King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 6:10 Mean?

Deuteronomy 6:10 in the King James Version says “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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 6:10 · KJV


Context

8

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

10

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,

11

And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

12

Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. bondage: Heb. bondmen or, servants


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Moses warns against forgetting God 'when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers.' The danger isn't in times of hardship but in prosperity—'great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not.' Israel would inherit established cities, filled houses, hewn cisterns, vineyards, and olive trees they didn't plant. The ease of receiving unearned blessings creates spiritual amnesia. The repetition of 'thou buildedst not,' 'thou filledst not,' 'thou diggedst not,' 'thou plantedst not' emphasizes grace—all is gift, nothing is earned.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Archaeological evidence confirms that Israel's conquest involved occupying existing Canaanite cities rather than building from scratch. Cities like Jericho, Ai, and Hazor had established infrastructure. This unearned inheritance fulfilled God's promise and demonstrated grace, but also created the spiritual danger Moses warns against—attributing blessing to one's own efforts rather than God's provision. Israel's later history tragically fulfilled this warning.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does receiving unearned blessings tempt you toward spiritual forgetfulness?
  2. What practices help you remember God's grace in times of prosperity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְהָיָ֞ה1 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כִּ֥י2 of 21
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣׀3 of 21

shall have brought

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יְהוָ֣ה4 of 21

And it shall be when the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ5 of 21

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶל6 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָאָ֜רֶץ7 of 21

thee into the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר8 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נִשְׁבַּ֧ע9 of 21

which he sware

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ10 of 21

unto thy fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם11 of 21

to Abraham

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

לְיִצְחָ֥ק12 of 21

to Isaac

H3327

jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham

וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב13 of 21

and to Jacob

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

לָ֣תֶת14 of 21

to give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָ֑ךְ15 of 21
H0
עָרִ֛ים16 of 21

cities

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

גְּדֹלֹ֥ת17 of 21

thee great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וְטֹבֹ֖ת18 of 21

and goodly

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

אֲשֶׁ֥ר19 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא20 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

בָנִֽיתָ׃21 of 21

which thou buildedst

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 6:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 6:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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