Deuteronomy 11:10
For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בָא
whither thou goest in
H935
בָא
whither thou goest in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
5 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
שָׁ֙מָּה֙
H8033
שָׁ֙מָּה֙
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
6 of 22
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ
to possess
H3423
לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ
to possess
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
7 of 22
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִ֔וא
H1931
הִ֔וא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
11 of 22
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְצָאתֶ֖ם
from whence ye came out
H3318
יְצָאתֶ֖ם
from whence ye came out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
13 of 22
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִשָּׁ֑ם
H8033
מִשָּׁ֑ם
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
14 of 22
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תִּזְרַע֙
where thou sowedst
H2232
תִּזְרַע֙
where thou sowedst
Strong's:
H2232
Word #:
16 of 22
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
זַרְעֲךָ֔
thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֲךָ֔
thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
18 of 22
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
וְהִשְׁקִ֥יתָ
and wateredst
H8248
וְהִשְׁקִ֥יתָ
and wateredst
Strong's:
H8248
Word #:
19 of 22
to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to
Historical Context
Egypt's agriculture centered on the Nile's predictable annual flooding (June-September), supplemented by complex irrigation canals and shaduf (lever-and-bucket) or saqiya (water wheel driven by oxen or humans) systems. This created a reliable, human-controllable food supply, contributing to Egypt's stability and pharaonic power. Egyptian wisdom literature boasted of human mastery over nature.
Questions for Reflection
- How does dependence on rain (God's direct provision) versus irrigation (human control) illustrate different approaches to life?
- In what areas are you tempted toward self-sufficiency rather than dependence on God?
- What systems or technologies give modern people false sense of control over their lives?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses describes Canaan in contrast to Egypt: 'not as the land of Egypt' introduces a fundamental agricultural difference. Egypt relied on Nile irrigation—'wateredst it with thy foot' refers to foot-powered water wheels (saqiya) or treadmill irrigation systems. The Hebrew regel (רֶגֶל, 'foot') indicates human effort and control. Egypt's fertility depended on human engineering and labor, symbolizing self-sufficiency. The comparison to 'a garden of herbs' evokes controlled cultivation requiring constant human attention. This sets up the contrast with Canaan's rain-dependence in verse 11.