The Meaning of Deuteronomy 26:17 Explained

Deuteronomy 26:17

KJV: Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

YLT: Jehovah thou hast caused to promise to-day to become thy God, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commands, and His judgments, and to hearken to His voice.

Darby: Thou hast this day accepted Jehovah to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and to hearken unto his voice;

ASV: Thou hast avouched Jehovah this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and hearken unto his voice:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast avouched  the LORD  this day  to be thy God,  and to walk  in his ways,  and to keep  his statutes,  and his commandments,  and his judgments,  and to hearken  unto his voice: 

What does Deuteronomy 26:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 26:1-19 - First-Fruits And Tithes
The Israelites were God's tenants-at-will. The entire land and its produce were His; and they were required to acknowledge His ownership by the payment of first-fruits-both at Passover and at Pentecost, Leviticus 2:14; Numbers 28:26 -and of tithes.
All we possess and all we earn are equally the gift of God. Let us acknowledge this by setting apart a fixed proportion of the results of our daily work, whether wages, or crops, or brood, or herd. The words of this ancient collect, with very slight modifications, will suit us well, Deuteronomy 26:5-10. Note the injunction of Deuteronomy 26:11. There is not enough joy in our lives or faces. Nothing so quickly commends our religion as the gladness which the world can neither give nor take. To joy let us add intercession, Deuteronomy 26:15; and let us never forget to renew our vows of consecration when we bring our gifts, Deuteronomy 26:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 26

1  The confession of him who offers the basket of firstfruits
12  The prayer of him who gives his third year's tithes
16  The covenant between God and his people

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 26:17 mean?

- Yahweh you have proclaimed Today to be your God that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes and His commandments and His judgments that you will obey His voice
אֶת־ יְהוָ֥ה הֶאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֺתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ

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.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הֶאֱמַ֖רְתָּ  you  have  proclaimed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַיּ֑וֹם  Today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
לִהְיוֹת֩  to  be 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְךָ֨  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלָלֶ֣כֶת  that  you  will  walk 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בִּדְרָכָ֗יו  in  His  ways 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר  and  keep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
חֻקָּ֧יו  His  statutes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
וּמִצְוֺתָ֛יו  and  His  commandments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו  and  His  judgments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ  that  you  will  obey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹלֽוֹ  His  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.