Deuteronomy 6:20-25
New English Translation
Exhortation to Remember the Past
20 When your children[a] ask you later on, “What are the stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?” 21 you must say to them,[b] “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt in a powerful way.[c] 22 And he[d] brought signs and great, devastating wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on his whole family[e] before our very eyes. 23 He delivered us from there so that he could give us the land he had promised our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these statutes and to revere him[f] so that it may always go well for us and he may preserve us, as he has to this day. 25 We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments[g] before the Lord our God, just as he demands.”[h]
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- Deuteronomy 6:20 tn Heb “your son.”
- Deuteronomy 6:21 tn Heb “to your son.”
- Deuteronomy 6:21 tn Heb “by a strong hand.” The image is that of a warrior who, with weapon in hand, overcomes his enemies. The Lord is commonly depicted as a divine warrior in the Book of Deuteronomy (cf. 5:15; 7:8; 9:26; 26:8).
- Deuteronomy 6:22 tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on the word “his” in v. 17.
- Deuteronomy 6:22 tn Heb “house,” referring to the entire household.
- Deuteronomy 6:24 tn Heb “the Lord our God.” See note on the word “his” in v. 17.
- Deuteronomy 6:25 tn The term “commandment” (מִצְוָה, mitsvah), here in the singular, refers to the entire body of covenant stipulations.
- Deuteronomy 6:25 tn Heb “as he has commanded us” (so NIV, NRSV).
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
Common English Bible
The next generation
20 In the future, your children will ask you, “What is the meaning of the laws,[a] the regulations, and the case laws that the Lord our God commanded you?” 21 Tell them: We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. But the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our own eyes, the Lord performed great and awesome deeds of power[b] against Egypt, Pharaoh, and his entire dynasty. 23 But the Lord brought us out from there so that he could bring us in, giving us the land that he swore to our ancestors. 24 Then the Lord commanded us to perform all these regulations, revering the Lord our God, so that things go well for us always and so we continue to live, as we’re doing right now. 25 What’s more, we will be considered righteous if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, just as he commanded us.
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- Deuteronomy 6:20 Or What are the laws…?
- Deuteronomy 6:22 Or signs and wonders
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