This verse furnishes the basis or motivation for freeing slaves. The Israelites themselves had been slaves in Egypt, and they would know what it means to be set free.

Remember: Israelites were never to forget the great act of liberation that made them the people of Yahweh.

Redeemed: see 7.8; see also 4.34; 9.26; 16.12; 24.18.

I command you this today: again “today” is stressed (see verse 5).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .