וְהֵ֥ם עַמְּךָ֖ וְנַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֹוצֵ֨אתָ֙ בְּכֹחֲךָ֣ הַגָּדֹ֔ל וּבִֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ הַנְּטוּיָֽה׃ (Deuteronomy 9:29)
Καὶ οὗτοι λαός σου καὶ κλῆρός σου οὓς ἐξήγαγες ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι σου τῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τῷ ὑψηλῷ (Deuteronomy 9:29 LXX)
Israel as God’s People and Inheritance
The Hebrew verse declares: וְהֵם עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתֶךָ (“And they are Your people and Your inheritance”). The expression emphasizes covenantal belonging. Israel is not only God’s people but also His inheritance, the portion He has chosen. The LXX preserves this dual identity with καὶ οὗτοι λαός σου καὶ κλῆρός σου (“and these are Your people and Your inheritance/lot”). The Greek term κλῆρος was commonly used for inheritance, portion, or allotted share, fitting neatly with the Hebrew נַחֲלָה. However, κλῆρος also carried legal connotations in Greek culture, reinforcing the idea that Israel is God’s designated possession by right.
From Exodus to Ongoing Memory
The Hebrew identifies Israel as the people אֲשֶׁר הֹוצֵאתָ (“whom You brought out”), explicitly linking their identity to the act of the Exodus. This recalls God’s power and covenantal commitment, grounding Israel’s status in divine action. The LXX renders this with οὓς ἐξήγαγες (“whom You led out”), the same aorist form frequently used in Exodus narratives. Both languages bind identity to memory: Israel belongs to God because He redeemed them. The Hebrew stresses the mighty act of bringing out, while the Greek aligns with its own narrative style of divine deliverance.
Strength: כֹּחַ vs. ἰσχύς
The Hebrew continues: בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדֹל (“by Your great strength”). כֹחַ conveys ability, force, or power, often referring to God’s might in creation or salvation. The LXX translates this with ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι σου τῇ μεγάλῃ (“in Your great strength”). ἰσχύς is a close semantic equivalent, used in Greek to denote strength, capacity, or might. The translation is precise, showing consistency across traditions in attributing Israel’s redemption to God’s overwhelming power.
Arm: נְטוּיָה vs. ὑψηλός
The most striking difference lies in the final phrase. The Hebrew says: וּבִזְרֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה (“and by Your outstretched arm”). This phrase, common in Deuteronomy and Exodus, symbolizes divine intervention, often linked to deliverance from Egypt. The LXX translates with ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τῷ ὑψηλῷ (“and by Your exalted arm”). Instead of “outstretched” (נָטָה), the translator uses ὑψηλός (“high, exalted”). This changes the imagery: Hebrew emphasizes extension and action, while Greek emphasizes elevation and majesty. The “exalted arm” portrays God’s power not only as active but as lifted up in triumph, heightening the theological resonance of God’s deliverance.
Hebrew-Greek Morphological Comparison
| Hebrew Word | Greek Translation | Grammatical Notes | Translation Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| עַמְּךָ | λαός σου | Noun + suffix → noun + possessive pronoun | Literal equivalence |
| נַחֲלָתֶךָ | κλῆρός σου | Noun + suffix → noun + possessive pronoun | Direct lexical match, cultural adaptation |
| אֲשֶׁר הֹוצֵאתָ | οὓς ἐξήγαγες | Relative clause + Hiphil perfect 2ms → relative clause + aorist active 2sg | Direct equivalence |
| בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדֹל | ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι σου τῇ μεγάλῃ | Preposition + noun + adjective → preposition + noun + adjective | Literal equivalence |
| בִּזְרֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה | ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τῷ ὑψηλῷ | Noun + participle (“outstretched”) → noun + adjective (“exalted”) | Shift from action to exalted status |
Echoes of the Text
Deuteronomy 9:29 crystallizes Israel’s identity as God’s possession and inheritance, redeemed by His power and upheld by His arm. The Hebrew stresses God’s decisive acts of deliverance with imagery of extension and might. The Greek reshapes this into terms of exaltation and majesty, portraying God’s arm as “high” rather than “outstretched.” This interpretive choice elevates the imagery into the realm of glory, not just action.
Together, the Hebrew and Greek invite us to see redemption as both a concrete historical act (the Exodus) and a theological declaration of God’s majesty. Israel belongs to God not only because of His covenant but because of His mighty, exalted power displayed in salvation history.
