Deuteronomy 8:3
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Context
Moses recalls the wilderness journey as a school of dependence, where hunger and manna taught Israel to trust God. Jesus later cites this verse when tempted in the wilderness.
What Does Deuteronomy 8:3 Mean?
Real life depends not merely on physical food but on every word that comes from God. Moses reflects on the wilderness years, where God deliberately allowed hunger and then provided manna -- a food Israel had never seen -- to teach a deeper lesson. The hunger was not abandonment but instruction; the manna was not just nourishment but a daily reminder that their lives rested entirely in God's hand. Each morning's provision trained them to trust Him fresh.
The famous conclusion -- "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD" -- lifts the lesson above the desert. Bread sustains the body, but it is God's word that gives and upholds true life. Jesus quoted this very verse to answer temptation, showing that obedience to God matters more than satisfying immediate appetite. The verse calls every reader to recognize that we are kept alive, in the fullest sense, by depending on what God says and provides.
In the Original Language
The verb "anah" (humbled) means to afflict or bring low for a corrective purpose. "Man" transliterates the Hebrew "man" behind manna, and "davar" (word) is the life-giving utterance that proceeds from God's mouth.
Cross References
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
- Matthew 4:4
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
- John 6:35
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day,”
- Exodus 16:4
Application
When needs press in, remember that God uses even lean seasons to teach trust; feed your soul on His word as faithfully as you feed your body.