Deuteronomy 9:24
Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.
Original Language Analysis
מַמְרִ֥ים
Ye have been rebellious
H4784
מַמְרִ֥ים
Ye have been rebellious
Strong's:
H4784
Word #:
1 of 7
to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke)
הֱיִיתֶ֖ם
H1961
הֱיִיתֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 7
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 7
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
יְהוָ֑ה
against the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
against the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִיּ֖וֹם
from the day
H3117
מִיּ֖וֹם
from the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 7
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
Cross References
Deuteronomy 31:27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?Acts 7:51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Historical Context
Moses speaks this on the plains of Moab shortly before his death and Israel's entrance to Canaan. Looking back over forty years of wilderness wandering, he can identify no period of consistent faithfulness - only continuous rebellion punctuated by occasional repentance.
This honest historical assessment served to humble the second generation and prevent presumption as they entered the land.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's continuous rebellion despite extraordinary privileges reveal about human nature?
- How should recognizing our own pattern of rebellion affect our view of God's patience?
- Why doesn't external religious blessing automatically produce internal spiritual transformation?
- How does Israel's history demonstrate God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness?
- In what ways do believers today mirror Israel's pattern of rebellion despite blessing?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. Moses' sweeping indictment summarizes Israel's entire history - continuous rebellion characterized their relationship with God from the beginning. This statement exposes human sinfulness and divine patience.
The phrase from the day that I knew you covers the period from the exodus through the wilderness wandering. Throughout this time, despite seeing unprecedented miracles and receiving extraordinary provision, Israel persistently rebelled. This reveals that external religious privilege does not produce internal righteousness.
This universal condemnation anticipates Paul's teaching that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Israel's pattern mirrors all humanity's rebellion - given knowledge of God and His law, people nevertheless persist in sin. This drives home the necessity of God's transforming grace.
Yet God's preservation of rebellious Israel demonstrates covenant faithfulness. Despite their persistent rebellion, God did not utterly forsake them but continued working His redemptive purposes through them toward the coming of Christ.