Deuteronomy 8:2
New International Version
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

New Living Translation
Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

English Standard Version
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Berean Standard Bible
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

King James Bible
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

New King James Version
And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

NASB 1995
“You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

NASB 1977
“And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Amplified Bible
And you shall remember [always] all the ways which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart (mind), whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Christian Standard Bible
Remember that the LORD your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Remember that the LORD your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not.

Contemporary English Version
Don't forget how the LORD your God has led you through the desert for the past 40 years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him,

English Revised Version
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Remember that for 40 years the LORD your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands.

Good News Translation
Remember how the LORD your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands.

International Standard Version
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way these 40 years in the desert, to humble and test you in order to make known what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Majority Standard Bible
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

NET Bible
Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.

New Heart English Bible
You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to prove you, and to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or not.

World English Bible
You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have remembered all the way which your God YHWH has caused you to go these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you to try you, to know that which [is] in your heart, whether you keep His commands or not.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast remembered all the way which Jehovah thy God hath caused thee to go these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble thee to try thee, to know that which is in thy heart, whether thou dost keep His commands or not.

Smith's Literal Translation
And remember thou all the way which Jehovah thy God caused thee to go this forty years in the desert in order to humble thee, to try thee, to know what is in thy heart, whether thou shalt watch his commands or not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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 in thy heart might be made known, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall remember the entire journey along which the Lord your God led you, for forty years through the desert, to afflict you, and to test you, and to make known the things that were turning in your soul, whether or not you would keep his commandments.

New American Bible
Remember how for these forty years the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.

New Revised Standard Version
Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, and prove you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall remember all the way that LORD JEHOVAH your God led you, behold, forty years in the wilderness, so that He would humble you and he would test you and because He would know what is in your heart, if you would keep His commandments or if not.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Remember the LORD Your God
1You must carefully follow every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and enter and possess the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. 2Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. 3He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.…

Cross References
Exodus 16:4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

Exodus 20:20
“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”

Psalm 66:10-12
For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver. / You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs. / You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.

Psalm 81:7
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

Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.

Proverbs 17:3
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Jeremiah 32:39
I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:35-36
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face. / Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.

Hosea 2:14
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.

Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Matthew 9:4
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?

Mark 1:12-13
At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, / and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or no.

remember

Deuteronomy 7:18
Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;

Psalm 77:11
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

Psalm 106:7
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

led thee

Deuteronomy 1:3,33
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; …

Deuteronomy 2:7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

Deuteronomy 29:5
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

to humble

2 Chronicles 32:25,26
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem…

2 Chronicles 33:12,19
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, …

Job 33:17
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

prove thee

Deuteronomy 8:16
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;

Deuteronomy 13:3
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Genesis 22:1
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

to know

Jeremiah 17:9,10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? …

John 2:25
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Revelation 2:23
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

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Deuteronomy 8
1. An exhortation to obedience in regard to God's mercy and goodness to Israel.














Remember
The Hebrew word for "remember" is "זָכַר" (zakar), which implies more than just recalling past events. It suggests an active, intentional process of bringing to mind and considering the significance of God's actions. In the context of Deuteronomy, remembering is a call to acknowledge God's faithfulness and sovereignty, urging the Israelites to live in a way that honors their covenant relationship with Him.

that the LORD your God
The phrase emphasizes the personal relationship between the Israelites and Yahweh, their covenant God. "LORD" is translated from "יהוה" (YHWH), the sacred name of God, highlighting His eternal, self-existent nature. "Your God" personalizes this relationship, reminding the Israelites of their unique status as God's chosen people, bound to Him by covenant.

led you all the way
The Hebrew root "נָחָה" (nahah) for "led" conveys guidance and direction. This leadership was not just physical but spiritual, as God directed their journey and shaped their identity as His people. The phrase underscores God's providential care and the importance of following His guidance in every aspect of life.

in the wilderness
The "wilderness" or "מִדְבָּר" (midbar) was a place of testing and transformation. Historically, the wilderness was a harsh, desolate environment, symbolizing the trials and challenges the Israelites faced. Spiritually, it represents a place of dependence on God, where He provided for their needs and taught them to trust in His provision.

