Deuteronomy 8

“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in…” 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.

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include know, live, bread. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;” The line’s distinctive content terms include land, barley, honey. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are…” The line’s distinctive content terms include land, brass, bread. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” 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.

“Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes…” Naming Beware keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;” Naming Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include multiplied, flocks, gold. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought…” The line’s distinctive content terms include water, drought, fiery. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fathers, good, humble. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gotten, hand, heart. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his…” 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.

“And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.