
Text -- Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Live comfortably and happily.

Wesley: Deu 8:2 - -- All the events which befel three in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the fr...
All the events which befel three in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience.

Wesley: Deu 8:2 - -- That thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery...
That thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use both to them, and to the church of God in all succeeding ages. It is good for us likewise to remember all the ways both of God's providence and grace, by which he has led us hitherto through the wilderness, that we may trust him, and chearfully serve him.

Wesley: Deu 8:3 - -- That is, by every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely so-ever it may seem to be for nourishment; seeing it is not the creature,...
That is, by every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely so-ever it may seem to be for nourishment; seeing it is not the creature, but only God's command and blessing upon it, that makes it sufficient for the support of life.
JFB: Deu 8:1 - -- In all the wise arrangements of our Creator duty has been made inseparably connected with happiness; and the earnest enforcement of the divine law whi...
In all the wise arrangements of our Creator duty has been made inseparably connected with happiness; and the earnest enforcement of the divine law which Moses was making to the Israelites was in order to secure their being a happy (because a moral and religious) people: a course of prosperity is often called "life" (Gen 17:18; Pro 3:2).

JFB: Deu 8:1 - -- This reference to the future increase of their population proves that they were too few to occupy the land fully at first.
This reference to the future increase of their population proves that they were too few to occupy the land fully at first.

JFB: Deu 8:2-3 - -- The recapitulation of all their checkered experience during that long period was designed to awaken lively impressions of the goodness of God. First, ...
The recapitulation of all their checkered experience during that long period was designed to awaken lively impressions of the goodness of God. First, Moses showed them the object of their protracted wanderings and varied hardships. These were trials of their obedience as well as chastisements for sin. Indeed, the discovery of their infidelity, inconstancy, and their rebellions and perverseness which this varied discipline brought to light, was of eminently practical use to the Israelites themselves, as it has been to the church in all subsequent ages. Next, he enlarged on the goodness of God to them, while reduced to the last extremities of despair, in the miraculous provision which, without anxiety or labor, was made for their daily support (see on Exo 16:4). Possessing no nutritious properties inherent in it, this contributed to their sustenance, as indeed all food does (Mat 4:4) solely through the ordinance and blessing of God. This remark is applicable to the means of spiritual as well as natural life.
Clarke: Deu 8:2 - -- Thou shalt remember all the way - The various dealings of God with you; the dangers and difficulties to which ye were exposed, and from which God de...
Thou shalt remember all the way - The various dealings of God with you; the dangers and difficulties to which ye were exposed, and from which God delivered you; together with the various miracles which he wrought for you, and his longsuffering towards you.

Clarke: Deu 8:3 - -- He - suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee - God never permits any tribulation to befall his followers, which he does not design to turn to their ad...
He - suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee - God never permits any tribulation to befall his followers, which he does not design to turn to their advantage. When he permits us to hunger, it is that his mercy may be the more observable in providing us with the necessaries of life. Privations, in the way of providence, are the forerunners of mercy and goodness abundant.
Calvin: Deu 8:1 - -- 1.All the commandments Although the first verse might have been included among the promises, whereby, as we shall hereafter see, the Law was ratified...
1.All the commandments Although the first verse might have been included among the promises, whereby, as we shall hereafter see, the Law was ratified by Moses, because he here exhorts and incites the Israelites to obedience by proposing to them the hope of reward; still it appeared to me that I might conveniently insert it here, since the design of Moses was simply this, to attract them by the sweetness of the promised inheritance to receive the doctrines of the Law. This sentence, then, may be justly counted among those whereby their minds were prepared to submit themselves to God with the gentleness and docility that became them; as though he had said, because the land of Canaan is now not far from you, its very nearness ought to encourage you to take upon you God’s yoke more cheerfully; for the same God, who this day declares to you His law, invites you to the enjoyment of that land, which He promised with an oath to your fathers. And certainly it is evident from this latter clause of the verse, that Moses did not simply promise them a reward if they should keep the law; but rather set before them the previous favor, wherewith God had gratuitously prevented them, in order that they might, on their part, shew themselves grateful for it Moses calls the commandments his, not (as we have already seen) because he had invented them himself, but because he faithfully handed them down from the dictation of God’s own mouth. And this we may also more fully gather from the following verse, wherein he recounts the mercies of the time past, and at the same time calls to their recollection by how many proofs God had instructed them, to form and accustom them to obedience. In the first place, he bids them remember generally the dealings of God, which they had seen for forty years, and then descends to particulars, viz., that God had proved them by afflictions, “to know what was in their heart;” for thus may the expressions be paraphrased, “to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart;” in which words he admonishes them, that they were painfully tried by many troubles and difficulties not without very good reason, viz., because they had need of such trial. Yet, at the same time, he indirectly reproves their obstinacy, which was then detected; since otherwise, if all things had gone prosperously with them, it would have been easy for them to pretend great fear of God, though, as was actually discovered, it did not really exist.

