fruits of the land they must give thanks for the fruits of the land itself, which was given them by promise From all our comfortable enjoyments we must take occasion to thank God for our comfortable settlements; and I know not but we of this nation have as much reason as they had to give thanks for a good land.

II. He arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition, and charges them to stand upon their guard against them: "When thou art settled in goodly houses of thy own building," Deu 8:12 (for though God gave them houses which they builded not, Deu 6:10, these would not serve them, they must have larger and finer), - "and when thou hast grown rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (Deu 8:13), as Abraham (Gen 13:2), - when all thou hast is multiplied," 1. "Then take heed of pride. Beware lest then thy heart be lifted up," Deu 8:14. When the estate rises, the mind is apt to rise with it, in self-conceit, self-complacency, and self-confidence. Let us therefore strive to keep the spirit low in a high condition; humility is both the ease and the ornament of prosperity. Take heed of saying, so much as in thy heart, that proud word, My power, even the might of my hand, hath gotten me this wealth, Deu 8:17. Note, We must never take the praise of our prosperity to ourselves, nor attribute it to our ingenuity or industry; for bread is not always to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, Ecc 9:11. It is spiritual idolatry thus to sacrifice to our own net, Hab 1:16. 2. "Then take heed of forgetting God." This follows upon the lifting up on the heart; for it is through the pride of the countenance that the wicked seek not after God, Psa 10:4. Those that admire themselves despise God. (1.) "Forget not thy duty to God." Deu 8:11. We forget God if we keep not his commandments; we forget his authority over us, and our obligations to him and expectations from him, if we are not obedient to his laws. When men grow rich they are tempted to think religion a needless thing. They are happy without it, think it a thing below them and too hard upon them. Their dignity forbids them to stoop, and their liberty forbids them to serve. But we are basely ungrateful if the better God is to us the worse we are to him. (2.) "Forget not God's former dealings with thee. Thy deliverance out of Egypt, Deu 8:14. The provision he made for thee in the wilderness, that great and terrible wilderness." They must never forget the impressions which the horror of that wilderness made upon them; see Jer 2:6, where it is called the very shadow of death. There God preserved them from being destroyed by the fiery serpents and scorpions, though sometimes he made use of them for their correction: there he kept them from perishing for want of water, following them with water out of a rock of flint (Deu 8:15), out of which (says bishop Patrick) one would rather have expected fire than water. There he fed them with manna, of which before (Deu 8:3), taking care to keep them alive, that he might do them good at their latter end, Deu 8:16. Note, God reserves the best till the last for his Israel. However he may seem to deal hardly with them by the way, he will not fail to do them good at their latter end. (3.) "Forget not God's hand in thy present prosperity, Deu 8:18. Remember it is he that giveth thee wealth; for he giveth thee power to get wealth." See here how God's giving and our getting are reconciled, and apply it to spiritual wealth. It is our duty to get wisdom, and above all our gettings to get understanding; and yet it is God's grace that gives wisdom, and when we have got it we must not say, It was the might of our hand that got it, but must own it was God that gave us power to get it, and therefore to him we must give the praise and consecrate the use of it. The blessing of the Lord on the hand of the diligent makes rich both for this world and for the other. He giveth thee power to get wealth, not so much to gratify thee, and make thee easy, as that he may establish his covenant. All God's gifts are in pursuance of his promises.

III. He repeats the fair warning he had often given them of the fatal consequences of their apostasy from God, Deu 8:19, Deu 8:20. Observe, 1. How he describes the sin; it is forgetting God, and then worshipping other gods. What wickedness will not those fall into that keep thoughts of God out of their minds? And, when once the affections are displaced from God, they will soon be misplaced upon lying vanities. 2. How he denounces wrath and ruin against them for it: "If you do so, you shall surely perish, and the power and might of your hands, which you are so proud of, cannot help you. Nay, you shall perish as the nations that are driven out before you. God will make no more account of you, notwithstanding his covenant with you and your relation to him, than he does of them, if you will not be obedient and faithful to him." Those that follow others in sin will certainly follow them to destruction. If we do as sinners do, we must expect to fare as sinners fare.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–20. Public domain.
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Clement of AlexandriaAD 215
The Stromata Book 2
By these words [Scripture] is showing clearly that it is God who grants us gifts of good things and that we ought as servants of the grace of God to sow God’s gracious gifts and enable our neighbors to become people of honor. The aim is for the man of self-control to enable those who are continent to find their fulfillment, the man of courage to do the same for the noble, the man of practical wisdom for the understanding, and the man of justice for the just.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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