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

9Only 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.

10The 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.”

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

12And 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.

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

14At 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 6:7Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:23Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 11:19Classic cross-references Psalms 78:3Classic cross-references Genesis 18:19Classic cross-references

Original words

Onlyרַ֡קH7535Adverbbe on your guardהִשָּׁ֣מֶרH8104Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singularand diligentlyמְאֹ֗דH3966Adverbwatchוּשְׁמֹ֨רH8104Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularyourselvesנַפְשְׁךָ֜H5315Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularso that you do notפֶּן־H6435Conjunctionforgetתִּשְׁכַּ֨חH7911Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe thingsהַדְּבָרִ֜יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyour eyesעֵינֶ֗יךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularhave seenרָא֣וּH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraland so that they do notוּפֶן־H6435Conjunctionslipיָס֙וּרוּ֙H5493Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralfrom your heartמִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔H3824Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularasכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular construct. . .יְמֵ֣יH3117Noun - masculine plural constructlong as you liveחַיֶּ֑יךָH2416Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularTeach themוְהוֹדַעְתָּ֥םH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralto your childrenלְבָנֶ֖יךָH1121Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularand grandchildrenוְלִבְנֵ֥יH1121Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .בָנֶֽיךָ׃H1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

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

Original words

The dayי֗וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singularאֲשֶׁ֨ראֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeyou stoodעָמַ֜דְתָּH5975Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֨יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶיךָ֮H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularat Horebבְּחֹרֵב֒H2722Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidבֶּאֱמֹ֨רH559Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto meאֵלַ֗יH413Preposition | first person common singularGatherהַקְהֶל־H6950Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularthe peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularbefore Meאֶת־H853Direct object markerto hearוְאַשְׁמִעֵ֖םH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerMy wordsדְּבָרָ֑יH1697Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularso thatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethey may learnיִלְמְד֜וּןH3925Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunto fearלְיִרְאָ֣הH3372Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularMeאֹתִ֗יH853Direct object marker | first person common singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe daysהַיָּמִים֙H3117Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativetheyהֵ֤םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralliveחַיִּים֙H2416Noun - masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe earthהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔הH127Article | Noun - feminine singularand thatוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthey may teach themיְלַמֵּדֽוּן׃H3925Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunto their childrenבְּנֵיהֶ֖םH1121Noun - 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 12:18Classic cross-references 1 Kings 19:12Classic cross-references Psalms 18:11Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:12Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 1:8Classic cross-references

Original words

You came nearוַתִּקְרְב֥וּןH7126Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunand stoodוַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּןH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunat the baseתַּ֣חַתH8478Prepositionof the mountainהָהָ֑רH2022Article | Noun - masculine singulara mountainוְהָהָ֞רH2022Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularblazingבֹּעֵ֤רH1197Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwith fireבָּאֵשׁ֙H784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singulartoעַד־H5704Preposition. . .לֵ֣בH3820Noun - masculine singular constructthe heavensהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluralwith black cloudsעָנָ֥ןH6051Noun - masculine singularand deepוַעֲרָפֶֽל׃H6205Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singulardarknessחֹ֖שֶׁךְH2822Noun - masculine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

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

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularspokeוַיְדַבֵּ֧רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto youאֲלֵיכֶ֖םH413Preposition | second person masculine pluralout ofמִתּ֣וֹךְH8432Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe fireהָאֵ֑שׁH784Article | Noun - common singularYouאַתֶּ֣םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralheardשֹׁמְעִ֔יםH8085Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralthe soundק֤וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof the wordsדְּבָרִים֙H1697Noun - masculine pluralbut sawרֹאִ֖יםH7200Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralnoאֵינְכֶ֥םH369Adverb | second person masculine pluralformוּתְמוּנָ֛הH8544Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularthere was onlyזוּלָתִ֥יH2108Prepositiona voiceקֽוֹל׃H6963Noun - masculine singular

Verse 13

Cross-references

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

Original words

He declaredוַיַּגֵּ֨דH5046Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto youלָכֶ֜םPreposition | second person masculine pluralאֶת־אֶת־H853Direct object markerHis covenantבְּרִית֗וֹH1285Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularwhichאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeHe commandedצִוָּ֤הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶתְכֶם֙H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralyou to followלַעֲשׂ֔וֹתH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthe Tenעֲשֶׂ֖רֶתH6235Number - masculine singular constructCommandmentsהַדְּבָרִ֑יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine pluralthat He wroteוַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔םH3789Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositiontwoשְׁנֵ֖יH8147Number - masculine dual constructtabletsלֻח֥וֹתH3871Noun - masculine plural constructof stoneאֲבָנִֽים׃H68Noun - feminine plural

BSB notes

Hebrew the Ten Words

Verse 14

Cross-references

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

Original words

-וְאֹתִ֞יH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singularAt thatהַהִ֔ואH1931Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singulartimeבָּעֵ֣תH6256Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcommanded meצִוָּ֤הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularto teachלְלַמֵּ֣דH3925Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructyouאֶתְכֶ֔םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralthe statutesחֻקִּ֖יםH2706Noun - masculine pluraland ordinancesוּמִשְׁפָּטִ֑יםH4941Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralyou are to followלַעֲשֹׂתְכֶ֣םH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural-אֹתָ֔םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralin the landבָּאָ֕רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyouאַתֶּ֛םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralare crossingעֹבְרִ֥יםH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural[the Jordan]שָׁ֖מָּהH8033Adverb | third person feminine singularto possessלְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃H3423Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

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