Calvin: Deu 8:3 - -- 3.And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger Inasmuch as they were sometimes made to suffer hunger in the wilderness, he proves the advantage o...
3.And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger Inasmuch as they were sometimes made to suffer hunger in the wilderness, he proves the advantage of this discipline, because they thus learnt that the human race does not live by bread and wine alone, but by the secret power of God. For though all confess that it is through God’s goodness that the earth is fruitful, still their senses are so tied to the meat and drink, that they rise no higher, and do not acknowledge God as their Father and nourisher, but rather bind Him down to the outward means to which they are attached, as if His hand, of itself, and without instruments, could not effect or supply anything. Their perception, therefore, that the fruits of the earth are produced by God, is but a cold notion, which speedily vanishes, and does not cling to their memory. The power of God, as well as His goodness, is indeed abundantly manifested in the use of His creatures, which we naturally enjoy; but the depravity of the human mind causes that the testimonies of it act like a veil to obscure that bright light. Besides, the majority of mankind think of God as if banished afar off, and dwelling in inactivity as if He had resigned His office in heaven and earth; and hence it arises, that trusting in their present abundance, they implore not His favor, nay, that they pass it by as needless; and, when deprived of their accustomed supplies, they altogether despair, as if God’s hand alone were insufficient for their succor. Since, then, men do not sufficiently profit by the guidance and instruction of nature, but rather are blinded in their view of God’s works, it was desirable that in this miracle (of the manna) a standing and manifest proof should be given, that men do not only live upon God’s bounty, when they eat bread and drink wine, but even when all supplies fail them. Although there be some harshness in the words, yet the sense is clear, that men’s life consists not in their food, but that God’s inspiration suffices for their nourishment. And we must remember, that the eternal life of the soul is not here referred to, but that we are simply and solely taught that although bread and wine fail, our bodies may be sustained and invigorated by God’s will alone. Let it then be regarded as settled, that this is improperly, however acutely, referred to the spiritual life, and a relation imagined in its doctrine to faith; as if the grace, which is offered in the promises, and received by faith, gave life to our souls; since it is simply stated, that the animating principle (vigor), which is diffused by the spirit of God for sustenance, proceeds out of His mouth. In Psa 104:30, there is an exact repetition of what was before said here by Moses, “Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.” The word translated “not only,” seems to have been expressly added, lest, if Moses had altogether excluded the bread which is destined for our food, he should not do justice to God. Thus, then, does he guard his words, as much as to say, that although bread sustains man’s life, still this support would be too weak, unless the hidden power of God occupied the first place; and that this intrinsic virtue, as it is called, which He of Himself inspires, would suffice, even although all other aids should fail. And this doctrine, first of all, arouses us to gratitude, referring to God Himself whatever by His creatures He supplies to us for the nourishment and preservation of our lives, whilst it teaches us that although all the instruments of this world should fail, still we may hope for life from Himself alone. There is no ordinary wisdom in recollecting both these points. Christ admirably applied this passage to its true and genuine practical use; for when the devil would persuade him to command the stones to be made bread for the satisfaction of His hunger, He answered, “Man shall not live by bread alone,” etc., (Mat 4:4,) as if he had said, There is in God’s hands another remedy, for even although He supply not food, He is still able to keep men in life by His will alone. But I touch upon this the more briefly, because I have more fully treated it in my Commentaries on “the Harmony of the Gospels.” 257 With the same object he adds, that their raiment was not worn out in so long a time, and that their shoes remained whole; viz., that they might be fully convinced, that whatever concerns the preservation of human life and man’s daily wants is so entirely in God’s hands, that not only its enjoyment, but even its continuance and being, depend upon His blessing.
Defender: Deu 8:3 - -- God may on occasion cause His people to go through a period of material deprivation in order to provide them a greater spiritual blessing, especially ...
God may on occasion cause His people to go through a period of material deprivation in order to provide them a greater spiritual blessing, especially the exhilarating experience of seeing His providential supply, day after day, of their needs.

