Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 4:1-8

Hear, Obey, and Do Not Forget: The Incomparable God and His Word

From the command to keep the statutes as the condition of life (vv. 1-8), through the memory command and image prohibition rooted in the Horeb event (vv. 9-24), to the projection of exile and return (vv. 25-31), and finally to the climactic argument for exclusive loyalty from the incomparability of the LORD (vv. 32-40) — the chapter moves from obligation through history through warning through doxology.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

2 You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all who followed Baal of Peor.

4 But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.

5 See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess.

6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

7 For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

8 And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 11 BSB references Deuteronomy 8:1 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:1 Classic cross-references Romans 10:5 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:1 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

Hear שְׁמַ֤ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition now וְעַתָּ֣ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb O Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular the statutes הַֽחֻקִּים֙ H2706 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and ordinances הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים H4941 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָֽנֹכִ֛י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am teaching מְלַמֵּ֥ד H3925 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular you אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural to follow לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct so that לְמַ֣עַן H4616 Conjunction you may live תִּֽחְי֗וּ H2421 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural and may enter וּבָאתֶם֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural and take possession וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם H3423 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker of the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of your fathers אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָכֶֽם׃ Preposition | second person masculine plural

Verse 2

Cross-references

Revelation 22:18 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:32 Classic cross-references Proverbs 30:6 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 12:13 Classic cross-references Joshua 1:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle add תֹסִ֗פוּ H3254 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural to עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . הַדָּבָר֙ H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular or subtract תִגְרְע֖וּ H1639 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural from מִמֶּ֑נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular what אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִי֙ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular command מְצַוֶּ֣ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular you אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural . . . וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle so that you may keep לִשְׁמֹ֗ר H8104 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the commandments מִצְוֺת֙ H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct of the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֖י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am giving you מְצַוֶּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular - אֶתְכֶֽם׃ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

Numbers 25:1 Classic cross-references Numbers 31:16 Classic cross-references Psalms 106:28 Classic cross-references Hebrews 2:2 Classic cross-references Joshua 22:17 Classic cross-references

Original words

Your eyes עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural have seen הָֽרֹאֹ֔ת H7200 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural - אֵ֛ת H853 Direct object marker what אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular did עָשָׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular vvv בְּבַ֣עַל H1187 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular at Baal-peor פְּע֑וֹר H1187 Conjunction for כִּ֣י H3588 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular destroyed הִשְׁמִיד֛וֹ H8045 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular from among you מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ H7130 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular all כָל־ H3605 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . הָאִ֗ישׁ H376 Pronoun - relative who אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular followed הָלַךְ֙ H1980 Preposition . . . אַחֲרֵ֣י H310 Preposition vvv בַֽעַל־ H1187 Preposition Baal of Peor פְּע֔וֹר H1187 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 10:20 Classic cross-references John 6:67 Classic cross-references Joshua 23:8 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 30:20 Classic cross-references Revelation 14:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

But you וְאַתֶּם֙ H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural who held fast הַדְּבֵקִ֔ים H1695 Article | Adjective - masculine singular to the LORD בַּיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural [are] alive חַיִּ֥ים H2416 Noun - masculine plural to this day הַיּֽוֹם׃ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular every one of you כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Classic cross-references Matthew 28:20 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 11:23 Classic cross-references Acts 20:20 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

See רְאֵ֣ה׀ H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular I have taught לִמַּ֣דְתִּי H3925 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular you אֶתְכֶ֗ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural statutes חֻקִּים֙ H2706 Noun - masculine plural and ordinances וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔ים H4941 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular my God אֱלֹהָ֑י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular has commanded me צִוַּ֖נִי H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular so that you may follow them לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . כֵּ֔ן H3651 Adverb in בְּקֶ֣רֶב H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתֶּ֛ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural are about to enter בָּאִ֥ים H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural . . . שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular and possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Job 28:28 Classic cross-references Psalms 111:10 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 29:9 Classic cross-references Ephesians 5:17 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Observe them וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural carefully וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ H8104 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction this הִ֤וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular will show your wisdom חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ H2451 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural and understanding וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם H998 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural in the sight לְעֵינֵ֖י H5869 Preposition-l | Noun - cdc of the peoples הָעַמִּ֑ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural who אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative will hear יִשְׁמְע֗וּן H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker of all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these הָאֵ֔לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural statutes הַחֻקִּ֣ים H2706 Article | Noun - masculine plural and say וְאָמְר֗וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Surely רַ֚ק H7535 Adverb this הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular great הַגָּד֖וֹל H1419 Article | Adjective - masculine singular nation הַגּ֥וֹי H1471 Article | Noun - masculine singular [is] a wise חָכָ֣ם H2450 Adjective - masculine singular and understanding וְנָב֔וֹן H995 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular people עַם־ H5971 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 7

Cross-references

Jeremiah 33:3 Classic cross-references Psalms 145:18 Classic cross-references Psalms 46:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:6 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 7:23 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction what מִי־ H4310 Interrogative nation [is] ג֣וֹי H1471 Noun - masculine singular great enough גָּד֔וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular to אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative have ל֥וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular a god אֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Noun - masculine plural [as] near קְרֹבִ֣ים H7138 Adjective - masculine plural to them אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular as the LORD כַּיהוָ֣ה H3068 Preposition-k | Noun - proper - masculine singular our God [is to us] אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural whenever בְּכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct we call קָרְאֵ֖נוּ H7121 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural on Him אֵלָֽיו׃ H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

Psalms 147:19 Classic cross-references Romans 7:12 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 20:11 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:128 Classic cross-references

Original words

And what וּמִי֙ H4310 Conjunctive waw | Interrogative nation [is] גּ֣וֹי H1471 Noun - masculine singular great enough גָּד֔וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular to אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative have ל֛וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular righteous צַדִּיקִ֑ם H6662 Adjective - masculine plural statutes חֻקִּ֥ים H2706 Noun - masculine plural and ordinances וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים H4941 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural like this הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative entire כְּכֹל֙ H3605 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct law הַתּוֹרָ֣ה H8451 Article | Noun - feminine singular I אָנֹכִ֛י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular set נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular before you לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural today הַיּֽוֹם׃ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular

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