Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 8:5
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, [so] the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
5. And thou shalt consider in thine heart ] Lit. know with thy heart; cp. ‘conscire sibi,’ and see above on Deu 7:9.
as a man chasteneth his son ] disciplineth, cp. Deu 4:36, Deu 11:2 q.v.; Hos 11:1-4, also Deu 2:14 on the wilderness as a school of discipline. In Deut. which so frequently emphasises physical suffering and adversity as God’s punishment for sin this explanation of them as signs not of His hostility, but of His fatherly providence, is remarkable. It anticipates the more developed doctrine of later O.T. writings and of the N.T.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i.e. Unwillingly, being constrained by thy necessity; moderately, in judgment remembering mercy; and for thy reformation, not for thy destruction. Compare Pro 3:11,12; Heb 12:5, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart,…. Frequently think of, and meditate upon, revolve in their thoughts, well weigh in their minds, and take into thorough and deliberate consideration in their hearts; it being a matter of great moment and importance to them for their peace and comfort and the glory of God, namely, what follows:
that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee; that they stood in the same relation to God as a son to a father, and therefore happy and honourable; that all their afflictions came from God, were appointed, sent, directed, and overruled by him for his own glory and their good; that these were the chastenings and corrections of a father, and were not done in wrath, but in love, and therefore should be patiently endured; and it became them to consider well from what hand they came, and in what manner, and for what ends and purposes, how they ought to behave under them, and what they should do, as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 5-9:
“Chasteneth,” yasar “to instruct” (paideuo, LXX). The primary meaning of the term is “to train children, to cause one to learn,” as one would instruct a child of “spankable” age. This may involve such varied measures as words of praise, exhortation, correction, and rebuke. It also may involve withholding of favors, as well as punishment. God, the wise Father, knew exactly what was needed for the occasion, see Pro 3:11-12.
The purpose of God’s chastening: to teach Israel to keep His commandments. This is true of God’s chastening hand upon His child today, Heb 12:4-13.
The Land which God promised His people was a good land, characterized by three things:
(1) Adequate water supply, both of streams, springs, and wells.
(2) Fertile soil, for vineyards, orchards, and food crops
(3) Mineral resources, particularly iron and copper (brass, KJV).
This was the Land as Israel found it. It would have continued so had they obeyed God’s commandments.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart. He concludes that in the constant tenor of God’s acts, from the time the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, His paternal care for their instruction might be recognised For the word יסר, (258) yasar, is taken by some in too restricted a sense for “to chastise,” whereas it comprehends the whole process of a proper education; as if he had said, that unless they were hereafter submissive, and disposed to be dutiful, they would be something more than intractable, since they had been duly taught and kept under the best discipline, and that God had omitted nothing which could be required from the father of a family. Hence it follows, that long ago, and by much instruction, they were accustomed to embrace the teaching of the Law, just as it becomes children to be obedient to their father’s voice. And this he explains more clearly in the next verse; again concluding, that therefore they were to observe the Law, and to walk in the commandments of God. Whereon also we may shortly observe, that the fear of God, as I have already stated elsewhere, is the foundation of due obedience to the Law. The passage which I have interwoven from Deu 11:0 may also be counted among the promises, for God allures in it His people to obedience by the hope of His blessing; and since the possession of the land, which was then in sight, is set before them, the words appeared to me to fit in not badly here; because God had no other intention in this eulogium of it, but to prepare the minds of the people for keeping the Law.
(258) See note on Deu 11:2, ante, p. 383.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) As a man chasteneth his son.This is the foundation of many similar sayings in Holy Scripture: Pro. 13:24, He seeketh chastening for him, i.e., seeks it early. All our ideas of training necessarily imply time; it cannot be done in a moment. But the main point of the illustration is to prove Gods love. Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth; else, why should He be at the pains to chasten at all?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. As a man chasteneth his son The word which in our version is rendered chasteneth is also used in the sense of instruct, educate. In Deu 4:36, it is translated instruct. This discipline of the wilderness was designed to educate the people. It was to teach them obedience and trust in Him who was guiding them and providing for them. It was training them to become a holy and peculiar people whose God is Jehovah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And you shall consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so Yahweh your God chastens you.’
Furthermore when they are tested, as they were then and will be, they must consider in their hearts that just as a man chastens his children for their good, so does Yahweh chasten them, His children. Here again He emphasises that He is to them as a father. Remembering the lesson of God’s provision of the manna when all seemed hopeless, and the chastening that a good father always gives to his children, they should then be enabled to walk into the future with confidence, even in the face of adversities.
This is the second clear indication in Deuteronomy that they are His sons and daughters. Previously He had been pictured as like a father carrying His son on His shoulders through the wilderness (Deu 1:31). Now He is like a father chastening them for their good. In all this His fatherly care is revealed to His son, His firstborn (Exo 4:22). He was depicting Himself as their Father (compare Deu 14:1 where he says ‘you are the sons of Yahweh your God’).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Reader! I charge it upon you, as one of the most blessed improvements in our adoption character, that we esteem correction an evidence of fatherly relationship and love; and the want of it as a sign of bastardy. See those Scriptures, Heb 12:5-10 ; Rev 3:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, [so] the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Ver. 5. That as a man chasteneth his son. ] This is reckoned here as a high favour. So Job accounts it, Job 7:17-18 and Paul describes it, Heb 12:7-8 and Jeremiah prays for it. Jer 10:24
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
consider: Deu 4:9, Deu 4:23, Isa 1:3, Eze 12:3, Eze 18:28
as a man: 2Sa 7:14, Job 5:17, Job 5:18, Psa 89:32, Psa 94:12, Pro 3:12, 1Co 11:32, Heb 12:5-11, Rev 3:19
Reciprocal: Deu 21:18 – when they Job 33:19 – chastened Heb 12:6 – whom
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 8:5. As a man chasteneth his son That is, unwillingly, being constrained by necessity; moderately, in judgment remembering mercy; and for his reformation, not his destruction.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, [so] the LORD thy God {e} chasteneth thee.
(e) So that his affliction are signs of his fatherly love toward us.