Defender: Deu 8:3 - -- This is the great passage quoted by Christ during His own temptation (Mat 4:4), indicating the supreme importance of not just the concepts but the ver...
This is the great passage quoted by Christ during His own temptation (Mat 4:4), indicating the supreme importance of not just the concepts but the very words of God, providing also a strong proof of verbal inerrancy of the Scriptures."

TSK: Deu 8:2 - -- remember : Deu 7:18; Psa 77:11, Psa 106:7; Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; 2Pe 1:12, 2Pe 1:13, 2Pe 3:1, 2Pe 3:2
led thee : Deu 1:3, Deu 1:33, Deu 2:7, Deu 29:5; P...
remember : Deu 7:18; Psa 77:11, Psa 106:7; Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; 2Pe 1:12, 2Pe 1:13, 2Pe 3:1, 2Pe 3:2
led thee : Deu 1:3, Deu 1:33, Deu 2:7, Deu 29:5; Psa 136:16; Amo 2:10
to humble : 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:26, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19; Job 33:17, Job 42:5, Job 42:6; Isa 2:17; Luk 18:14; Jam 4:6, Jam 4:10; 1Pe 5:5, 1Pe 5:6
prove thee : Deu 8:16, Deu 13:3; Gen 22:1; Exo 15:25, Exo 16:4; 2Ch 32:31; Psa 81:7; Pro 17:3; Mal 3:2, Mal 3:3; Jam 1:3; 1Pe 1:7

TSK: Deu 8:3 - -- fed thee : Exo 16:2, Exo 16:3, 12-35; Psa 78:23-25, Psa 105:40; 1Co 10:3
doth : Psa 37:3, Psa 104:27-29; Mat 4:4; Luk 4:4, Luk 12:29, Luk 12:30; Heb 1...
fed thee : Exo 16:2, Exo 16:3, 12-35; Psa 78:23-25, Psa 105:40; 1Co 10:3
doth : Psa 37:3, Psa 104:27-29; Mat 4:4; Luk 4:4, Luk 12:29, Luk 12:30; Heb 13:5, Heb 13:6

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Deu 8:3
Barnes: Deu 8:3 - -- But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord - literally, "every outgoing of the mouth of the Lord."Compare Deu 29:5-6. The t...
But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord - literally, "every outgoing of the mouth of the Lord."Compare Deu 29:5-6. The term "word"is inserted by the King James Version after the Septuagint, which is followed by Matthew and Luke (see the marginal references). On the means of subsistence available to the people during the wandering, see Num 20:1 note. The lesson was taught, that it is not nature which nourishes man, but God the Creator by and through nature: and generally that God is not tied to the particular channels ("bread only,"i. e. the ordinary means of earthly sustenance) through which He is usually pleased to work.
Poole: Deu 8:1 - -- That ye may live i.e. live comfortably and happily, as life is oft taken, as Gen 17:18 Pro 3:2 ; as, on the contrary, troubles or afflictions are ca...

