Deuteronomy 6:12
Deuteronomy 6:12 in Multiple Translations
be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
then beware lest thou forget Jehovah, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Then take care that you keep your hearts true to the Lord, who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house.
make sure you don't forget the Lord who led you out of Egypt, out of the prison-house of slavery.
Beware least thou forget the Lord, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
'Take heed to thyself lest thou forget Jehovah who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of servants;
then beware lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Then beware lest thou shouldst forget the LORD, who brought thee forth from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
And thou shalt have eaten and be full:
be sure that you do not forget Yahweh who rescued you from being slaves in Egypt and gave all these things to you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 6:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 6:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר
לְ/ךָ֔
פֶּן
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
אֶת
יְהוָ֑ה
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
הוֹצִֽיאֲ/ךָ֛
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
מִצְרַ֖יִם
מִ/בֵּ֥ית
עֲבָדִֽים
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר
shâmar
H8104
to keep
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
לְ/ךָ֔
Prep | Suff
פֶּן
pên
H6435
lest
Conj
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
shâkach
H7911
to forget
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Rel
הוֹצִֽיאֲ/ךָ֛
yâtsâʼ
H3318
to come out
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
מִצְרַ֖יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
N-proper
מִ/בֵּ֥ית
bayith
H1004
place
Prep | N-ms
עֲבָדִֽים
ʻebed
H5650
servant/slave
N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 6:12
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר
shâmar
H8104
"to keep"
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Definition: : obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded 1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed 1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
Usage: Occurs in 440 OT verses. KJV: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). See also: Genesis 2:15; Deuteronomy 11:1; 1 Kings 14:8.
לְ/ךָ֔
""
Prep | Suff
פֶּן
pên
H6435
"lest"
Conj
This word is used to express caution or warning, similar to saying 'lest' or 'beware that'. It is often used in the Bible to advise against certain actions or to warn of potential consequences.
Definition: conj 1) lest, not, beware lest adv 2) lest
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: (lest) (peradventure), that...not. See also: Genesis 3:3; Judges 14:15; Psalms 2:12.
תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
shâkach
H7911
"to forget"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Definition: 1) to forget, ignore, wither 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to forget 1a2) to cease to care 1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten 1c) (Piel) to cause to forget 1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget 1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
Usage: Occurs in 95 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. See also: Genesis 27:45; Psalms 106:13; Psalms 9:13.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
הוֹצִֽיאֲ/ךָ֛
yâtsâʼ
H3318
"to come out"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
מִצְרַ֖יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
מִ/בֵּ֥ית
bayith
H1004
"place"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
עֲבָדִֽים
ʻebed
H5650
"servant/slave"
N-mp
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Definition: 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant 1b) subjects 1c) servants, worshippers (of God) 1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc) 1e) servant (of Israel) 1f) servant (as form of address between equals) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Usage: Occurs in 714 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. See also: Genesis 9:25; Exodus 11:3; 1 Samuel 8:16.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 6:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Deuteronomy 6:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 6:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 6:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 6:12
Context — The Greatest Commandment
10And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build,
11with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied,
12be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. 14Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.Deuteronomy 6:12 Summary
This verse is warning us not to forget about God and all the amazing things He has done for us. Just like the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, we have been delivered from our own sin and bondage through Jesus Christ (as seen in John 8:36 and Romans 6:17). We need to be careful not to get too comfortable and forget about God's goodness, but instead remember and honor Him in our daily lives. By doing so, we can stay humble, grateful, and obedient to Him, just like it says in Deuteronomy 8:2 and Psalm 103:2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main warning in Deuteronomy 6:12?
The main warning in Deuteronomy 6:12 is to be careful not to forget the LORD who brought the Israelites out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, as seen in the verse itself and supported by the command to remember in Deuteronomy 8:14.
Why is it important to remember the LORD's deliverance?
Remembering the LORD's deliverance is important because it helps us to stay humble, grateful, and obedient to Him, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:2 and Exodus 20:2.
How can we apply this warning to our own lives?
We can apply this warning by regularly reflecting on God's goodness and deliverance in our lives, and by being intentional about teaching the next generation about God's faithfulness, as seen in Psalm 78:4 and Deuteronomy 4:9-10.
What is the consequence of forgetting the LORD?
The consequence of forgetting the LORD is that we may become proud, disobedient, and idolatrous, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:14 and Hosea 2:13.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has delivered me from my own 'Egypt' or place of bondage, and how can I remember and honor Him for those deliverances?
- In what ways can I be careful not to forget the LORD and His goodness in my daily life?
- How can I teach the next generation about the LORD's faithfulness and deliverance, as commanded in Deuteronomy 4:9-10?
- What are some potential idols or distractions that could cause me to forget the LORD, and how can I guard against them?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 6:12
Then beware lest thou forget the Lord,.... To love, fear, and worship him, and keep his commands; creature enjoyments being apt to get possession of the heart, and the affections of it; Proverbs 30:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 6:12
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
Deuteronomy 6:12 [Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.Ver. 12. Lest thou forget the Lord.] Should we, with the fed hawk, forget our master? Or being full with God’ s benefits, like the moon, be then most removed from the sun, from whom she hath all her light? See Proverbs 30:8-9. Postquam locupletati sumus, saith Luther, hanc odiosam particulam addimus, Ego feci; We are no sooner grown rich, but we are apt to utter that ugly word, This I may thank myself for.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
(10-13) The song of Moses supplies a prophetic comment upon this in Deuteronomy 32:15 : “Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked . . . then he forsook God.” “In all time of our wealth, good Lord, deliver us.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 6:12
Verse 12. Beware lest thou forget the Lord] In earthly prosperity men are apt to forget heavenly things. While the animal senses have every thing they can wish, it is difficult for the soul to urge its way to heaven; the animal man is happy, and the desires of the soul are absorbed in those of the flesh. God knows this well; and therefore, in his love to man, makes comparative poverty and frequent affliction his general lot. Should not every soul therefore magnify God for this lot in life? "Before I was afflicted," says David, "I went astray;" and had it not been for poverty and affliction, as instruments in the hands of God's grace, multitudes of souls now happy in heaven would have been wretched in hell. It is not too much to speak thus far; because we ever see that the rich and the affluent are generally negligent of God and the interests of their souls. It must however be granted that extreme poverty is as injurious to religion as excessive affluence. Hence the wisdom as well as piety of Agur's prayer, Proverbs 30:7-9: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, lest I be full and deny thee, or lest I be poor and steal," &c.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 6:12
12. beware] give heed to thyself or be on guard with respect to thyself, apparently a common phrase from one person to another, Exodus 10:28 (J), etc.; addressed to Israel in the editorial passage, Exodus 34:12 and frequently in D: Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 8:11 (both followed, as here, by lest thou forget), Deuteronomy 12:13; Deuteronomy 12:19; Deuteronomy 12:30, Deuteronomy 15:9, all Sg. and in the Pl. Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 9:16 (cp. Deuteronomy 4:15). which brought thee, etc.] Once more an emphasis on the providence of Israel’s God. house of bondmen] So in J, Exodus 13:3; Exodus 13:14; in Deut. only in Sg.: Deuteronomy 5:6; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 8:14; Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 13:10; the slaves’ quarter (ergastulum).