Know therefore that the LORD your God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
the faithful
Exodus 34:6,7 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, …
Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalm 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
which keepeth
Genesis 5:10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
a thousand
1 Chronicles 16:15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
the faithful God
The faithfulness of God is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, highlighting His reliability and trustworthiness. This attribute assures the Israelites that God will fulfill His promises. In Lamentations 3:22-23, God's faithfulness is described as being renewed every morning, underscoring its constancy. This faithfulness is also a basis for hope and trust in God's unchanging nature.
who keeps His covenant of loving devotion
God's covenant is a binding agreement characterized by "hesed," often translated as loving devotion or steadfast love. This covenantal love is evident in God's dealings with Israel, beginning with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and continuing through the Mosaic covenant. It signifies a deep, committed relationship that God initiates and maintains, despite human unfaithfulness.
for a thousand generations
This phrase signifies the enduring nature of God's covenantal promises. While not a literal number, it conveys the idea of perpetuity and God's long-term commitment to His people. Psalm 105:8 echoes this sentiment, emphasizing God's remembrance of His covenant forever. It reassures believers of the eternal scope of God's promises.
of those who love Him and keep His commandments
This conditional aspect of the covenant highlights the importance of love and obedience in the relationship with God. Love for God is demonstrated through adherence to His commandments, as seen in John 14:15, where Jesus states, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." This connection between love and obedience is central to the covenant relationship, reflecting a heart aligned with God's will.
Moses opens with a call to settled conviction, not casual awareness. “Know” points to a rock-solid certainty that shapes life choices. Scripture ties true knowledge of God to trust and obedience (Jeremiah 9:23-24; John 17:3). Because this knowledge is rooted in revelation, we receive it, we don’t invent it.
Key takeaways:
• Knowledge of God is meant to be clear, confident, and lived out.
• The call follows six chapters of deliverance history, showing that experience of God’s works undergirds this command to “know.”
Yahweh, the covenant name revealed at the burning bush, “is God”—the only true, living God (Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6). The phrase affirms:
• Exclusivity—no rival deities deserve allegiance.
• Personal relationship—He is “your God,” not a distant force.
• Sovereign authority—the One Israel must obey in Canaan just as He ruled in the wilderness.
Faithfulness is God’s unchanging reliability. Lamentations 3:23 says, “Great is Your faithfulness”. Paul echoes, “God is faithful, who has called you” (1 Corinthians 1:9). Because He is faithful:
• Promises stand even when circumstances shake (Hebrews 10:23).
• Believers can rest in assurance; He does not abandon His own (Deuteronomy 31:6).
“Keeps” pictures active, vigilant guardianship. The covenant expresses His ḥesed—loyal love—seen in:
• Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants, each unfolding one redemptive storyline (Genesis 9:9-16; 15:18-21; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Luke 22:20).
• Ongoing mercy that forgives, restores, and blesses (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 103:17-18).
The phrase stretches the imagination to emphasize limitless duration. Psalm 105:8 repeats, “He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations”. Whether counted literally or as a Hebrew way of saying “indefinitely,” the point is permanence: God’s loyal love outlasts human history.
Love marks the true covenant partner. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart”. Jesus links love and discipleship: “Whoever loves Me will keep My word” (John 14:23). Genuine affection for God:
• Springs from gratitude for redemption (1 John 4:19).
• Motivates wholehearted devotion, not partial compliance.
Love expresses itself in obedience. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience:
• Confirms authentic faith (1 John 2:3-5).
• Invites continued blessing (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).
• Reflects God’s character before the watching world (Matthew 5:16).
Deuteronomy 7:9 anchors Israel—and every believer—in revealed certainty: the one true, faithful God binds Himself by covenant love that endures longer than history itself. He pours that steadfast devotion on those who respond with wholehearted love and obedient lives. His reliability secures our future, and our love-fueled obedience becomes the grateful echo of His everlasting faithfulness.
(9-11) These verses are a direct comment upon the second commandment. The "thousands of them that love Him" are here expanded into a "thousand generations." The "hatred," too, is the same thing denoted there: "Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments."Verse 9. - To a thousand generations; rather, to the thousandth generation. As God is faithful to his covenant, and will show mercy and do good to those that love him, whilst on those who hate him he will bring terrible retribution, the people are warned by this to take heed against rebellion and apostasy from him (comp. Exodus 20:5).