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Deuteronomy 8:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 8:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper.
Deuteronomy 8:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
7For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;
8a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey;
9a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper.
10And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
← Deuteronomy 8:8Deuteronomy 8:10 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A land wherein thou shall eat bread without scarceness, etc.] That is, should have plenty of all sorts of provisions, which bread is often put for: thou shall not lack anything in it; for necessity and convenience, and for delight and pleasure: a land whose stones are iron; in which were iron mines: and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass; both which are taken out of the earth and the stones of it, (<182802>Job 28:2) and were to be found in the land of Canaan, and particularly in the tribe of Asher, as seems from (<053325>Deuteronomy 33:25) and more particularly at Sidon and Sarepta, which were in that tribe; the latter of which seems to have its name from the melting of metals there,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“a land whose stones are iron--The abundance of this metal in Palestine, especially among the mountains of Lebanon, those of Kesraoun, and elsewhere, is attested not only by JOSEPHUS, but by Volney, Buckingham, and other travellers. brass--not the alloy brass, but the ore of copper. Although the mines may now be exhausted or neglected, they yielded plenty of those metals anciently (Ch1 22:3; Ch1 29:2-7; Isa 60:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See Exodus 3:8 note, and the contrast expressed in Deuteronomy 11:10-11, between Palestine and Egypt. The physical characteristics and advantages of a country like Palestine must have been quite strange to Israel at the time Moses was speaking: compare Deuteronomy 3:25 note. To have praised the fertility and excellence of the promised land at an earlier period would have increased the murmurings and impatience of the people at being detained in the wilderness: whereas now it encouraged them to encounter with more cheerfulness the opposition that they would meet from the inhabitants of Canaan. Deuteronomy 8:8 Vines - The abundance of wine in Syria and Palestine is dwelt upon in the Egyptian…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whose stones are iron - Where are mines of iron in a manner as plentiful as stones, and upon which travellers must tread, as in other parts they do upon stones. Deuteronomy 8:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:9 Iron was not widely used in this period of the Bronze Age because the process of smelting and working it was known to only a few cultures (see 1 Sam 13:19-21). The time would come when Israel would exploit this vastly superior metal (see Josh 17:16-18; 1 Kgs 6:7; 2 Kgs 6:5; 1 Chr 22:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“whose stones: Deu 33:25; Jos 22:8; Ch1 22:14; Job 28:2 Deuteronomy 8:10”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification