TRV
Translation
King James Version
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Complete Jewish Bible
If you forget ADONAI your God, follow other gods and serve and worship them, I am warning you in advance today that you will certainly perish.
Berean Standard Bible
If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
American Standard Version
And it shall be, if thou shalt forget Jehovah thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
World English Bible Messianic
It shall be, if you shall forget the LORD your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And if thou forget the Lord thy God, and walke after other gods, and serue them, and worship them, I testifie vnto you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Young's Literal Translation
`And it hath been--if thou really forget Jehovah thy God, and hast gone after other gods, and served them, and bowed thyself to them, I have testified against you to-day that ye do utterly perish;
See also
In the KJVVerse 5,157 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Deuteronomy 8 verses 10–20
10 ¶ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 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.
19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
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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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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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 8:19 delivers a profound and urgent warning from Moses to the Israelites on the precipice of entering the Promised Land. It underscores the severe consequences of spiritual amnesia and the seductive pull of idolatry, asserting that a deliberate forgetting of the LORD and the subsequent pursuit, service, and worship of other gods will inevitably lead to their utter destruction and removal from the covenant blessings. This verse serves as an unwavering declaration of Yahweh's non-negotiable demand for exclusive devotion and unwavering loyalty from His covenant people.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Deuteronomy 8:19 is strategically placed within Moses' final, impassioned address to the new generation of Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they prepare to cross into Canaan. This verse is part of a larger hortatory section (chapters 6-11) that serves as a theological and ethical preamble to the Deuteronomic Law, passionately urging the people to remember and obey God's commands. Specifically, Deuteronomy 8 functions as a powerful retrospective, recounting God's faithful provision and humbling discipline during their forty-year wilderness journey, designed to teach them absolute dependence on Him (e.g., Deuteronomy 8:2-3). The verses immediately preceding 8:19 (Deuteronomy 8:11-18) directly caution against the perils of prosperity, warning that abundance could lead to pride and a dangerous forgetfulness of the Lord, causing them to attribute their success to their own strength rather than to God's gracious hand. Thus, 8:19 acts as the climactic and most severe warning against such spiritual neglect and its ultimate manifestation in covenant-breaking idolatry.
Historical & Cultural Context: The immediate audience for Moses' discourse was the generation born in the wilderness, who had witnessed the consequences of their parents' unbelief and rebellion (e.g., Numbers 14). They stood poised to enter a land already inhabited by diverse Canaanite cultures, characterized by pervasive polytheism, abhorrent fertility cults, and practices like child sacrifice (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:29-31). The covenant established at Horeb (Mount Sinai) was structured as a suzerainty treaty, a common ancient Near Eastern political framework where a powerful king (Suzerain) dictated terms to a subservient people (vassal). In this divine covenant, Yahweh was the benevolent Suzerain, and Israel was His chosen vassal. The terms included exclusive loyalty, absolute obedience, and severe curses for infidelity, balanced by abundant blessings for faithfulness. Moses' address in Deuteronomy re-affirmed and re-articulated this covenant for their new life in the land, where the temptations of foreign gods and self-reliance would be constant. The warning in Deuteronomy 8:19 directly addresses the foundational covenant demand for monotheistic worship in a deeply polytheistic world.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully encapsulates several core themes central to Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament narrative. The paramount theme is the danger of spiritual forgetfulness, which is not a mere lapse of memory but a deliberate turning away from, or neglect of, God's presence, His commands, and His past acts of faithfulness. This profound forgetfulness inevitably leads to the sin of idolatry, explicitly defined as "walking after other gods, and serving them, and worshiping them." This directly violates the First Commandment, underscoring Yahweh's exclusive claim on Israel's devotion (Exodus 20:3). The severe consequence of such covenant infidelity is divine judgment and perishing, signifying a profound, often corporate, destruction or removal from the covenant blessings and the Promised Land. This highlights the overarching theme of covenant fidelity and its consequences, where obedience brings life and blessing, while disobedience brings death and curse. The entire book of Deuteronomy is permeated with this urgent call to remember and obey, which is presented as essential for Israel's continued existence and prosperity in the land.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 8:19 is rich in literary devices that amplify its impact and convey its urgent message with solemnity. The verse employs a clear Conditional Clause ("if thou do... then ye shall surely perish"), which is a foundational element of covenant theology, directly outlining the cause-and-effect relationship between disobedience and judgment. Repetition and Emphasis are evident in the intensified verbal constructions, such as "do at all forget" and "surely perish," which underscore the certainty and gravity of the warning. Moses utilizes Legal Testimony ("I testify against you this day"), positioning himself as a divine witness and lending a formal, binding weight to the declaration, reminiscent of ancient Near Eastern treaty stipulations. The concept of "other gods" functions as Symbolism for anything that usurps Yahweh's rightful place in the hearts and lives of His people, extending beyond literal idols to any object of ultimate allegiance. The stark contrast between remembering and forgetting, and between serving Yahweh and serving other gods, creates a powerful Antithesis, highlighting the mutually exclusive choices before Israel and the profound consequences of choosing wrongly.