Deuteronomy 8:12 - lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses, and lived in them;

Generated Verse: Deuteronomy 8:12

What does "Deuteronomy 8:12" mean?


Deuteronomy 8:12, "lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses, and lived in them;" is part of a larger warning Moses gives to the Israelites as they are about to enter the Promised Land. This verse, along with the surrounding context, is not condemning prosperity, but rather highlighting the danger of forgetting God when things are going well.

Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"lest, when you have eaten and are full...": This refers to a state of having abundant food and being completely satisfied. It represents a time of physical comfort and security.
"...and have built fine houses, and lived in them;": This represents the Israelites establishing settled lives in the Promised Land. "Fine houses" symbolize prosperity, comfort, and a stable, settled lifestyle.

The overall meaning is a warning against the potential for complacency and forgetfulness of God that can arise when people experience prosperity and comfort. When life is easy and resources are plentiful, there's a temptation to become self-reliant and attribute success solely to one's own efforts, forgetting that it was God who provided the blessings in the first place.

Context and Implications:

Forgetfulness of God: The verse is followed by further warnings about forgetting the Lord who delivered them from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 8:14). The core danger is that with abundance, they might take God for granted and become arrogant.
Attributing Success to Themselves: Deuteronomy 8:17-18 continues the warning by stating, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth..." This emphasizes the point that all blessings ultimately come from God.
Idolatry and Disobedience: The concern is that forgetting God could lead to idolatry (worshiping other gods) and disobedience to his commands.
The Danger of Pride: The passage underscores the risk of pride and arrogance that can accompany material success.

In summary, Deuteronomy 8:12 is a cautionary note about the potential spiritual dangers of prosperity. It reminds people to remain humble, grateful, and faithful to God, even in times of abundance. It's a call to remember the source of all blessings and to avoid the trap of self-sufficiency and forgetting the Lord.