Deuteronomy 8:12

Lest [when] thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt [therein];

Lest when thou hast eaten {H398} and art full {H7646}, and hast built {H1129} goodly {H2896} houses {H1004}, and dwelt {H3427} therein;

Otherwise, after you have eaten and are satisfied, built fine houses and lived in them,

Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell,

lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 8:12 is part of a profound discourse delivered by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they were to enter the Promised Land. Having spent forty years in the wilderness, relying entirely on God's miraculous provision, they were about to transition into a land flowing with milk and honey, where they would establish homes and cultivate the land. This verse, along with the surrounding passages in Deuteronomy chapter 8, serves as a crucial warning against the spiritual dangers of prosperity. Moses urges them to remember the Lord their God in their abundance, lest they forget Him once they are comfortable and settled.

Key Themes

  • The Peril of Prosperity: This verse highlights a counter-intuitive spiritual danger: that abundance, comfort, and material success can subtly lead to forgetting God. The Israelites were about to experience a dramatic shift from hardship and dependence to a settled life with their own "goodly houses" and plentiful food. Moses warns that this very prosperity could dull their spiritual senses and lead to a lack of gratitude and reliance on God.
  • Warning Against Complacency: The phrase "Lest [when] thou hast eaten and art full" serves as a direct caution against spiritual complacency that arises from physical satisfaction. It suggests that when basic needs are met and desires fulfilled, there is a natural human tendency to become self-reliant and forget the ultimate source of all blessings, the Lord their God. This complacency can lead to pride and a disregard for God's commandments.

Linguistic Insights

The opening word "Lest" (Hebrew: pen) functions as a strong cautionary conjunction, meaning "for fear that" or "so that not." It introduces a dire potential consequence, underscoring the seriousness of Moses' warning. The terms "eaten and art full" and "built goodly houses" paint a vivid picture of material satisfaction and established comfort, emphasizing the very conditions that, ironically, could lead to spiritual decline and forgetfulness of God's hand in their lives.

Strategic Cross-References

This warning echoes throughout Scripture, demonstrating a timeless truth about the human heart. The danger of wealth leading to spiritual forgetfulness is seen in Proverbs 30:9, which warns against being full and denying God. Jesus also spoke extensively on the perils of materialism, as seen in His teaching about not being able to serve both God and mammon. Paul also warns against the love of money as the root of all evil. The underlying concern in Deuteronomy 8:12 is that comfort can lead to a heart lifted up in pride, as detailed in the subsequent verse, Deuteronomy 8:14.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 8:12 is a timeless reminder for believers today. In an age of unprecedented material comfort for many, it serves as a powerful call to vigilance. It challenges us to:

  • Maintain Gratitude: To always remember that all blessings come from God, whether in times of plenty or scarcity. Our possessions are not solely the result of our own efforts but are gifts from His hand.
  • Guard Against Pride: To avoid the trap of believing our success is solely due to our own wisdom or strength. When we prosper, it's easy to forget our dependence on God.
  • Prioritize God: To ensure that material possessions and comfort do not overshadow our relationship with the Lord. It urges a conscious effort to remain humble and dependent on God even when we feel self-sufficient and "full."
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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 30:9 (6 votes)

    Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

  • Deuteronomy 32:15 (5 votes)

    ¶ But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness]; then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

  • Deuteronomy 28:47 (5 votes)

    Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things];

  • Hosea 13:5 (5 votes)

    ¶ I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

  • Hosea 13:6 (5 votes)

    According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

  • Jeremiah 22:14 (4 votes)

    That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and [it is] cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

  • Jeremiah 22:15 (4 votes)

    Shalt thou reign, because thou closest [thyself] in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, [and] then [it was] well with him?