Deuteronomy 6:22 Meaning: God's Signs and Wonders
and Yahweh showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
and Jehovah showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his house, before our eyes;
and Jehovah giveth signs and wonders, great and sad, on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
and Jehovah shewed signs and wonders, great and grievous, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes;
Meaning in one sentence
God's signs and wonders in Egypt are the foundation for obeying His commands today. Discover their meaning in Deuteronomy 6:22.
Context
Moses is speaking to the generation about to enter the Promised Land. He has just given the great commandment to love God with all your heart. Now he tells parents what to say when their children ask about the laws. The answer does not start with the law itself. It starts with what God did: He rescued them from Egypt with signs and wonders. This verse recalls the plagues, those public, devastating acts of God. These events are the reason the commandments exist. Obedience flows from deliverance, not the other way around.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for 'signs' (ʾot) means a distinguishing mark or a miraculous sign. These were unmistakable markers of God's power, a special display that stops you in your tracks. The word for 'wonders' (mophet) carries the sense of a portent, something that signals a deeper reality. Together they point to events that could only come from God. And the description 'great and sore' (literally 'great and bad') uses the word raʿ, the same word for evil. It shows the plagues were not just impressive; they were grievous and devastating. This language reminds us that God's deliverance was costly. He took seriously the oppression of His people and the hardness of Pharaoh's heart. The signs were both merciful and terrible.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers across traditions have seen this verse as the heartbeat of Deuteronomy. Anglicans note the close link between God's deeds and His laws: the commands only make sense because of what God did. The Reformed tradition emphasizes that the signs were public proof of God's power and faithfulness. Baptists point out that the plagues were witnessed by the people themselves, making the memory a shared one. Protestant commentators like Keil and Delitzsch see the purpose as awakening love for God in the younger generation. All agree: the exodus events are not just history but the foundation for a life of obedience.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that the signs and wonders were only meant to punish Egypt. In fact, the surrounding verses show they are the basis for teaching children the meaning of the commandments. God saved His people so they would obey Him out of gratitude and love. The focus is on deliverance leading to obedience, not on destruction for its own sake.
Living This Out
This week, when you are tempted to grumble about a difficult task God has given you, pause and remember what He has already done for you. In Christ, you have been rescued from a slavery worse than Egypt. His resurrection is the greatest sign and wonder. Let that memory shape your response to His commands. Perhaps you need to share that story with someone, a child or a friend, just as Israel was told to do. The commands are not a burden; they are the path of freedom for a rescued people.
Main takeaway: God's great signs and wonders are not just history; they are the reason we obey His commands today.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God did amazing things to rescue His people from Egypt. He showed His power so they would trust and obey Him. When you obey God, remember that He loves you and has done great things for you.
For ages 9, 12
When the Israelites saw the plagues in Egypt, they knew God was real and powerful. God saved them so they would follow His commands out of love and thankfulness. In the same way, when you learn about God's salvation through Jesus, you are called to obey Him not because you have to, but because He first loved you. The signs and wonders are reminders that God keeps His promises and deserves our whole hearts.
Questions People Ask
What are the 'great and awesome signs and wonders' in Deuteronomy 6:22?
They refer to the ten plagues God sent on Egypt to force Pharaoh to release Israel. These included water turning to blood, frogs, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn. They demonstrated God's power over the Egyptian gods and His care for His people.
Why does Moses say 'before our eyes' when the younger generation hadn't seen the plagues?
Moses uses this phrase to include the entire community. The generation that experienced the plagues was to pass the memory to their children as if they had seen it themselves. The phrase emphasizes personal testimony and the responsibility to teach.
How does this verse connect to teaching children?
The verse is part of a larger passage (Deut 6:20-25) where parents are instructed to answer their children's questions about the laws. The answer begins with God's saving acts, not with a list of rules. This shows that obedience is rooted in gratitude for deliverance.
What does it mean that the signs and wonders were 'great and sore' (or 'great and bad')?
The Hebrew word 'ra' usually means 'bad' or 'evil'. It describes the severity of the plagues. They were not just impressive; they were grievous and devastating. This shows that God's judgment is serious, but it also highlights the cost of deliverance and the depth of His love for His people.
For pastors & researchers
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