13:5

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

5a
I knew you in the wilderness,

5b
in the land of drought.

There is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the first four words in 13:5b. In many languages, these words will need to be supplied from 13:5a. For example:

5b
⌊ I knew you⌋in the land of drought.

In these lines, the LORD reminds the people of Israel of his gracious care for them when he brought them out of Egypt through the desert of Sinai.

13:5a

I knew you: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “I, I knew you.” The explicit pronoun I at the front of the clause indicates emphasis. For example:

It was I who knew you in the wilderness (English Standard Version)

This emphasis reinforces the statements in 13:4 that the LORD alone is their God. Many versions leave this emphasis implied. Translate this emphasis in a natural way in your language.

There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word knew here:

(1) The LXX and Peshitta have “cared-for/fed.” For example:

It was I who fed you in the wilderness (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I cared for you in the wilderness (NET Bible)

(2) The Masoretic Text has the word knew. For example:

It was I who knew you in the wilderness (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

in the wilderness: This phrase refers here to the desert or wilderness of Sinai during the period of the exodus.

13:5b

in the land of drought: This line describes the same location as 13:5a using different words. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drought occurs only here in the Old Testament. The meaning is derived from an Arabic cognate that means “aridity” or “drought.”

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

where it was hot and dry (New Century Version)
-or-
in the land of burning heat (New International Version)

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