Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore A frequent formula in D in Sg. and Pl. Deuteronomy 4:39 (+ and lay it to thine heart), Deuteronomy 8:5 (A.V. and thou shalt consider in thine heart), Deuteronomy 9:3; Deuteronomy 9:6 (A.V. understand therefore), Deuteronomy 11:2 (and know ye); cp. Deuteronomy 29:4 Pl. (a heart to know); the passages where the object is other godsand the meaning therefore is to have experienceof them, Deuteronomy 13:6; Deuteronomy 13:13; Deuteronomy 28:64 (Sg.), and Deuteronomy 11:28 (Pl.), also Deuteronomy 29:26; Deuteronomy 32:17; and in a similar sense, of other nations Deuteronomy 28:33; Deuteronomy 28:36 (Sg.), and of the diseases of Egypt Deuteronomy 7:15 (Sg.); and of manna Deuteronomy 8:3; Deuteronomy 8:16 (Sg.); also of God proving His people in order to know, i.e. find out, what was in their heart, Deuteronomy 8:2 (Sg.), Deuteronomy 13:3 (Pl.). These passages and their contexts show that D uses the verb to knowwith the same practical force, especially in religious matters, with which Hosea uses it. -It is not to know so as to see the fact of, but to know so as to feel the force of; knowledge not as acquisition and mastery, but as impression, passion. To quote Paul's distinction, it is not so much the apprehending as the being apprehended. It leads to a vivid result either warm appreciation, or change of mind or practical effort.… It is knowledge that is followed by shame, or by love, or by reverence, or by the sense of a duty … it closely approaches the meaning of our conscience." (The Twelve Prophets, i. 322: see the whole chapter there on the subject.)

he is God the God, or God indeed, Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 4:39; Deuteronomy 10:17; affirming not the soleness (Dillm.) so much as the reality of Jehovah's deity, as shown (the vv. go on) in His working in history.

faithful A participle with gerundive force, who shows Himself One to be trusted, i.e. by His deeds.

keepeth covenant and mercy The conjunction shows that the Heb. word trans, mercy, ḥesed, is, as especially in Hosea, more than an affection; it is a relation and duty better rendered by loyal love. But see Driver's note in loco.

that love him See on Deuteronomy 6:5.

a thousand generations -a rhetorical amplification, rather than an exact interpretation, of the thousands of Exodus 20:6 " [Deuteronomy 5:10] (Driver).