Deuteronomy – Chapter 8

Old Testament20 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 8 of Deuteronomy begins: "All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may…" Across its 20 verses, two threads run through the text: God feeding His people and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may possess the land, for which the Lord swore to your fathers.

2And thou shalt remember all the way through which the Lord thy God hath brought thee for forty years through the desert, to afflict thee and to prove thee, and that the things that were known in thy heart might be made known, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no.

3He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for thy food, which neither thou nor thy fathers knew: to shew that not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

4Thy raiment, with which thou wast covered, hath not decayed for age, and thy foot is not worn, lo this is the fortieth year,

5That thou mayst consider in thy heart, that as a man traineth up his son, so the Lord thy God hath trained thee up.

6That thou shouldst keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways, and fear him.

7For the Lord thy God will bring thee into a good land, of brooks and of waters, and of fountains: in the plains of which and the hills deep rivers break out:

8A land of wheat, and barley, and vineyards, wherein fig trees and pomegranates, and oliveyards grow: a land of oil and honey.

9Where without any want thou shalt eat thy bread, and enjoy abundance of all things: where the stones are iron, and out of its hills are dug mines of brass:

10That when thou hast eaten, and art full, thou mayst bless the Lord thy God for the excellent land which he hath given thee.

11Take heed, and beware lest at any time thou forget the Lord thy God, and neglect his commandments and judgments and ceremonies, which I command thee this day:

12Lest after thou hast eaten and art filled, hast built goodly houses, and dwelt in them,

13And shalt have herds of oxen and flocks of sheep, and plenty of gold and of silver, and of all things,

14Thy heart be lifted up, and thou remember not the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage:

15And was thy leader in the great and terrible wilderness, wherein there was the serpent burning with his breath, and the scorpion and the dipsas, and no waters at all: who brought forth streams out of the hardest rock,

16And fed thee in the wilderness with manna which thy fathers knew not. And after he had afflicted and proved thee, at the last he had mercy on thee,

17Lest thou shouldst say in thy heart: My own might, and the strength of my own hand have achieved all these things for me.

18But remember the Lord thy God, that he hath given thee strength, that he might fulfil his covenant, concerning which he swore to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth.

19But if thou forget the Lord thy God, and follow strange gods, and serve and adore them: behold now I foretell thee that thou shalt utterly perish.

20As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

Important Verses in Deuteronomy 8

All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may possess the land, for which the Lord swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 8:1

That thou mayst consider in thy heart, that as a man traineth up his son, so the Lord thy God hath trained thee up.

Deuteronomy 8:5

Thy heart be lifted up, and thou remember not the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage:

Deuteronomy 8:14

But remember the Lord thy God, that he hath given thee strength, that he might fulfil his covenant, concerning which he swore to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Historical Context

Deuteronomy belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the new generation of Israel about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. Chapter 8 of 34 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 20 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied,…" The final verse reads: "As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice…" In terms of historical background, Deuteronomy means 'second law': Moses' final sermons on the plains of Moab, renewing the Sinai covenant for the generation about to enter Canaan. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

Who Wrote It

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC

When It Was Written

Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Deuteronomy 8 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may possess the land, for…" The passage repeatedly touches on God feeding His people.

Catholic exegesis reads Deuteronomy 8 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1032).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Deuteronomy 8 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Deuteronomy Chapter 8 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Deuteronomy Chapter 8. At the moral level, stewardship of creation challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 1604).

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 1988).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deuteronomy Chapter 8 about?

Deuteronomy 8 contains 20 verses. It opens with "All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied,…" and closes with "As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice…". The book as a whole is covenant discourses and law.

What is a key verse in Deuteronomy 8?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "All the commandments, that I command thee this day, take great care to observe: that you may live, and be multiplied, and going in may possess the land, for which the Lord swore…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Deuteronomy and when?

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC. Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

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