Deuteronomy 6:21
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 6:21
21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 6 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, hope, judgment. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-25: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 6:21
21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Analysis
The commanded response begins with personal testimony: 'We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt.' Starting with slavery emphasizes grace—salvation is deliverance from bondage, not reward for merit. The historical specificity ('Pharaoh...Egypt') grounds faith in objective redemptive events, not subjective experience or mythology. The verb 'brought us out' attributes deliverance entirely to divine initiative. This verse models gospel presentation: begin with humanity's enslaved condition, then proclaim God's gracious rescue. The Reformed emphasis on God's sovereignty in salvation appears clearly—redemption is entirely divine work.
Historical Context
Egypt enslaved Israel approximately 400 years (Genesis 15:13, Exodus 12:40), intensifying oppression with forced labor and infanticide before the exodus (Exodus 1:8-22). God raised up Moses, sent ten plagues demonstrating power over Egyptian gods, instituted Passover, and delivered Israel through Red Sea crossing (Exodus 1-15). This redemptive event became Israel's foundational salvation narrative, constantly rehearsed in worship (Psalms 78, 105, 106, 136). Christian preaching similarly proclaims redemption from sin's bondage through Christ.
Reflection
- How does beginning the gospel story with bondage rather than human potential emphasize salvation as grace, not merit?
- In what ways does the exodus serve as type and pattern for presenting Christian redemption from sin's slavery?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Deuteronomy 5:6, 15:15, Exodus 20:2