Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Original Language Analysis
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֣
And thou shalt remember
H2142
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֣
And thou shalt remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
1 of 23
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ
all the way
H1870
הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ
all the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
4 of 23
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הוֹלִֽיכְךָ֜
H1980
הוֹלִֽיכְךָ֜
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 23
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יְהוָ֧ה
which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 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
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
12 of 23
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
לְמַ֨עַן
H4616
לְמַ֨עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜
to humble
H6031
עַנֹּֽתְךָ֜
to humble
Strong's:
H6031
Word #:
14 of 23
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗
thee and to prove
H5254
לְנַסֹּֽתְךָ֗
thee and to prove
Strong's:
H5254
Word #:
15 of 23
to test; by implication, to attempt
לָדַ֜עַת
thee to know
H3045
לָדַ֜עַת
thee to know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
16 of 23
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
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
בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛
what was in thine heart
H3824
בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֛
what was in thine heart
Strong's:
H3824
Word #:
19 of 23
the heart (as the most interior organ)
הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר
whether thou wouldest keep
H8104
הֲתִשְׁמֹ֥ר
whether thou wouldest keep
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
20 of 23
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
מִצְוֹתָ֖ו
his commandments
H4687
מִצְוֹתָ֖ו
his commandments
Strong's:
H4687
Word #:
21 of 23
a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)
Cross References
James 1:3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:Deuteronomy 8:16Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;Exodus 16:4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.Deuteronomy 2:7For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.Exodus 15:25And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,John 2:25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.2 Chronicles 32:31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.James 4:10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.Deuteronomy 29:5And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
Historical Context
The forty years fulfilled God's judgment on the unbelieving exodus generation (Numbers 14:26-35) but also prepared the second generation for Canaan's challenges. The wilderness tested Israel's faith through lack of water (Exodus 17; Numbers 20), complaints about food (Exodus 16; Numbers 11), and military threats (Exodus 17:8-16; Numbers 21). These trials revealed Israel's persistent rebellion but also God's persistent faithfulness. New Testament writers see the wilderness as typological—a pattern for Christian experience (1 Corinthians 10:1-13).
Questions for Reflection
- How have your 'wilderness' experiences revealed your heart and tested your faith?
- What has God been teaching you through seasons of difficulty and dependence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses commands Israel to 'remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness.' The Hebrew zakar (remember) means active, purposeful recollection that shapes present conduct. The wilderness experience served multiple purposes: humbling ('to humble thee'), testing ('to prove thee'), and revealing heart motives ('to know what was in thine heart'). The forty years weren't punishment alone but divine pedagogy—God training Israel for covenant faithfulness. The wilderness revealed whether Israel would 'keep his commandments, or no.'