Deuteronomy 24:18

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from that place. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord addresses Israel between directives on protecting vulnerable individuals and regulations for agricultural harvest. The command functions as a foundational historical reminder preceding specific social statutes.

The words — The verse hinges on וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֗ (ve./za.khar.Ta), meaning "you will remember," and וַֽ/יִּפְדְּ/ךָ֛ (va/i.yif.de./Kha), meaning "he redeemed you." These terms anchor the subsequent command in historical memory and deliverance.

The thread — This memory motif appears in Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 15:15, and Deuteronomy 16:12, where recalling Egyptian bondage grounds Israel's obedience to covenant statutes.

Why it lands — The text demands concrete action toward the marginalized by tying present obedience to past divine intervention. Readers are to implement justice and generosity as direct responses to remembered redemption.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְזָכַרְתָּ֗ve./za.khar.Taand/ you will remember כִּ֣יkithat עֶ֤בֶד'E.veda slave הָיִ֙יתָ֙ha.Yi.tayou were בְּמִצְרַ֔יִםbe./mitz.Ra.yimin/ Egypt וַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֛va/i.yif.de./Khaand/ he redeemed/ you יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your מִשָּׁ֑םmi./Shamfrom/ there עַל־'al-there-כֵּ֞ןken-fore אָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiI מְצַוְּךָ֙me.tza.ve./Kha[am] commanding/ you לַעֲשׂ֔וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדָּבָ֖רha./da.Varthe/ thing הַזֶּֽה׃ סha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 15:15 Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.
Deuteronomy 16:12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes.
Deuteronomy 24:22 Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this.