Deuteronomy 8:13 Study Bible: and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;

Bible > Deuteronomy > Chapter 8 > Verse 13

◄ Deuteronomy 8:13 ►

and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,

and when your herds and flocks grow large
In the ancient Near Eastern context, wealth was often measured by the size of one's livestock. The Hebrew word for "herds" (בָּקָר, baqar) and "flocks" (צֹאן, tson) signifies not just material wealth but also God's blessing and provision. Livestock was essential for survival, providing food, clothing, and trade opportunities. The growth of herds and flocks symbolizes prosperity and divine favor, reminding the Israelites of God's promise to bless them abundantly if they remain faithful.

and your silver and gold increase
Silver (כֶּסֶף, keseph) and gold (זָהָב, zahav) were the primary forms of currency and wealth in the ancient world. Their increase signifies economic prosperity and stability. In a historical context, the accumulation of precious metals was a sign of a nation's strength and security. Spiritually, this phrase warns against the potential idolatry of wealth, urging believers to remember that true riches come from God and should be used for His glory.

and all you have is multiplied
The phrase "all you have" encompasses every aspect of life, including family, possessions, and influence. The Hebrew root for "multiplied" (רָבָה, rabah) implies not just an increase in quantity but also in quality and impact. This multiplication is a testament to God's covenant faithfulness, as He promised to make Israel a great nation. It serves as a reminder that all blessings come from God and should lead to gratitude and obedience, rather than pride and self-reliance.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's message to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The audience receiving the message, preparing to enter the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, a place of abundance promised to the descendants of Abraham.

4. Wilderness Journey
The context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan, a time of testing and reliance on God.

5. Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, emphasizing obedience and blessings.

Teaching Points

Recognize God's Provision
Acknowledge that all blessings and prosperity come from God, not from our own efforts.

Guard Against Pride
Be vigilant against the pride that can accompany wealth and success, leading to a forgetfulness of God.

Practice Generosity
Use the resources God has given to bless others and further His kingdom.

Cultivate Contentment
Learn to be content in all circumstances, understanding that true satisfaction comes from God, not material wealth.

Maintain a Heart of Gratitude
Regularly thank God for His blessings, fostering a spirit of gratitude that keeps us humble and reliant on Him.

Bible Study Questions

1. How can we ensure that our hearts remain focused on God when we experience material blessings and prosperity?

2. In what ways can we practice generosity with the resources God has entrusted to us, and how does this reflect our faith?

3. How does the warning in Deuteronomy 8:13 about wealth relate to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament about storing treasures in heaven?

4. What practical steps can we take to cultivate contentment in our lives, regardless of our financial situation?

5. How can we regularly remind ourselves and our families of God's provision and faithfulness, especially in times of abundance?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Proverbs 30:8-9
This passage warns against the dangers of wealth leading to forgetfulness of God, similar to the warning in Deuteronomy 8.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Paul advises the wealthy to be generous and not to put their hope in riches, echoing the themes of reliance on God.

Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth, aligning with the caution against materialism in Deuteronomy 8.

James 1:17
Reminds believers that every good and perfect gift is from above, reinforcing the idea that prosperity is a blessing from God.

Philippians 4:12-13
Paul speaks about contentment in all circumstances, whether in abundance or need, which relates to the heart attitude discussed in Deuteronomy 8.

Sermons

God Forgotten Amid Second Causes	R.M. Edgar	Deuteronomy 8:7-20
Wealth Perilous to Piety	D. Davies	Deuteronomy 8:7-20
The Dangers of Wealth	J. Orr	Deuteronomy 8:10-19
Danger of Riches		Deuteronomy 8:11-17
Forgetful of God	Thos. le Blanc.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
Forgetfulness of God	J. Bibb.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
God Forgotten		Deuteronomy 8:11-17
National Wealth	C. Kingsley, M. A.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
Prosperity and Spiritual Ruin	J. Halsey.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
The Christian Aspect and Use of Politics	Canon D. J. Vaughan.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
The Journey Towards the Promised Land	Frank Coulin, D. D.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
The Manna Which Humbled Israel	D. F. Jarman, M. A.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17
The Scorpion	R. Newton, D. D.	Deuteronomy 8:11-17

People

Moses

Places

Beth-baal-peor, Egypt

Topics

Flock, Flocks, Gold, Grow, Hast, Herd, Herds, Increase, Increased, Large, Multiplied, Multiplies, Multiply, Silver, Sort, Stores, Wealth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Deuteronomy 8:13

4363 silver

Deuteronomy 8:10-14

7258 promised land, early history
8763 forgetting

Deuteronomy 8:10-18

5776 achievement
8670 remembering

Deuteronomy 8:11-17

5960 success

Deuteronomy 8:12-14

4333 gold

Deuteronomy 8:13-14

     5399   luxury
     5591   treasure
     8780   materialism, and sin

Library

God's Training
DEUTERONOMY viii. 2-5. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the …
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

The Lesson of Memory
'Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these lofty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.'--DEUT. viii.2. The strand of our lives usually slips away smoothly enough, but days such as this, the last Sunday in a year, are like the knots on a sailor's log, which, as they pass through his fingers, tell him how fast it is being paid out from the reel, and how far it has …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

National Wealth
(Fifth Sunday after Easter.) Deut. viii. 11-18. 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: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Emmanuel's Land
P. G. Deut. viii. 7-10 The land! the glory of all lands, Beyond the Jordan's wave; Beyond the weary desert sands-- The land beyond the grave! Now safe witin that glorious land, We prove His faithful Word; 'Midst Canaan's golden fields we stand, The ransomed of the Lord. Amidst the burning desert drought We learnt His watchful love; Streams from the flinty rocks He brought, Sent bread from Heaven above. Our God in weariness and need, His love was measured there By hunger which His hand would feed, …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11 -- "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Why all Things Work for Good
1. The grand reason why all things work for good, is the near and dear interest which God has in His people. The Lord has made a covenant with them. "They shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jer. xxxii. 38). By virtue of this compact, all things do, and must work, for good to them. "I am God, even thy God" (Psalm l. 7). This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best relations; and it is impossible there should be these relations between God and His people, and …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Third Sunday Before Lent
Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

Deuteronomy 8:13 NIV
Deuteronomy 8:13 NLT
Deuteronomy 8:13 ESV
Deuteronomy 8:13 NASB
Deuteronomy 8:13 KJV

Deuteronomy 8:13 Commentaries

Bible Hub