King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 6:22 Mean?

Deuteronomy 6:22 in the King James Version says “And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: sore: Heb. evil”

Deuteronomy 6:22 · KJV

Context

20

And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? in: Heb. to morrow

21

Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

22

And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: sore: Heb. evil

23

And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.

24

And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

Read Deuteronomy 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The testimony continues: 'the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household.' The Hebrew 'otot u-mophtim' (signs and wonders) indicates miraculous divine intervention demonstrating God's power and authority. The plagues were 'great and sore'—comprehensive and severe, breaking Egypt's pride and power. The specific targeting 'upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household' demonstrates divine judgment against those oppressing God's people. This verse emphasizes that redemption requires divine power overcoming enemies—believers cannot save themselves but require sovereign deliverance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The ten plagues (Exodus 7-12) systematically demonstrated Yahweh's superiority over Egyptian gods: Nile (Hapi), frogs (Heqet), sun (Ra), etc. Each plague increased in severity, culminating in firstborn death. Pharaoh's household suffered especially—his magicians failed, his officials begged surrender, his firstborn died. These 'signs and wonders' authenticated Moses' message and revealed God's sovereign power. Israel's children would hear this testimony, strengthening faith across generations. Christian testimony similarly proclaims God's mighty acts in Christ.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the 'signs and wonders' in Egypt demonstrate that salvation requires divine intervention, not human effort?
  2. What parallels exist between God's deliverance from Egypt and Christ's victory over sin, death, and Satan?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן1 of 11

“shewed”

H5414

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

יְהוָ֡ה2 of 11

“And the LORD”

H3068

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

אוֹתֹ֣ת3 of 11

“signs”

H226

a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc

וּ֠מֹֽפְתִים4 of 11

“and wonders”

H4159

a miracle; by implication, a token or omen

גְּדֹלִ֨ים5 of 11

“great”

H1419

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

וְרָעִ֧ים׀6 of 11

“and sore”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

בְּמִצְרַ֛יִם7 of 11

“upon Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה8 of 11

“upon Pharaoh”

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

וּבְכָל9 of 11
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בֵּית֖וֹ10 of 11

“and upon all his household”

H1004

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

לְעֵינֵֽינוּ׃11 of 11

“before our eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

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 6:22 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 6:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 4:34Psalms 58:10-11Psalms 91:8Deuteronomy 7:19Exodus 14:1-31Deuteronomy 4:3

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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