Deu 8:2 | TNotes | STEP | 8:2 to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart ): God already knew the Israelites’ innermost thoughts (Pss 51:6 ; 139:1 , 4 , 23 ); he wanted their character to come out in their actions. • to find out whether: The Old Testament often describes God in human terms, even in ways that appear to limit God. Anthropomorphism (assigning human characteristics to God) and anthropopathism (assigning human feelings or emotions to God) are ways of representing God on a human level so the human mind can better grasp his ways, but God is not limited in his knowledge, power, or transcendence. Here, God is figuratively described as having only a human knowledge of the future, but other passages make it clear that God knows everything—past, present, and future (Ps 139:1-18 ; Heb 4:13 ).

bPss 51:6►

fPs 139:1-18►

gHeb 4:13►

‏ Deuteronomy 8:2

8:2 ^a to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart): God already knew the Israelites’ innermost thoughts (Pss 51:6 ^b; 139:1 ^c, 4 ^d, 23 ^e); he wanted their character to come out in their actions.

• to find out whether: The Old Testament often describes God in human terms, even in ways that appear to limit God. Anthropomorphism (assigning human characteristics to God) and anthropopathism (assigning human feelings or emotions to God) are ways of representing God on a human level so the human mind can better grasp his ways, but God is not limited in his knowledge, power, or transcendence. Here, God is figuratively described as having only a human knowledge of the future, but other passages make it clear that God knows everything—past, present, and future (Ps 139:1-18 ^f; Heb 4:13 ^g).