Poole: Deu 8:2 - -- All the way i.e. all the events which befell thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee;...
All the way i.e. all the events which befell thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee; and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience.
To know what was in thine heart i.e. that thou mightest discover to thyself and others that infidelity, inconstancy, hypocrisy, apostacy, rebellion, and perverseness, which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use, both to them and to the church of God, in all succeeding ages.

Poole: Deu 8:3 - -- i.e. By every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely soever it may seem to be for nourishment, as appears in the manna; seeing i...
i.e. By every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely soever it may seem to be for nourishment, as appears in the manna; seeing it is not the creature, but only God’ s command and blessing upon it, that makes it sufficient for the support of life.
Haydock: Deu 8:1 - -- Live a long and happy life; which was often promised to the carnal Jews, to encourage them to fill God's commands. Christians are willing to forego ...
Live a long and happy life; which was often promised to the carnal Jews, to encourage them to fill God's commands. Christians are willing to forego these temporal advantages, that they may obtain such as may last for ever. (Calmet)

Haydock: Deu 8:2 - -- Prove, which is done frequently by posterity also, ver. 3, 12, 14. After trying the fidelity of his people by various means, to make them sensible o...
Prove, which is done frequently by posterity also, ver. 3, 12, 14. After trying the fidelity of his people by various means, to make them sensible of their own weakness and inability to do good, God takes pity on them, ver. 16. (Calmet) ---
Known. Hebrew, "to know (by experience) what was in thy heart, whether," &c. The original term signifies also to make known to others, Genesis xxii. 12. (Haydock)

Haydock: Deu 8:3 - -- Not in bread alone, &c. i.e. That God is able to make food of what he pleases for the support of man. (Challoner) ---
Obedience to his law will i...
Not in bread alone, &c. i.e. That God is able to make food of what he pleases for the support of man. (Challoner) ---
Obedience to his law will insure a happy life, ver. 1. God can support a person's life without any sustenance, as he did Moses, Elias, &c., for a long time. When the usual food is wanting, he can send some of a supernatural kind, as he did the manna. ---
Word. Hebrew, "by whatever proceedeth," &c. The Septuagint and our Saviour (Matthew iv. 4,) cite it, however, agreeably to the Vulgate. The word of God and Jesus Christ nourish our souls. (St. Chrysostom) ---
Philo says, "God feeds us with his most universal word...which is more ancient than the creation." (Calmet) ---
God could make the most poisonous things afford more nutrition, if he commanded us to eat them, than even the most delicious viands. (Abulensis) (Tirinus) ---
God can make food of whatever He pleases, or sustain men without meat. (Worthington)
Gill: Deu 8:1 - -- All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,.... It is repeated over and over again, to impress it on their minds, and t...
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,.... It is repeated over and over again, to impress it on their minds, and to show the importance and necessity of it, how greatly it was expected from them, and how much it was incumbent on them:
that ye may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers; for their temporal life, and the mercies and comforts of it, the multiplication of their offspring, and of their substance, their entrance into the land of Canaan, possession of it, and continuance in it, all depended on their obedience to the commands of God; see Deu 19:20.

Gill: Deu 8:2 - -- And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,.... For this was now the fortieth year of the...
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,.... For this was now the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt into the wilderness, into which they quickly came after their departure from thence, and had been in one wilderness or another ever since, in which God went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, and directed their way; and now they are called upon to remember all the occurrences in the way, what favours and mercies had been bestowed upon them, what provisions had been made for them, what enemies they had been delivered from or overcome, as well as what afflictions and chastisements had attended them: and so the people of God should call to mind how they were brought to see their wilderness state and condition by nature; how they were brought out of it, and stopped in their career of sin, and turned from their evil ways, and led to Christ; what gracious promises have been made to them; what light has been afforded them; what communion they have had with God; what pleasure in his ordinances; what food they have been fed with; what temptations have befallen them, and how delivered out of them; and what afflictions have been laid upon them, and how supported under them, and freed from them:
to humble thee; under the mighty hand of God, to bring down the pride of their hearts and hide it from them; to lay them low in their own eyes, and clothe them with humility, that the Lord alone might be exalted: and
to prove thee; whether they would be obedient to his laws, or how they would behave towards him both in prosperity and adversity, and to try their graces, their faith and patience, fear and love:
to know what was in thine heart; that is, to make it known to themselves and others; for God knew all that was in it, the wickedness of it, the unbelief, rebellion, and frowardness of it, and needed not any ways and means to get into the knowledge of it; see 2Ch 32:31,
whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no; which they had in such a solemn manner promised to do; Deu 5:27.

