Deuteronomy Chapter 26 · Verse 3
And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.
Original Language Analysis
בָ֙אתִי֙
And thou shalt go
H935
בָ֙אתִי֙
And thou shalt go
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
unto the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
unto the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
3 of 23
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
5 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַיּוֹם֙
that shall be in those days
H3117
הַיּוֹם֙
that shall be in those days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הִגַּ֤דְתִּי
unto him I profess
H5046
הִגַּ֤דְתִּי
unto him I profess
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
10 of 23
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
הַיּוֹם֙
that shall be in those days
H3117
הַיּוֹם֙
that shall be in those days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
11 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יְהוָ֛ה
unto the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
13 of 23
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
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
14 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בָ֙אתִי֙
And thou shalt go
H935
בָ֙אתִי֙
And thou shalt go
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
15 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הָאָ֔רֶץ
unto the country
H776
הָאָ֔רֶץ
unto the country
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
17 of 23
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע
sware
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע
sware
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
19 of 23
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
יְהוָ֛ה
unto the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
20 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לַֽאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ
unto our fathers
H1
לַֽאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ
unto our fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
21 of 23
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Historical Context
This confession would be recited at the central sanctuary during the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost), seven weeks after Passover, celebrating the wheat harvest. The timing links agricultural blessing to exodus deliverance—the same connection Acts 2 makes when the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost, creating the new covenant harvest. The priest receiving the confession represented the entire Levitical order, which had no land inheritance but depended on offerings from the other tribes (Deuteronomy 18:1-8).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you regularly confess God's covenant faithfulness in your life, or do you silently take blessings for granted?
- How does remembering God's promises to previous generations strengthen your own faith during trials?
Analysis & Commentary
I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us—the Hebrew higgadti ("I profess/declare") makes the offering an act of public testimony. This isn't silent ritual but verbal confession acknowledging God's covenant faithfulness. The declaration connects present blessing to ancestral promise, rooting individual experience in corporate salvation history.
The phrase which the LORD sware unto our fathers invokes the patriarchal covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:7, 26:3, 28:13). Each Israelite farmer confesses that land possession fulfills ancient oath, not recent achievement. The formula asher nishba YHWH la'avoteinu ("which YHWH swore to our fathers") appears over 20 times in Deuteronomy, underscoring that Israel's present derives from God's past promises.
Addressing the priest that shall be in those days acknowledges mediatorial priesthood. The worshiper doesn't approach God directly but through Levitical ministry—a typological pattern fulfilled in Christ's superior high priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:23-28). The ceremony trains Israel to recognize covenant blessings rather than assume entitlement.