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Deuteronomy 26:10

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And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:

And now, behold, I have brought {H935} the firstfruits {H6529}{H7225} of the land {H127}, which thou, O LORD {H3068}, hast given {H5414} me. And thou shalt set {H3240} it before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, and worship {H7812} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}:

Therefore, as you see, I have now brought the firstfruits of the land which you, ADONAI, have given me.' You are then to put the basket down before ADONAI your God, prostrate yourself before ADONAI your God,

And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land that You, O LORD, have given me.” Then you are to place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him.

And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, O Jehovah, hast given me. And thou shalt set it down before Jehovah thy God, and worship before Jehovah thy God:

Commentary

Deuteronomy 26:10 is a pivotal verse within the instructions for the firstfruits offering, a significant ritual for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This verse encapsulates the spirit of gratitude, dependence, and worship central to their covenant relationship with God.

Historical and Cultural Context

This passage belongs to Moses' final discourses to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. Having wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they were about to inherit the land promised to their forefathers. The ritual of bringing the firstfruits was a tangible demonstration of their faith and obedience, acknowledging that the fertility of the land and the abundance of its produce were not due to their own efforts or pagan deities, but solely to the gracious provision of the LORD. It was a yearly reminder of God's fulfillment of His promises regarding the land flowing with milk and honey.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Gratitude and Acknowledgment: The core message is profound thankfulness. The Israelite was to declare, "I have brought the firstfruits... which thou, O LORD, hast given me," explicitly recognizing God as the ultimate source of all blessings. This counters any self-reliance or pride in their prosperity.
  • Obedience and Covenant Loyalty: Bringing the firstfruits was a direct command, symbolizing their commitment to the covenant. It was an act of obedience that reaffirmed their unique relationship with God.
  • Worship and Humility: The act of setting the offering before the LORD and worshipping involved bowing down (shâchâh in Hebrew), signifying humility, reverence, and submission to God's sovereignty. It was a personal and communal act of devotion.
  • God's Provision: The ritual underscored the truth that God provides for His people, not just in deliverance from bondage, but also in sustained sustenance and prosperity within the land He had given them.

Linguistic Insights

The term "firstfruits" comes from the Hebrew word bikkûrı̂m (בִּכּוּרִים), referring to the very first and best of the harvest. By dedicating these initial portions to God, the Israelites consecrated the entire harvest, acknowledging His ownership over all. The act of "worship" is from the Hebrew shâchâh (שָׁחָה), which literally means "to bow down" or "to prostrate oneself." This physical posture emphasized profound reverence and submission to the divine.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 26:10 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of gratitude and acknowledging God as the source of all good things. While we no longer bring literal firstfruits of the harvest, the principle of dedicating our "first and best" – whether it be our time, talents, resources, or finances – to God remains vital. It encourages a lifestyle of worship that expresses profound thanks for His provision, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above. This verse calls us to a humble and obedient heart, continually setting our blessings before the LORD and worshipping Him as the generous Giver.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 4:10 (2 votes)

    As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

  • 1 Peter 4:11 (2 votes)

    If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Deuteronomy 26:4 (2 votes)

    And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

  • Deuteronomy 6:10 (2 votes)

    And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

  • Deuteronomy 6:13 (2 votes)

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

  • Exodus 22:29 (2 votes)

    Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

  • Psalms 95:6 (2 votes)

    O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.