Deuteronomy 8:11

Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, warning them immediately after instructing them to bless God when they eat and are satisfied. He speaks this command as they stand on the threshold of entering the Promised Land.

The words — The Hebrew imperative הִשָּׁמֵר (hiššāmer) commands "take heed" or "be careful," paired with the negative purpose particle פֶּן (pĕn) meaning "lest." This structure introduces תִּשְׁכַּח (tiškaḥ), "you will forget," directly tied to failing to keep (שָׁמַר, šāmar) God's statutes.

The thread — The pattern of prosperity breeding spiritual amnesia runs through Psalms 106:21, where Israel forgot God their Savior, and Proverbs 30:9, which warns that sudden wealth may cause a person to deny the LORD. These passages trace the same trajectory from material satisfaction to covenantal neglect.

Why it lands — The text demands active vigilance against spiritual complacency when circumstances improve. It requires the reader to maintain obedience to God's commands precisely when comfort or success might naturally distract from them.

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

הִשָּׁ֣מֶרhi.Sha.mertake heedלְךָ֔le./Khato <the>/ yourselfפֶּן־pen-lest תִּשְׁכַּ֖חtish.Kachyou should forget אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your לְבִלְתִּ֨יle./vil.Tito/ not שְׁמֹ֤רshe.Morto keep מִצְוֹתָיו֙mitz.vo.Ta/vcommandments/ his וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יוu./mish.pa.Ta/vand/ judgments/ his וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יוve./chu.ko.Ta/vand/ statutes/ his אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiI מְצַוְּךָ֖me.tza.ve./Kha[am] commanding/ you הַיּֽוֹם׃hai./Yomthis/ day

King James Version

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Cross-references

Psalms 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,
Proverbs 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Proverbs 30:9 Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
Hosea 2:8 For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.
Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.