Deuteronomy 26:15

Authorized King James Version

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Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Original Language Analysis

הַשְׁקִיפָה֩ Look down H8259
הַשְׁקִיפָה֩ Look down
Strong's: H8259
Word #: 1 of 22
properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e., (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle)
מִמְּע֨וֹן habitation H4583
מִמְּע֨וֹן habitation
Strong's: H4583
Word #: 2 of 22
an abode, of god (the tabernacle or the temple), men (their home) or animals (their lair); hence, a retreat (asylum)
קָדְשְׁךָ֜ from thy holy H6944
קָדְשְׁךָ֜ from thy holy
Strong's: H6944
Word #: 3 of 22
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 4 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם from heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם from heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 5 of 22
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וּבָרֵ֤ךְ and bless H1288
וּבָרֵ֤ךְ and bless
Strong's: H1288
Word #: 6 of 22
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
אֶֽת H853
אֶֽת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 7 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַמְּךָ֙ thy people H5971
עַמְּךָ֙ thy people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 8 of 22
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 9 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 10 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְאֵת֙ H853
וְאֵת֙
Strong's: H853
Word #: 11 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה and the land H127
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה and the land
Strong's: H127
Word #: 12 of 22
soil (from its general redness)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 13 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֖תָּה which thou hast given H5414
נָתַ֖תָּה which thou hast given
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 14 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לָ֑נוּ H0
לָ֑נוּ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 15 of 22
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 16 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ us as thou swarest H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ us as thou swarest
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 17 of 22
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
לַֽאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ unto our fathers H1
לַֽאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ unto our fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 18 of 22
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אֶ֛רֶץ a land H776
אֶ֛רֶץ a land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 19 of 22
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
זָבַ֥ת that floweth H2100
זָבַ֥ת that floweth
Strong's: H2100
Word #: 20 of 22
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
חָלָ֖ב with milk H2461
חָלָ֖ב with milk
Strong's: H2461
Word #: 21 of 22
milk (as the richness of kine)
וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ and honey H1706
וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ and honey
Strong's: H1706
Word #: 22 of 22
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup

Analysis & Commentary

Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel—after declaring obedience (26:13-14), the worshiper prayed for divine blessing. The phrase hashqifah mi-me'on qodshekha (הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ) invites God to observe from His heavenly dwelling, similar to Isaiah 63:15. The prayer presumes obedience creates basis for requesting blessing—not earning it but positioning for receiving it. And the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey—asking blessing on both people and land, invoking covenant promises to the patriarchs.

The connection between obedience and blessing pervades Deuteronomy. While blessings are unearned grace, disobedience forfeits covenant benefits. The prayer recognizes that faithful tithing—caring for Levites and the vulnerable—merits God's continued provision. The description 'flowing with milk and honey' echoes the promise given to Moses (Exodus 3:8), showing land abundance depends on divine blessing, not merely soil fertility. Covenant faithfulness in giving invites God's faithfulness in providing.

Historical Context

Spoken circa 1406 BC before Israel possessed the promised land. The prayer anticipated settlement and harvest, when tithing would become practical reality. The reference to 'thy holy habitation, from heaven' reflects Israel's theology: God dwelt symbolically in the tabernacle/temple but actually resided in heaven. Solomon acknowledged this at the temple dedication: 'Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house' (1 Kings 8:27). The dual focus—God transcendent in heaven yet attending to earthly covenant—defined Israel's worship.

Questions for Reflection

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