Deuteronomy 8:20 (ASV)

Passage

As the nations that Jehovah maketh to perish before you, so shall ye perish; because ye would not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah your God.

Nearby Context

Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day.

Deuteronomy 8:19 And it shall be, if thou shalt forget Jehovah thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

Deuteronomy 8:20 As the nations that Jehovah maketh to perish before you, so shall ye perish; because ye would not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah your God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "nations", "jehovah", "maketh", "perish", "before", "shall", and "hearken". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "nations" and "jehovah", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "And it shall be if thou shalt...", giving immediate footing for "nations" and "jehovah". In Deuteronomy context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "nations" and "jehovah" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.