Deuteronomy 26:7-8
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to read this verse as simply God hearing Israel's cries and freeing them. But notice how the text lists not just their "affliction," but also their "toil" and "oppression." This shows God saw the whole weight of their suffering, the deep injustice and the sheer exhausting labor they were forced into, not just the emotional pain.
Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a liturgical confession recited when bringing the first-fruits of the harvest to the tabernacle. Before this verse, the person offering the first-fruits has just declared their arrival in the Promised Land and presented the basket of produce. The confession then recounts their ancestors' journey from a desperate Syrian wanderer (Jacob) to a nation in Egypt, where they suffered intense hardship and oppression.
Ever feel like your prayers are just going into the void? This verse reminds us of a God who remembers and responds, even through generations.
This passage is part of the Israelite's confession when they brought their first harvest to the promised land. It's not just a historical account; it's a foundational statement of faith. They cry out to 'the LORD, the God of our fathers.' This isn't a new, unknown deity. They're invoking the God who was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This shows that God's faithfulness extends through generations. Even when their immediate circumstances were dire, they appealed to a God who had already proven Himself to their ancestors. And the amazing part? He heard them. The text emphasizes that the 'LORD heard our voice.' It wasn't a passive hearing, but an active engagement with their suffering.
God doesn't just hear prayers; He sees the pain behind them. What does it mean that God 'looked on' their affliction?
The verse doesn't just say God heard; it says He 'saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.' This 'seeing' is not a detached observation. In the biblical context, 'seeing' often implies understanding, compassion, and a motivation to act. Think about God seeing Hagar's distress in the wilderness (Genesis 16:13) or His people's suffering in Egypt (Exodus 3:7). It's a gaze filled with empathy. They weren't just experiencing general hardship; they specify their 'affliction' (a state of distress), their 'toil' (wearisome labor), and their 'oppression' (being burdened and wronged). God’s attention was drawn to the specifics of their pain, not dismissing it as minor or insignificant.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
tsa’aq · Hebrew Verb
A plea for help or rescue directed to God, especially during times of extreme distress or oppression, reflecting a reliance on His mercy and power.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, faithfulness, and presence with His people.
oni · Hebrew Noun
A condition of misery, suffering, or distress, often used to describe the trials faced by individuals or the nation of Israel as they rely on God for deliverance.
amal · Hebrew Noun
Hard, grueling labor or the state of being subjected to the power of another, often used to describe servitude and physical burden.
lachats · Hebrew Noun
The state of being crushed, pressured, or treated unjustly by an oppressor, highlighting the need for divine justice and intervention.
yad chazaqah · Hebrew Noun Phrase
An anthropomorphic expression denoting God's sovereign, irresistible power used to deliver His people and execute His divine will.
zeroa netuyah · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Refers to the visible and active exertion of God’s power and authority to achieve His redemptive purposes.
oth u-mopheth · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Refers to extraordinary acts or miracles performed by God that manifest His glory, evoke reverence, and confirm His covenantal authority.
This passage describes the very cries of the Israelites in Egypt that God heard, leading to their deliverance, mirroring the remembrance in Deuteronomy.
Psalm 106:43-45This psalm recounts God's repeated acts of deliverance for Israel, emphasizing that He heard their pleas and saw their distress, echoing the sentiment of Deuteronomy.
Acts 7:34Stephen recounts the history of Israel, specifically mentioning God seeing their affliction in Egypt and coming down to rescue them, directly linking to this verse's theme.
Nehemiah 9:9This prayer explicitly recalls God seeing the suffering of ancestors in Egypt and hearing their cry, providing another instance of this foundational memory being recalled.
calvinDeuteronomy 26:1-11: "And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;"
That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there.
Tunc accipies de primitiis omnium fructuum terrae, quas afteres e…
gillDeuteronomy 26:7: "And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:"
And when we cried unto the Lord our God,.... As they did by reason of their hard bondage, Exodus 2:23 , and the Lord heard our voice, and looked upon our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression; with a look of pity and compassion, heard their cries, answered their petitions, and sent them a deliverer, Exodus 2:25.
It's easy to read this verse as simply God hearing Israel's cries and freeing them. But notice how the text lists not just their "affliction," but also their "toil" and "oppression." This shows God saw the whole weight of their suffering, the deep injustice and the sheer exhausting labor they were forced into, not just the emotional pain.
This passage is part of a liturgical confession recited when bringing the first-fruits of the harvest to the tabernacle. Before this verse, the person offering the first-fruits has just declared their arrival in the Promised Land and presented the basket of produce. The confession then recounts their ancestors' journey from a desperate Syrian wanderer (Jacob) to a nation in Egypt, where they suffered intense hardship and oppression.
This passage is part of a liturgical confession recited when bringing the first-fruits of the harvest to the tabernacle. Before this verse, the person offering the first-fruits has just declared their arrival in the Promised Land and presented the basket of produce. The confession then recounts their ancestors' journey from a desperate Syrian wanderer (Jacob) to a nation in Egypt, where they suffered intense hardship and oppression.
"Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terr…" — It's easy to read this verse as simply God hearing Israel's cries and freeing them. But notice how the text lists not just their "affliction," but also their "toil" and "oppression." This shows God s…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