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 8:19 stands as a pivotal statement on the nature of God's covenant with Israel, profoundly emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and His demand for exclusive worship. Theologically, it powerfully reinforces the concept of monotheism against the pervasive polytheism of the ancient world, asserting that Yahweh alone is God and worthy of all devotion. It highlights the profound spiritual danger of "forgetting" God, which is not merely an intellectual oversight but a deep-seated spiritual rebellion that inevitably leads to idolatry. This "forgetting" is a failure to acknowledge God's past grace, His present provision, and His future promises, leading to a self-reliant pride that attributes success to human effort rather than divine blessing. The consequence of "perishing" underscores God's justice and the inviolable nature of His covenant. While His love is steadfast, His holiness demands a response of faithfulness, and persistent rebellion against His covenant will inevitably lead to severe judgment, often manifested as loss of blessing, exile, or national destruction.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 8:19 remains profoundly relevant for believers today, serving as a timeless caution against spiritual complacency and the insidious nature of idolatry. In an age of unprecedented prosperity, technological advancement, and abundant information, the temptation to "forget the LORD our God" is ever-present. We can easily attribute our successes, comfort, and security to our own ingenuity, hard work, or economic systems, rather than recognizing God as the ultimate source of all blessings and the sustainer of life itself. Modern idolatry rarely involves physical statues but manifests in the worship of materialism, self-sufficiency, comfort, power, pleasure, personal achievement, or even the pursuit of good things that displace God from the absolute center of our lives and affections. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of active remembrance, constantly recalling God's faithfulness, His unwavering provision, and His authoritative commands. It urges us to guard our hearts against anything that seeks to usurp God's rightful place as the supreme object of our affection and allegiance, fostering a spirit of profound gratitude, humble dependence, and unwavering devotion. By taking seriously the warnings against spiritual forgetfulness and its dire consequences, we are spurred to vigilance, intentional worship, and a lifestyle that consistently acknowledges God as the sovereign source and sustainer of all things.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "forget the LORD thy God" truly mean in this context?
Answer: In Deuteronomy 8:19, "forgetting the LORD thy God" (Hebrew: שכח, shâkach') goes far beyond simple memory loss or intellectual oversight. It signifies a profound spiritual neglect, a deliberate turning away from the covenant relationship, and an abandonment of the loyalty and obedience owed exclusively to Yahweh. It implies a failure of the heart and will to acknowledge God's past acts of deliverance, His ongoing provision, and His authoritative commands. This spiritual amnesia leads to a self-reliant pride that attributes success to human effort rather than divine blessing, ultimately paving the way for disobedience and the pursuit of other gods. It's a failure to maintain an active, living, and responsive relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of life, as powerfully emphasized throughout Deuteronomy 6:10-12.
Does "perish" imply eternal damnation for every individual?
Answer: While the term "perish" (Hebrew: אבד, ʼâbad') can certainly refer to individual death, in the context of Deuteronomy and the Old Testament covenant, it often carries a primary corporate and national meaning. It typically signifies the destruction of a people, their removal from the Promised Land, the loss of their national identity, or their forfeiture of covenant blessings due to infidelity. For Israel, "perishing" meant being scattered among the nations, losing their unique status as God's chosen people, and experiencing the severe curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28. While individual spiritual death and separation from God are certainly implied by turning away from Him, the primary emphasis in this context is on the corporate consequences for the nation of Israel as a whole, rather than a specific pronouncement of eternal damnation for every individual.
How is this relevant to Christians today, given the New Covenant?
Answer: Although Christians live under the New Covenant in Christ, the foundational principles of Deuteronomy 8:19 remain profoundly relevant and instructive. While the specific covenant curses of the Old Testament do not apply in the same way, the core warning against spiritual forgetfulness and idolatry is timeless and universal. Forgetting God today can manifest as failing to acknowledge His sovereignty over all aspects of life, neglecting His Word as our guide, or becoming complacent in our faith and devotion. Modern "other gods" are often not physical idols but rather materialism, self-worship, comfort, career, pleasure, or anything that displaces Christ from the supreme place in our hearts and lives (Colossians 3:5). The New Testament consistently warns against these forms of idolatry and emphasizes the need for exclusive devotion to God (Matthew 6:24). The consequences for believers who persistently turn away from God, while not necessarily national destruction, involve a loss of spiritual vitality, broken fellowship with God, and a diminished experience of God's blessing, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance, intentional faithfulness, and a heart fully devoted to Him.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 8:19, with its stark warning against forgetting God and pursuing other gods, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound significance in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel's repeated failure to "remember" Yahweh and their persistent turning to idols throughout their history revealed humanity's inherent inability to perfectly keep the covenant and maintain exclusive devotion. Jesus, however, is the true Israel, the perfectly faithful Son who never forgot the Father, perfectly obeying Him even unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). He is the ultimate Lamb of God whose sacrifice atones for our forgetfulness, our idolatry, and our every sin, taking upon Himself the "perishing" that our covenant infidelity truly deserves (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His finished work, believers are brought into a new covenant, not written on tablets of stone but on the heart by the Holy Spirit, enabling a true "remembering" of God and a genuine worship of Him in spirit and truth (Hebrews 8:10-12). Moreover, Jesus Himself is the only true God to be worshipped; to "walk after other gods" is to reject the very source of life and truth, for He unequivocally declares Himself to be the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). In Him, the danger of perishing is overcome, and eternal life is graciously offered to all who believe and truly remember and worship the Father through the Son (John 3:16).