King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 8:14 Mean?

Deuteronomy 8:14 in the King James Version says “Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;”

Deuteronomy 8:14 · KJV

Context

12

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

13

And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

16

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

Read Deuteronomy 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The phrase 'thine heart be lifted up' (ram levavkha) describes pride—elevated self-assessment leading to self-reliance. The result is catastrophic: 'forget the LORD thy God.' The Hebrew shakhach (forget) means neglect, ignore, or fail to consider—not literal amnesia but practical atheism. The reminder 'which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage' anchors identity in God's redemptive act, not personal achievement. Forgetting God's redemption leads to crediting self for blessings. This is the universal human temptation: prosperity breeds pride, pride breeds forgetfulness, forgetfulness breeds rebellion. The antidote is constant remembrance of redemption—who you were, what God did, where you'd be without Him.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Israel's cycle of apostasy (Judges) followed this exact pattern: deliverance → prosperity → forgetfulness → idolatry → oppression → repentance → deliverance. Each generation that forgot God's redemptive acts fell into idolatry. Solomon's heart 'was turned' from God despite experiencing unprecedented blessing (1 Kings 11:4). Hezekiah, after miraculous healing, showed treasures to Babylonian envoys in pride (2 Kings 20:12-19). The prophets repeatedly called Israel to remember God's redemptive works (Micah 6:3-5). New Testament believers face the same danger: forgetting the gospel leads to pride, legalism, or license.

Reflection Questions

  1. What evidences of pride ('lifted up heart') do you see in your attitudes or behavior?
  2. How do you actively combat forgetfulness of God's redemptive work in your life?
  3. What practices of remembrance (testimony, communion, Scripture meditation) keep the gospel central in your thinking?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וְרָ֖ם1 of 11

“be lifted up”

H7311

to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

לְבָבֶ֑ךָ2 of 11

“Then thine heart”

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙3 of 11

“and thou forget”

H7911

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

אֶת4 of 11
H853

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

יְהוָ֣ה5 of 11

“the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ6 of 11

“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

הַמּוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֛7 of 11

“which brought thee forth”

H3318

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

מֵאֶ֥רֶץ8 of 11

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֖יִם9 of 11

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

מִבֵּ֥ית10 of 11

“from the house”

H1004

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

עֲבָדִֽים׃11 of 11

“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 8:14 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 8:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 106:211 Corinthians 4:7-82 Chronicles 26:16Deuteronomy 8:112 Chronicles 32:25Jeremiah 2:31

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Deuteronomy 8 →

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