Deuteronomy Chapter 26 · Verse 1
And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָה֙
H1961
וְהָיָה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
2 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תָב֣וֹא
And it shall be when thou art come in
H935
תָב֣וֹא
And it shall be when thou art come in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֣ה
which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 14
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
H5414
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
9 of 14
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
נַֽחֲלָ֑ה
thee for an inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָ֑ה
thee for an inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
11 of 14
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ
and possessest
H3423
וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ
and possessest
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
12 of 14
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
Historical Context
Moses delivers this instruction circa 1406 BCE on Moab's plains, before Jordan crossing. The firstfruits ceremony wouldn't be practiced until after Canaan's conquest and land distribution—perhaps 7-14 years later. Ancient Near Eastern societies commonly offered firstfruits to deities, but Israel's ritual uniquely recited salvation history (26:5-10), not mythological cosmogony. The ceremony occurred at the central sanctuary (hammaqom asher yivchar, "the place which He will choose")—later identified as Jerusalem's temple.
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing material blessings as inheritance rather than entitlement change your relationship with possessions?
- What firstfruits in your life should be dedicated to God before you consume the harvest?
Analysis & Commentary
When thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein—the temporal clause ki tavo ("when you come in") assumes covenant faithfulness will result in land possession. The threefold progression—yarashta (possess), yashavta (dwell)—moves from military conquest to settled habitation, anticipating Israel's transition from nomadic wanderers to agrarian society.
The land is nachalah (inheritance), not earned wages but gracious gift. This theological category grounds Israelite land tenure in divine election and covenant promise (Genesis 12:7, 15:18-21), not military prowess or ethnic superiority. The phrase the LORD thy God giveth thee appears repeatedly in Deuteronomy, emphasizing that YHWH is both giver and sovereign owner—Israel possesses as steward, not absolute proprietor.
This verse introduces the firstfruits ceremony (26:1-11), liturgy that would be performed after settlement in Canaan. The instruction looks forward to conquest completion, when agricultural cycles replace manna. The ceremony transforms economic activity into worship, reminding Israel that land fertility flows from covenant relationship, not Canaanite Baal worship.