What Does Deuteronomy 7:6-7 Mean?
The law in Deuteronomy 7:6-7 defines God’s special choice of Israel as His holy and treasured people. He didn’t pick them because they were strong or numerous - actually, they were the smallest and weakest. He chose them purely out of love and grace, as He says in verse 7: 'It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples.'
Deuteronomy 7:6-7
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Law
Date
Approximately 1400 BC
Key People
- Moses
- Israel
Key Themes
- God's electing love
- Israel as a holy nation
- Divine election by grace, not merit
Key Takeaways
- God chose Israel not for size but for love.
- Being treasured by God is grace, not achievement.
- Chosen by love, we reflect that love to others.
Chosen Not for Size, but for Love
This verse comes right after God’s people escaped Egypt and are camped at Mount Sinai, preparing to enter the land God promised them.
God rescued the Israelites from slavery and is now shaping them into a nation set apart for His purposes. This law reminds them that their identity isn’t based on power or numbers, but on being chosen by God.
He calls them 'holy' - which means set apart, like a special treasure - not because they earned it, but because He loved them first. In 2 Corinthians 4:6 God shines His light into our hearts to show His love. He chose Israel not for their greatness but to demonstrate His purpose.
Treasured by God, Not Because of Merit
The word 'treasured possession' in Deuteronomy 7:6 comes from the Hebrew term *segullah*, a special word used to describe something deeply valued and kept close, like a king’s personal jewels or heirlooms.
This term appears in Exodus 19:5, where God tells Israel, 'Now if you will obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession,' showing this status was about relationship, not achievement. In Psalm 135:4, it says, 'For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession,' reinforcing that God’s choice was personal and intentional. Unlike other ancient nations who believed their gods favored them because of strength or victory, Israel’s identity came purely from being loved by God, not from numbers or power.
This helps us see that God’s love isn’t earned - it’s given freely, a truth that still shapes how we understand His grace today.
Chosen by Love, Not by Worth
This idea that God chooses not because of our strength or worthiness, but because He loves us first, points straight to Jesus.
In 1 John 4:19, it says, 'We love because he first loved us,' showing that our response to God flows from His initiative, just as Israel was chosen not for their greatness but for His grace. Jesus lived perfectly, showing what a truly holy people should look like, and through His death and resurrection, He opened the door for all - Jews and non-Jews alike - to become God’s treasured people not by earning it, but by receiving His love as a gift.
Chosen for a Purpose: From Israel to the Church
The same special love that made Israel God’s treasured people in Deuteronomy 7:6-7 is now extended to all who follow Jesus, just as 1 Peter 2:9 says: 'But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.'
This shows that being chosen isn’t about heritage or holiness we achieve, but about responding to God’s call with our lives. Today, that might look like someone stepping up to care for a struggling neighbor - not because they feel qualified, but because they sense God has called them to reflect His love, just as believers are now called to live as His set-apart people.
God still chooses not the impressive, but the willing - so we can show His love to others.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I remember sitting in a small church group, feeling completely out of place. I was struggling - my faith felt weak, my past was messy, and I didn’t measure up to anyone around me. Someone shared this truth from Deuteronomy 7:6-7: God didn’t choose Israel because they were strong or impressive. He chose them because He loved them. And in that moment, I realized God wasn’t waiting for me to get my life together before He’d want me. I was chosen like Israel, not because I was enough, but because His love is enough. That changed everything. I stopped trying to earn my place and started living from the freedom of being truly known - and still loved.
Personal Reflection
- When do I act like my worth to God depends on my performance, instead of His choice?
- How can I live differently today, knowing I’m treasured not for what I do, but because God set His love on me first?
- Who around me might feel overlooked or unworthy - and how can I reflect God’s choosing love to them this week?
A Challenge For You
This week, do one thing that shows you believe you are God’s treasured possession - not because you earned it, but because He gave it freely. Maybe that means speaking kindly to yourself when you fail, or reaching out to someone who feels left out, reminding them they matter. Let your actions flow from being chosen, not from trying to be chosen.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you for choosing me not because I’m strong or good enough, but because you love me. Help me to stop measuring myself by what I do or don’t achieve. Fill me with the quiet confidence that I belong to you. Use me this week to show someone that your love isn’t earned - it’s given, as you promised in Deuteronomy 7:6-7.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Deuteronomy 7:1-5
Sets the stage by warning against alliances with pagan nations, reinforcing Israel's need to remain distinct as God's chosen people.
Deuteronomy 7:8
Continues the call to obedience, linking Israel’s future blessings directly to their faithfulness as a chosen, treasured people.
Connections Across Scripture
1 Peter 2:9
Fulfills the promise of a holy, chosen people by calling believers a royal priesthood, echoing Israel’s identity in Christ.
Romans 5:8
Reinforces that God’s love initiates relationship, just as He chose Israel not for their merit but for His grace.
Psalm 135:4
Shows God’s personal claim on His people, mirroring the intimate choice described in Deuteronomy 7:6-7.