King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 6:12 Mean?

Deuteronomy 6:12 in the King James Version says “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. bon...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Deuteronomy 6:12 · King James Version

Context

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

13

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

14

Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Read Deuteronomy 6 full chapter

Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
The urgent warning 'Beware lest thou forget the LORD' addresses prosperity's spiritual danger. The Hebrew 'shamar pen' (beware/watch lest) indicates vigilant caution. The reminder 'which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage' grounds covenant obedience in redemptive history. Forgetting God manifests practically through ingratitude, self-reliance, and idolatry. Affluence breeds forgetfulness more readily than affliction. This verse illustrates the Reformed understanding that even believers require constant exhortation to remember grace. Memory of redemption sustains faithfulness; amnesia produces apostasy.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Israel's history tragically validated this warning. During prosperous periods under Solomon, Israel adopted pagan practices (1 Kings 11:1-8). The northern kingdom's wealth under Jeroboam II coincided with injustice and idolatry (Amos 6:1-7). Judah similarly forgot God during affluent times, provoking prophetic condemnation (Hosea 13:6, Jeremiah 2:31-32). Conversely, wilderness and exile hardships often produced repentance and renewed dependence on God. Prosperity proves more spiritually dangerous than adversity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does prosperity tempt believers to forget God and credit themselves for blessings He provided?
  2. What spiritual disciplines help maintain awareness of redemption and dependence on God during seasons of material blessing?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר1 of 12

“Then beware”

H8104

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

לְךָ֔2 of 12
H0
פֶּן3 of 12
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח4 of 12

“lest thou forget”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

אֶת5 of 12
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֑ה6 of 12

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֲשֶׁ֧ר7 of 12
H834

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

הוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֛8 of 12

“which brought thee forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מֵאֶ֥רֶץ9 of 12

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֖יִם10 of 12

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

מִבֵּ֥ית11 of 12

“from the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

עֲבָדִֽים׃12 of 12

“of bondage”

H5650

a servant

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 6:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Deuteronomy 6 →

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