Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26

The big picture

Deuteronomy 26 opens in verse 1 with “And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD , hast…”, and closes in verse 19 with “And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, land, commandments, commanded, fathers. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Deuteronomy · King James Version · 19

Deuteronomy 26:1-7

1–7: It shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God…

Deuteronomy 26:1–7 opens with “And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an…” and reaches “And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A family bringing firstfruits and confessing Israel’s story of rescue before the Lord, with particular weight carried by LORD, basket, fathers.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

Deuteronomy 26:1-7

King James Version

1And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;

2That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

3And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.

4And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

5And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

6And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:

7And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:

Deuteronomy 26:8-14

8–14: The LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an…

Deuteronomy 26:8–14 opens with “And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and…” and reaches “I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A family bringing firstfruits and confessing Israel’s story of rescue before the Lord, with particular weight carried by LORD, land, Levite.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.” The line’s distinctive content terms include land, floweth, honey. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD , hast given me. And thou shalt set it…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou…” Naming Levite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Deuteronomy 26:8-14

King James Version

8And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

9And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.

10And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD , hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:

11And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.

12When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

13Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:

14I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

Deuteronomy 26:15-19

15–19: Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people…

Deuteronomy 26:15–19 opens with “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which…” and reaches “And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A family bringing firstfruits and confessing Israel’s story of rescue before the Lord, with particular weight carried by LORD, keep, people.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Deuteronomy 26:15-19

King James Version

15Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

16This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

17Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

18And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

19And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

Details worth noticing

19verses in this reading
3major movements

The opening image

Deuteronomy 26:1 begins with “And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;”

Where the chapter turns

Deuteronomy 26:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto…”

The final note

Deuteronomy 26:19 leaves the reader with “And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy…”

A word trail through the chapter

The words LORD, land, commandments, commanded, fathers, keep help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

How does Isaac respond to repeated disputes?

He relocates and digs again until a well is not contested, while later accepting a negotiated peace.

What persists from Abraham's story?

The promise, altars, wells, outsider status and the dangerous sister deception.

KJV words made clear

behold
look, or pay close attention
unto
to
thee
you
thou
you
thy
your

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.