Deuteronomy 9:29
Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.
Original Language Analysis
עַמְּךָ֖
Yet they are thy people
H5971
עַמְּךָ֖
Yet they are thy people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 9
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וְנַֽחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ
and thine inheritance
H5159
וְנַֽחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ
and thine inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
3 of 9
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 9
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הוֹצֵ֙אתָ֙
which thou broughtest out
H3318
הוֹצֵ֙אתָ֙
which thou broughtest out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
5 of 9
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
בְּכֹֽחֲךָ֣
power
H3581
בְּכֹֽחֲךָ֣
power
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
6 of 9
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
הַגָּדֹ֔ל
by thy mighty
H1419
הַגָּדֹ֔ל
by thy mighty
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
7 of 9
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
Cross References
Nehemiah 1:10Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.Deuteronomy 9:26I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.Deuteronomy 4:34Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?1 Kings 8:51For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:Psalms 95:7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,Deuteronomy 4:20But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.Isaiah 63:19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.Psalms 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Historical Context
Moses prayed this during the 40-day fast on Mount Sinai after Israel's golden calf apostasy (Exodus 32-34). He interceded to prevent God's judgment and preserve the covenant people. This prayer exemplifies the mediatorial role that prefigures Christ's high priestly ministry.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses's appeal to God's redemptive investment in Israel inform how we pray based on Christ's finished work?
- What does it mean that believers are God's 'inheritance' (Ephesians 1:18), and how should this shape our identity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance (נַחֲלָתְךָ, nachalatekha)—Moses concludes his intercessory prayer by appealing to God's covenant ownership of Israel. The term nachalah (inheritance) emphasizes that Israel belongs to Yahweh by election, not merit—they are His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). Thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm recalls the exodus redemption: God's investment in Israel through the plagues and Red Sea crossing becomes Moses's argument for their preservation.
This verse captures the theology of intercession: Moses pleads not Israel's righteousness (which he's just demolished in ch. 9:4-24) but God's reputation and covenant faithfulness. Paul applies similar logic in Romans 8:32—if God gave His Son, how will He not freely give us all things? Christ is our greater Mediator who intercedes based on His own redemptive work.