Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 4:9-14

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

9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.

10 The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”

11 You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

12 And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

14 At that time the LORD commanded me to teach you the statutes and ordinances you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 9

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 6:7 Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:23 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 78:3 Classic cross-references Genesis 18:19 Classic cross-references

Original words

Only רַ֡ק H7535 Adverb be on your guard הִשָּׁ֣מֶר H8104 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular and diligently מְאֹ֗ד H3966 Adverb watch וּשְׁמֹ֨ר H8104 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular yourselves נַפְשְׁךָ֜ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular so that you do not פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction forget תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח H7911 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the things הַדְּבָרִ֜ים H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative your eyes עֵינֶ֗יךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular have seen רָא֣וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and so that they do not וּפֶן־ H6435 Conjunction slip יָס֙וּרוּ֙ H5493 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural from your heart מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ H3824 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular as כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . יְמֵ֣י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct long as you live חַיֶּ֑יךָ H2416 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Teach them וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural to your children לְבָנֶ֖יךָ H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and grandchildren וְלִבְנֵ֥י H1121 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct . . . בָנֶֽיךָ׃ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:12 Classic cross-references Malachi 4:4 Classic cross-references Exodus 19:9 Classic cross-references Exodus 19:17 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

The day י֗וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative you stood עָמַ֜דְתָּ H5975 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֨י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶיךָ֮ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular at Horeb בְּחֹרֵב֒ H2722 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said בֶּאֱמֹ֨ר H559 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct to me אֵלַ֗י H413 Preposition | first person common singular Gather הַקְהֶל־ H6950 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular before Me אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to hear וְאַשְׁמִעֵ֖ם H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My words דְּבָרָ֑י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular so that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative they may learn יִלְמְד֜וּן H3925 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun to fear לְיִרְאָ֣ה H3372 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular Me אֹתִ֗י H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the days הַיָּמִים֙ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative they הֵ֤ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural live חַיִּים֙ H2416 Noun - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the earth הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular and that וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker they may teach them יְלַמֵּדֽוּן׃ H3925 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun to their children בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai; also in verse 15

Verse 11

Cross-references

Hebrews 12:18 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 19:12 Classic cross-references Psalms 18:11 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:12 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 1:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

You came near וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun and stood וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun at the base תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition of the mountain הָהָ֑ר H2022 Article | Noun - masculine singular a mountain וְהָהָ֞ר H2022 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular blazing בֹּעֵ֤ר H1197 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with fire בָּאֵשׁ֙ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular to עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . לֵ֣ב H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural with black clouds עָנָ֥ן H6051 Noun - masculine singular and deep וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃ H6205 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular darkness חֹ֖שֶׁךְ H2822 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

John 1:18 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:15 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:22 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:4 Classic cross-references Psalms 147:19 Classic cross-references

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular spoke וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to you אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural out of מִתּ֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the fire הָאֵ֑שׁ H784 Article | Noun - common singular You אַתֶּ֣ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural heard שֹׁמְעִ֔ים H8085 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural the sound ק֤וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of the words דְּבָרִים֙ H1697 Noun - masculine plural but saw רֹאִ֖ים H7200 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural no אֵינְכֶ֥ם H369 Adverb | second person masculine plural form וּתְמוּנָ֛ה H8544 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular there was only זוּלָתִ֥י H2108 Preposition a voice קֽוֹל׃ H6963 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 13

Cross-references

Exodus 34:28 Classic cross-references Exodus 31:18 Classic cross-references Psalms 25:14 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 9:9 Classic cross-references Exodus 24:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

He declared וַיַּגֵּ֨ד H5046 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to you לָכֶ֜ם Preposition | second person masculine plural אֶת־ אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker His covenant בְּרִית֗וֹ H1285 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular which אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative He commanded צִוָּ֤ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶתְכֶם֙ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural you to follow לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct the Ten עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת H6235 Number - masculine singular construct Commandments הַדְּבָרִ֑ים H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural that He wrote וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם H3789 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition two שְׁנֵ֖י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct tablets לֻח֥וֹת H3871 Noun - masculine plural construct of stone אֲבָנִֽים׃ H68 Noun - feminine plural

BSB notes

Hebrew the Ten Words

Verse 14

Cross-references

Exodus 21:1 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:1 Classic cross-references Exodus 24:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

- וְאֹתִ֞י H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular At that הַהִ֔וא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular time בָּעֵ֣ת H6256 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular commanded me צִוָּ֤ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular to teach לְלַמֵּ֣ד H3925 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct you אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural the statutes חֻקִּ֖ים H2706 Noun - masculine plural and ordinances וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֑ים H4941 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural you are to follow לַעֲשֹׂתְכֶ֣ם H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural - אֹתָ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural in the land בָּאָ֕רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתֶּ֛ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural are crossing עֹבְרִ֥ים H5674 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural [the Jordan] שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

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