Deuteronomy 9:27

Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:

Remember {H2142} thy servants {H5650}, Abraham {H85}, Isaac {H3327}, and Jacob {H3290}; look {H6437} not unto the stubbornness {H7190} of this people {H5971}, nor to their wickedness {H7562}, nor to their sin {H2403}:

Remember your servants Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov! Don't focus on the stubbornness of this people, or on their wickedness or on their sin.

Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Overlook the stubbornness of this people and the wickedness of their sin.

Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin,

Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:27 is part of Moses' impassioned plea to God on behalf of the Israelites after their grievous sin of worshipping the golden calf at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). This verse highlights Moses' role as an intercessor and underscores the foundational principles of God's covenant faithfulness versus Israel's recurring rebellion.

Context

In Deuteronomy Chapter 9, Moses vividly reminds the new generation of Israelites, poised to enter the Promised Land, that their success is not due to their own righteousness but solely to God's grace and covenant promises. He recounts their history of rebellion, specifically focusing on the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32), where God's wrath was kindled against them. Following this, Moses spent forty days and forty nights pleading with God not to destroy the nation. Verse 27 is a key part of this powerful intercessory prayer, appealing to God's character and His promises rather than Israel's merit.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Moses' Intercession: Moses stands in the gap for a sinful people, demonstrating the heart of a true shepherd and mediator. He identifies with their plight yet boldly appeals to God's character. His prayer models how believers can intercede for others, even those who have gravely sinned.
  • God's Covenant Faithfulness: Moses appeals to God's promise to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were the foundational figures with whom God made unconditional covenants, promising land, descendants, and blessing (see Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:18, and Genesis 28:13-15). Moses reminds God of these sacred commitments, arguing that destroying Israel would undermine His own sworn word.
  • Israel's Persistent Sinfulness: The verse explicitly mentions Israel's "stubbornness," "wickedness," and "sin." This highlights a recurring theme throughout Israel's historyโ€”their tendency to rebel against God despite His faithfulness and provision. This stark contrast serves as a warning and a reminder that salvation is by grace, not by human merit.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "stubbornness" is qeshi (ืงึฐืฉึดืื™), often translated as "stiff-necked." This imagery vividly portrays a people who resist God's leading, like an ox refusing to be guided by the yoke. The terms "wickedness" (risha, ืจึดืฉึฐืืขึธื”) and "sin" (chatta'ah, ื—ึทื˜ึธึผืืช) further emphasize the depth of their rebellion, signifying moral depravity and a failure to meet God's standards.

Theological Significance & Application

Deuteronomy 9:27 powerfully illustrates the nature of divine mercy and the importance of intercession. It shows that even in the face of profound human failure, God's ultimate decision is often swayed not by the immediate deservingness of the people, but by His own character and prior commitments. This resonates with the New Testament understanding of God's grace, where salvation is not earned but freely given based on God's covenant with His Son, Jesus Christ, who serves as the ultimate mediator of a new and better covenant. For believers today, this verse is a powerful encouragement to pray for others, recognizing that God's compassion often triumphs over strict justice, especially when appealed to through His covenant promises.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 14:21

    Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

  • Micah 7:18

    Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

  • Micah 7:19

    He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

  • Exodus 13:5

    And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

  • Exodus 3:16

    ยถ Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt:

  • Isaiah 43:24

    Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

  • Isaiah 43:25

    I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
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