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
International Standard Version
Remember What the Lord has Done
20 “When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the instructions, decrees, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?’ 21 tell him, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with great power. 22 Before our very eyes, the Lord did great and terrible signs and wonders in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to his entire household. 23 But as for us, he brought us out from there to bring us into the land and give it to us, as he promised our ancestors. 24 Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God for our own good, so that he may keep us alive as we are today. 25 It will be credited as[a] righteousness for us if we’re careful to obey the entire Law in the presence of the Lord our God, as he commanded.’”
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- Deuteronomy 6:25 The Heb. lacks credited as
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