Deuteronomy Chapter 6 · Verse 10

Authorized King James Version

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And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֞ה H1961
וְהָיָ֞ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 2 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣׀ shall have brought H935
יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣׀ shall have brought
Strong's: H935
Word #: 3 of 21
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְהוָ֣ה And it shall be when the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה And it shall be when the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 5 of 21
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
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 6 of 21
near, with or among; often in general, to
הָאָ֜רֶץ thee into the land H776
הָאָ֜רֶץ thee into the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 7 of 21
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 8 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע which he sware H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֧ע which he sware
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 9 of 21
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ unto thy fathers H1
לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ unto thy fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 10 of 21
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם to Abraham H85
לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם to Abraham
Strong's: H85
Word #: 11 of 21
abraham, the later name of abram
לְיִצְחָ֥ק to Isaac H3327
לְיִצְחָ֥ק to Isaac
Strong's: H3327
Word #: 12 of 21
jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham
וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב and to Jacob H3290
וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב and to Jacob
Strong's: H3290
Word #: 13 of 21
jaakob, the israelitish patriarch
לָ֣תֶת to give H5414
לָ֣תֶת to give
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 14 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לָ֑ךְ H0
לָ֑ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 15 of 21
עָרִ֛ים cities H5892
עָרִ֛ים cities
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 16 of 21
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
גְּדֹלֹ֥ת thee great H1419
גְּדֹלֹ֥ת thee great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 17 of 21
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְטֹבֹ֖ת and goodly H2896
וְטֹבֹ֖ת and goodly
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 18 of 21
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 19 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 20 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
בָנִֽיתָ׃ which thou buildedst H1129
בָנִֽיתָ׃ which thou buildedst
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 21 of 21
to build (literally and figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

Moses warns against forgetting God 'when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers.' The danger isn't in times of hardship but in prosperity—'great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not.' Israel would inherit established cities, filled houses, hewn cisterns, vineyards, and olive trees they didn't plant. The ease of receiving unearned blessings creates spiritual amnesia. The repetition of 'thou buildedst not,' 'thou filledst not,' 'thou diggedst not,' 'thou plantedst not' emphasizes grace—all is gift, nothing is earned.

Historical Context

Archaeological evidence confirms that Israel's conquest involved occupying existing Canaanite cities rather than building from scratch. Cities like Jericho, Ai, and Hazor had established infrastructure. This unearned inheritance fulfilled God's promise and demonstrated grace, but also created the spiritual danger Moses warns against—attributing blessing to one's own efforts rather than God's provision. Israel's later history tragically fulfilled this warning.

Questions for Reflection