Keraia
Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26:5

Offering Firstfruits and Tithes · Deuteronomy 26:1–15
Read Deuteronomy 26

Translations

Modern
…and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous.
Traditional
And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
Literal
And you shall answer and say before the face of YHWH your God, “My father was a perishing Aramaean, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there with men few in number, and he became there a nation great, mighty, and numerous.
Latin
…et loqueris in conspectu Domini Dei tui: Syrus persequebatur patrem meum, qui descendit in Ægyptum, et ibi peregrinatus est in paucissimo numero: crevitque in gentem magnam ac robustam et infinitæ multitudinis.

Original

Hebrew
English
…and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous.

Notes

Deuteronomy 26:5

  • Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, was an Aramean (Genesis 24:10; 25:20, 26). Jacob also lived in Aram for many years (Genesis 31:41–42). His family lived a seminomadic life, moving from place to place.

  • few in number: Jacob’s family was small. Only 70 people went with him to Egypt (see Genesis 46:27; Exodus 1:5).

Deuteronomy 26:1–15

Under the covenant, God required his people to give him tribute every year, or even more often.

Because Israel was an agricultural society, God asked for offerings of animals, crops, or grain.

This tribute celebrated the great redemption of the Israelites during the exodus.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Jacob Ancient Law Codes Pure Worship

Parallels

Leviticus 27:30–34 Deuteronomy 14:22–29 Nehemiah 13:10–14

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Paddan: The homeland of the patriarchs in Mesopotamia

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of Feasts and Festivals of Israel Firstfruits Nations Prayer Syria, Syrians Worship

Topics

First Fruits: Presented at the Tabernacle First Fruits: To be offered As a Thank-Offering Upon Entrance Into the Land of Promise Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Syria: Originally Included Mesopotamia The First Fruits: To be offered with Thanksgiving