these forty years
The number "forty" often signifies a period of testing or judgment in the Bible. The forty years in the wilderness were a time of purification and preparation for entering the Promised Land. This period reflects God's patience and the necessity of spiritual maturity before receiving His promises.

to humble you
The Hebrew word "עָנָה" (anah) for "humble" means to afflict or bring low. This humbling was not punitive but redemptive, intended to strip away self-reliance and foster dependence on God. It highlights the importance of humility in the believer's life, recognizing one's need for God's grace and guidance.

and test you
"Test" comes from the Hebrew "נָסָה" (nasah), meaning to prove or try. God's testing is not to induce failure but to reveal the true nature of one's faith and character. It serves to strengthen and refine, demonstrating the genuineness of the Israelites' commitment to God and His commandments.

in order to know what was in your heart
The phrase "in your heart" refers to the inner being, the seat of will and emotion. God’s testing was designed to reveal the Israelites' true intentions and loyalties. It underscores the biblical principle that God desires heartfelt obedience and devotion, not mere external compliance.

whether or not you would keep His commandments
"Keep" is translated from "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard or observe. This implies a vigilant, careful adherence to God's laws. The phrase emphasizes the conditional nature of the covenant, where blessings are contingent upon obedience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of living according to God's standards, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.

THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE EXODUS.

(2) And thou shalt remember.--The whole of the remainder of this exhortation, to the end of Deuteronomy 10, is chiefly taken up with this topic. Israel must remember (1) the leading of Jehovah, and (2) their own rebellious perversity in the journey through the wilderness. The same recollection is made the occasion for a separate note of praise in Psalm 136:16 : "To him which led his people through the wilderness; for his mercy endureth for ever."

The way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years.--Not so much the literal journey, but "the way:" i.e., the manner. The details of the actual journey are of course included, but only as incidents of "the way." In the Acts of the Apostles the Christian life is in several passages called "the way." In all these things the Israelites were types of us.

To humble thee, and to prove thee.--The way in itself is described as "three days' journey into the wilderness," so far as the leading to Sinai is concerned (Exodus 3:18), and "eleven days' journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea" (Deuteronomy 1:2). It was in the power of Jehovah to bring Israel from Egypt to Canaan, had He so willed it, without delay, in a very little time. And just so with "the way" of salvation. There is no intrinsic or necessary impossibility in the immediate turning of mankind, or of any individual, from darkness to light. And this change might be followed by immediate removal from "this present evil world" into the place which Christ has gone before to prepare for us. But manifestly the formation of human character by probation and training would vanish in such a process as this. There could be no well-tried and deliberate purpose to serve our Creator and Redeemer in any of us--or, at least, no proof of our deliberate preference for His service--under such circumstances. Nor, again, could there be that humility which arises only out of self-knowledge. The transitory nature of all mere human resolutions and impressions for good demonstrates to the man who knows himself, better than anything else could do, the power and patience of his Redeemer, and the moral cost of his redemption. This human transitoriness and feebleness is strikingly illustrated by the story of the Exodus.

To know what was in thine heart.--"To know" is not simply that He might know ("Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more then the hearts of the children of men! "), but that the knowledge may arise--to determine, disclose, discover. So in 2Chronicles 32:31 : "God left him (Hezekiah) to try him, to know all that was in his heart." What God Himself knows by omniscience He sometimes brings to light by evidence for the sake of His creatures. (Comp. Ephesians 3:10 : "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by (by means of) the church the manifold wisdom of God.") . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Remember that
וְזָכַרְתָּ֣ (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

these
זֶ֛ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

forty
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

years
שָׁנָ֖ה (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

led you
הֹלִֽיכֲךָ֜ (hō·lî·ḵă·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the way
הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

in the wilderness,
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

so that
לְמַ֨עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

He might humble you
עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜ (‘an·nō·ṯə·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6031: To be bowed down or afflicted

and test you
לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗ (lə·nas·sō·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt

in order to know
לָדַ֜עַת (lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

what
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

was in your heart,
בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛ (bil·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

whether or
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

not
לֹֽא׃ (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

you would keep
הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר (hă·ṯiš·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

His commandments.
מִצְוֺתָ֖יו (miṣ·wō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 8:2 You shall remember all the way which (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 8:1
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