Deuteronomy 9:27
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Moses isn't just reminding God of the patriarchs; he's asking God to remember the covenant made with them and sworn to them. The plea is for God to look past the people's current rebellion and see the unchangeable promises He made, even when their own actions offer no reason for favor.
Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is reminding God of the covenant He made with their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pleading that God would not destroy Israel for their persistent sinfulness. This plea comes right after Moses has spent the entire chapter recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and failures, particularly their golden calf idolatry, emphasizing that their current possession of the land is not due to their own righteousness.
God's promises aren't just words; they are deep commitments that shape His actions. Even when His people falter, the ancient covenant stands.
Moses appeals to God's "servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." This isn't just a sentimental mention of ancestors. It's a powerful reminder of God's covenant promises made to them – promises of descendants and a promised land (Genesis 17:7-8). Even though Israel's present actions would warrant judgment, Moses reminds God of the oath He swore to the patriarchs. This highlights a crucial biblical principle: God's faithfulness to His covenant commitments is a foundation for His mercy, even when His people are unfaithful.
Israel's sin wasn't a one-off mistake; it was a deep-seated pattern of rebellion. Why does God urge us to recognize this reality?
Moses doesn't minimize Israel's sin. He lists "the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin." This acknowledges the gravity of their actions, particularly their recent idolatry with the golden calf. The word for 'stubbornness' here describes a stiff-necked, unyielding attitude that resists God's authority. 'Wickedness' refers to their harmful actions, and 'sin' points to their deliberate transgression against God's law. By naming these sins, Moses is implicitly admitting that Israel deserves judgment. This honest confession is crucial for genuine repentance and opens the door for God's unmerited mercy.
When we look at ourselves, we see only reasons for judgment. But God invites us to look beyond our sin to His boundless mercy.
Ask a follow-up
Moses' prayer is a masterclass in appealing to God's mercy. He contrasts the enduring covenant with the immediate reality of Israel's sin. The implication is clear: Israel has no inherent merit that earns God's favor. Their past rebellion, current stubbornness, and ongoing sins would logically lead to destruction. However, Moses appeals to God not to look at these things. This is a plea for God to act according to His covenant faithfulness and compassionate nature, rather than according to the strict justice deserved by human sin. It reminds us that God's grace is not earned; it is a free gift offered to those who, like Israel in this moment, confess their unworthiness.
Understand the original words
qeshi · Hebrew Noun
A deliberate refusal to yield or submit to God's will; it denotes a hard-hearted, rebellious attitude toward divine authority.
resha' · Hebrew Noun
Actions or moral states that deviate from God’s standard of holiness; it encompasses both the act of wrongdoing and the internal condition of rebellion.
chattath · Hebrew Noun
A missing of the mark; an offense against God's law that brings separation, requiring atonement or grace for restoration.
This passage is a direct echo, showing Moses appealing to God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, just as he does here in Deuteronomy, emphasizing the importance of remembering past promises in the face of present sin.
Psalm 106:43-45This psalm recounts Israel's repeated rebellions and God's patience, mirroring the situation in Deuteronomy 9, and highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant despite His people's sins, fulfilling the plea in Deuteronomy 9:27.
Nehemiah 9:17This prayer, offered centuries later, also recalls God's covenant with Abraham and His people's stubbornness, demonstrating how this plea to remember ancestors and overlook sin became a foundational prayer of confession and appeal throughout Israel's history.
Isaiah 43:25Here, God declares His intention to blot out transgressions for His own sake, showing a divine perspective that aligns with Moses' plea in Deuteronomy 9:27 to look beyond sin because of His own character and promises.
clarkeDeuteronomy 9:27: "Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:"
Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - As if he had said: "These are their descendants, and the covenant was made with those patriarchs in behalf of these." God bestows many blessings on comparatively worthless persons, either for the sake of their pious ancestors, or on account of the religious people with whom they are conn…
wesleyDeuteronomy 9:27: "Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:"
9:27 Thy servants - That is, the promise made and sworn to thy servants.
Moses isn't just reminding God of the patriarchs; he's asking God to remember the covenant made with them and sworn to them. The plea is for God to look past the people's current rebellion and see the unchangeable promises He made, even when their own actions offer no reason for favor.
Moses is reminding God of the covenant He made with their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pleading that God would not destroy Israel for their persistent sinfulness. This plea comes right after Moses has spent the entire chapter recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and failures, particularly their golden calf idolatry, emphasizing that their current possession of the land is not due to their own righteousness.
Moses is reminding God of the covenant He made with their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pleading that God would not destroy Israel for their persistent sinfulness. This plea comes right after Moses has spent the entire chapter recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and failures, particularly their golden calf idolatry, emphasizing that their current possession of the land is not due to their own righteousness.
"Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin," — Moses isn't just reminding God of the patriarchs; he's asking God to remember the covenant made with them and sworn to them. The plea is for God to look past the people's current rebellion and see…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
