The Meaning of Deuteronomy 16:12 Explained

Deuteronomy 16:12

KJV: And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

YLT: and thou hast remembered that a servant thou hast been in Egypt, and hast observed and done these statutes.

Darby: And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and thou shalt keep and do these statutes.

ASV: And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt remember  that thou wast a bondman  in Egypt:  and thou shalt observe  and do  these statutes. 

What does Deuteronomy 16:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 16

1  The feast of the Passover
9  of weeks
13  of tabernacles
16  Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts
18  Of judges and justice
21  Asherah poles and images are forbidden

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 16:12 mean?

And you shall remember that a slave you were in Egypt and you shall be careful and to observe - statutes these -
וְזָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ כִּי־ עֶ֥בֶד הָיִ֖יתָ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ וְעָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־ הַֽחֻקִּ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה פ

וְזָ֣כַרְתָּ֔  And  you  shall  remember 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עֶ֥בֶד  a  slave 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
הָיִ֖יתָ  you  were 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם  in  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣  and  you  shall  be  careful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
וְעָשִׂ֔יתָ  and  to  observe 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַֽחֻקִּ֖ים  statutes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
הָאֵֽלֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation