Deuteronomy 16:12
New International Version
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.

New Living Translation
Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these decrees.

English Standard Version
You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Berean Standard Bible
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.

King James Bible
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

New King James Version
And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

New American Standard Bible
You shall also remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful and comply with these statutes.

NASB 1995
“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

NASB 1977
“And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Amplified Bible
You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to obey these statutes.

Christian Standard Bible
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt; carefully follow these statutes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt; carefully follow these statutes.”

American Standard Version
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Contemporary English Version
Remember that you used to be slaves in Egypt, so obey these laws.

English Revised Version
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and obey these laws carefully.

Good News Translation
Be sure that you obey these commands; do not forget that you were slaves in Egypt.

International Standard Version
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, so keep and observe these statutes."

Majority Standard Bible
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.

NET Bible
Furthermore, remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and so be careful to observe these statutes.

New Heart English Bible
You shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these statutes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bond-man in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

World English Bible
You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have remembered that you have been a servant in Egypt, and have observed and done these statutes.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast remembered that a servant thou hast been in Egypt, and hast observed and done these statutes.

Smith's Literal Translation
And remember that thou wert a servant in Egypt: and watch thou and do these laws.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt: and thou shalt keep and do the things that are commanded.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall recall that you were a servant in Egypt. And you shall preserve and carry out the things that have been instructed.

New American Bible
Remember that you too were slaves in Egypt, so carry out these statutes carefully.

New Revised Standard Version
Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and diligently observe these statutes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you must remember that you were a bondman in Egypt; so you shall observe and do these statutes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And remember that you were a Servant in Egypt; keep and do all these laws.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and thou shalt observe and do these commands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Feast of Weeks
11and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you. 12Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.

Cross References
Exodus 13:3
So Moses told the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.

Exodus 23:15
You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.

Leviticus 23:42-43
You are to dwell in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must dwell in booths, / so that your descendants may know that I made the Israelites dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”

Deuteronomy 5:15
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 15:15
Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

Deuteronomy 24:18
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from that place. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

Deuteronomy 24:22
Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

Joshua 24:17
For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.

Nehemiah 9:9-10
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Psalm 81:6-10
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. / You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah / Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me! ...

Isaiah 43:3
For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.

Jeremiah 16:14-15
Yet behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’ / Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ For I will return them to their land that I gave to their forefathers.

Ezekiel 20:10-12
So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. / And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them. / I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Hosea 12:9
But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

Amos 2:10
And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these statutes.

Deuteronomy 16:15
Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Deuteronomy 15:15
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

Lamentations 3:19,20
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall…

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Deuteronomy 16
1. The feast of the Passover
9. of weeks
13. of tabernacles
16. Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts
18. Of judges and justice
21. Asherah poles and images are forbidden














Remember that you were slaves in Egypt
This phrase serves as a powerful reminder of the Israelites' past bondage and God's deliverance. The Hebrew word for "remember" is "זָכַר" (zakar), which implies more than just recalling; it involves an active, conscious effort to bring to mind and act upon past experiences. This remembrance is not merely historical but is intended to shape the Israelites' identity and actions. The phrase "slaves in Egypt" refers to the period of harsh servitude under Pharaoh, a time of suffering and oppression. This historical context is crucial as it underscores God's mighty hand in liberating His people, a foundational event that defines their relationship with Him. The remembrance of their slavery is meant to cultivate gratitude, humility, and empathy, especially towards the marginalized and oppressed.

and carefully follow these statutes
The call to "carefully follow" is a directive towards obedience and diligence. The Hebrew root for "carefully" is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), which means to guard, keep, or observe. This implies a vigilant and intentional adherence to God's laws. The "statutes" refer to the decrees and commandments given by God through Moses. These are not arbitrary rules but are designed to guide the Israelites in living a life that reflects God's holiness and justice. The historical context of these statutes is the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience is a response to God's grace and a means of maintaining the covenant. This phrase emphasizes the importance of living out one's faith through actions that align with God's will, serving as a testament to His transformative power in their lives.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Remember
וְזָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ (wə·zā·ḵar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you were
הָיִ֖יתָ (hā·yî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

slaves
עֶ֥בֶד (‘e·ḇeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

in Egypt,
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (bə·miṣ·rā·yim)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and carefully
וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ (wə·šā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

follow
וְעָשִׂ֔יתָ (wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

these
הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

statutes.
הַֽחֻקִּ֖ים (ha·ḥuq·qîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 16:12 You shall remember that you were (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 16:11
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