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Deuteronomy 6:10

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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,

And it shall be, when the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} shall have brought {H935} thee into the land {H776} which he sware {H7650} unto thy fathers {H1}, to Abraham {H85}, to Isaac {H3327}, and to Jacob {H3290}, to give {H5414} thee great {H1419} and goodly {H2896} cities {H5892}, which thou buildedst {H1129} not,

"When ADONAI your God has brought you into the land he swore to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov that he would give you - cities great and prosperous, which you didn't build;

And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build,

And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring 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 buildest not,

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 6:10 is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter, following the profound declaration of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), emphasizes the importance of remembering and obeying God. Here, Moses paints a vivid picture of the blessings awaiting them in the land of Canaan, specifically focusing on the material prosperity they would inherit without having labored for it themselves. It sets the stage for the warnings against forgetting the Lord once they are settled and prosperous, highlighting God's faithfulness and the people's responsibility.

Key Themes

  • Divine Faithfulness and Covenant Promises: The verse powerfully highlights God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The fulfillment of bringing Israel into a land flowing with milk and honey, complete with established cities, underscores God's reliability and the certainty of His word.
  • Unearned Blessing and Grace: A central theme is that the Israelites would receive "great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not." This emphasizes that their inheritance was not a reward for their labor or merit, but a gratuitous gift from God's hand. It's a powerful reminder of divine grace and provision.
  • The Promised Land as a Gift: The land of Canaan is presented not as a territory to be conquered solely by their might, but as a direct fulfillment of an ancient oath. This perspective was crucial for fostering gratitude and preventing arrogance or a sense of entitlement among the people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sware" is shaba (שָׁבַע), which conveys the solemnity and binding nature of an oath. When God "swore" to the patriarchs, it meant His promise was absolutely certain and unbreakable. The phrase "cities, which thou buildedst not" (עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וְטֹבֹת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־בָנִיתָ) directly contrasts their future inheritance with their past nomadic existence and highlights the supernatural, unmerited provision of God.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 6:10 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Remember the Source of Blessings: Just as Israel was warned not to forget God's provision (see Deuteronomy 8:17-18), we are called to recognize that all good things come from Him. Our homes, jobs, comforts, and opportunities are ultimately gifts from God, not solely products of our own effort or ingenuity.
  • Cultivate Gratitude: This verse encourages a spirit of profound gratitude for unearned blessings. It challenges us to reflect on the many aspects of our lives that we did not build or earn, fostering humility and thankfulness for God's abundant grace.
  • Avoid Entitlement: Understanding that our blessings are gifts helps guard against a sense of entitlement. It reminds us that we are stewards of what God has provided, not owners by inherent right, prompting us to use our resources wisely and for His glory.
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

  • Joshua 24:13 (19 votes)

    And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

  • Psalms 105:44 (15 votes)

    And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;

  • Nehemiah 9:25 (14 votes)

    And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

  • Psalms 78:55 (8 votes)

    He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

  • Genesis 13:15 (7 votes)

    For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

  • Genesis 13:17 (7 votes)

    Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

  • Genesis 26:3 (7 votes)

    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;