Deuteronomy 26:8
And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The exodus (circa 1446 BCE traditional dating, 1260 BCE alternative) was Israel's formative event, referenced throughout Scripture more than any other historical occurrence. The ten plagues demonstrated YHWH's sovereignty over Egyptian deities: the Nile (Hapi), sun (Ra), fertility (Hathor), etc. Pharaoh's magicians could replicate early signs but ultimately failed (Exodus 8:18-19), proving YHWH's superior power. The Red Sea crossing completed Israel's deliverance while destroying Pharaoh's army—military victory without Israelite weapons, accomplished entirely by divine power.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's mighty deliverance of Israel from Egypt encourage you when facing impossible circumstances?
- In what ways have you witnessed God's 'signs and wonders' in your life, and do you regularly rehearse them as Israel did?
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders—the liturgy climaxes with God's powerful deliverance. The fourfold description emphasizes comprehensive divine intervention: beyad chazaqah (mighty/strong hand), bizroa netuyah (outstretched arm), uvemora gadol (great fear/terror), uve'otot uvemoftim (signs and wonders).
The mighty hand and outstretched arm imagery appears over 15 times in Deuteronomy, depicting God as divine warrior fighting for Israel. The "hand" suggests power and control; the "outstretched arm" implies reaching down from heaven to intervene in history. This anthropomorphic language makes transcendent reality tangible—God acts in space and time, not merely as abstract force.
The phrase great terribleness (mora gadol) refers to the terror God inflicted on Egypt through the plagues—terror that produced reverence in Israel but judgment on their oppressors. The signs and wonders (otot umoftim) are the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing, supernatural acts validating YHWH's supremacy over Egyptian gods. This confession declares that Israel's existence depends entirely on God's miraculous intervention, not natural evolution or human effort.