Gill: Deu 8:3 - -- And he humbled thee,.... Or afflicted thee with want of bread:
and suffered thee to hunger; that there might be an opportunity of showing his mercy...
And he humbled thee,.... Or afflicted thee with want of bread:
and suffered thee to hunger; that there might be an opportunity of showing his mercy, and exerting his power:
and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; a sort of food they had never seen before, and when they saw it, knew not what it was, but asked, what is it? Exo 16:15. Thus the Lord humbles his people by his Spirit and grace, and brings them to see themselves to be in want, and creates in them desires after spiritual food, and feeds them with Christ the hidden manna, whose person, office, and grace, they were before ignorant of:
that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only; which is the stay and staff of life, and which strengthens man's heart, and is the main support of it, being the ordinary and usual food man lives upon, and is put for all the rest:
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live: not so much by the food he eats as by the blessing of God upon it, and who can make one sort of food as effectual for such a purpose as another; for every creature of God is good being received with thankfulness, and sanctified by the word and prayer; and particularly he could and did make such light food as manna was to answer all the purposes of solid bread for the space of forty years in the wilderness; the Targum of Jonathan is,"but by all which is created by the Word of the Lord is the life of man;''which seems to agree with 1Ti 4:3,4 for the meaning is not that the Israelites in the wilderness, and when come into the land of Canaan, should not live by corporeal food only, but by obedience to the commands of God, by means of which they should continue under his protection, which was indeed their case; nor that man does not live in his body only by bread, but in his soul also by the word of God, and the doctrines of it, which is certainly true; spiritual men live a spiritual life on Christ, the Word of God, and bread of life, and on the Gospel and the truths of it, the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus, and are nourished up with the words of faith and sound doctrine, by means of which their spiritual life is supported and maintained; but this is not what is here intended.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes


NET Notes: Deu 8:3 Jesus quoted this text to the devil in the midst of his forty-day fast to make the point that spiritual nourishment is incomparably more important tha...
Geneva Bible: Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe ( a ) to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which ...

Geneva Bible: Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to ( b ) prove thee, to...

Geneva Bible: Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make th...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Deu 8:1-20
TSK Synopsis: Deu 8:1-20 - --1 An exhortation to obedience in regard of God's mercy and goodness in his dealings with Israel.
Maclaren -> Deu 8:2
Maclaren: Deu 8:2 - --Deut. 8:2
The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor...
MHCC -> Deu 8:1-9
MHCC: Deu 8:1-9 - --Obedience must be, 1. Careful, observe to do; 2. Universal, to do all the commandments; and 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God as the Lord...
Matthew Henry -> Deu 8:1-9
Matthew Henry: Deu 8:1-9 - -- The charge here given them is the same as before, to keep and do all God's commandments. Their obedience must be, 1. Careful: Observe to do. 2. Un...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Deu 8:1-6
Keil-Delitzsch: Deu 8:1-6 - --
In addition to the danger of being drawn aside to transgress the covenant, by sparing the Canaanites and their idols out of pusillanimous compassion...
Constable: Deu 5:1--26:19 - --IV. MOSES' SECOND MAJOR ADDRESS: AN EXPOSITION OF THE LAW chs. 5--26
". . . Deuteronomy contains the most compre...

Constable: Deu 5:1--11:32 - --A. The essence of the law and its fulfillment chs. 5-11
"In seven chapters the nature of Yahweh's demand...

Constable: Deu 7:1--11:32 - --3. Examples of the application of the principles chs. 7-11
"These clearly are not laws or comman...
