Deuteronomy 7:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

If after thou hast heard these judgments, thou keep and do them, the Lord thy God will also keep his covenant to thee, and the mercy which he swore to thy fathers:
Douay-Rheims

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ עֵ֣קֶב תִּשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֤ת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְשָׁמַר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֙ וְאֶת־הַחֶ֔סֶד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

The Lord cherished the patriarchs for their righteous deeds and selected their descendants from among all peoples, instructing them and commanding their children to live faithfully. However, if they turned away from piety, He would subject them to exile as a means of discipline. When they refused to repent, He would reject them for their lack of faith, much like He removed the nations that scorned Him for their worship of idols.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.