Deuteronomy 4:1-14

Moses Commands Obedience

1 "And now, O Israel, listen to 1the statutes and the rules[a] that I am teaching you, and do them, 2that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
2 3You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did 4at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor.
4 But you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today.
5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
6 5Keep them and do them, for 6that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
7 For 7what great nation is there that has 8a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so 9righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
9 10"Only take care, and 11keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. 12Make them known to your children and your children's children--
10 how on 13the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, 14'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, 15so that they may learn to fear 16me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.'
11 And 17you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while 18the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.
12 Then 19the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, 20but saw no form; 21there was only a voice.
13 22And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, 23the Ten Commandments,[b]24and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.
14 And 25the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 4

This chapter contains an exhortation to Israel to keep the commands, statutes, and judgments of God, urged from the superior excellency of them to those of all other nations, De 4:1-8, from the manner in which they were delivered, out of the midst of fire, by a voice of words, but no similitude seen, De 4:9-15, and particularly the Israelites are cautioned against idolatry, from the consideration of the goodness of God to them, in bringing them out of Egypt, De 4:16-20, and the rather Moses is urgent upon them to be diligent in their obedience to the laws of God, because he should quickly be removed from them, De 4:21-24, and should they be disobedient to them, it would provoke the Lord to destroy them, or to carry them captive into other lands, De 4:25-28 though even then, if they repented and sought the Lord, and became obedient, he would be merciful to them, and not forsake them, De 4:29-31 and they are put in mind again of the amazing things God had done for them, in speaking to them out of fire, and they alive; in bringing them out of another nation, and driving out other nations to make room for them; all which he improves, as so many arguments to move them to obedience to the divine commands, De 4:32-40 and then notice is taken of the three cities of refuge, separated on this side Jordan, De 4:41-43, and the chapter is concluded with observing, that this is the law, and these the testimonies, Moses declared and repeated to the children of Israel in the country of Sihon and Og, who were delivered into their hands, and their lands possessed by them, which laid them under fresh obligations to yield obedience to God, De 4:44-49.

Cross References 25

  • 1. See Leviticus 18:4
  • 2. Deuteronomy 6:24; Deuteronomy 8:1
  • 3. Deuteronomy 12:32; [Joshua 1:7; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18, 19]
  • 4. See Numbers 23:28; Numbers 25:3-9
  • 5. Deuteronomy 29:9
  • 6. Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10
  • 7. 2 Samuel 7:23
  • 8. Psalms 34:18; Psalms 46:1; Psalms 145:18; Psalms 148:14; [James 4:8]
  • 9. Romans 7:12
  • 10. ver. 23
  • 11. [Proverbs 4:23]
  • 12. Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19; Deuteronomy 32:46; Genesis 18:19; See Psalms 78:4-6
  • 13. Exodus 19:9, 16; Hebrews 12:18, 19
  • 14. Deuteronomy 31:12
  • 15. Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 17:19
  • 16. Deuteronomy 12:1; Deuteronomy 31:13; 1 Kings 8:40
  • 17. Exodus 19:17
  • 18. Deuteronomy 5:22, 23; Exodus 19:18; Exodus 20:18, 21; [Exodus 24:16, 17]
  • 19. ver. 33, 36; Deuteronomy 5:4, 22; Exodus 20:1, 19
  • 20. ver. 15
  • 21. Exodus 20:22; [1 Kings 19:12; Job 4:16]
  • 22. Deuteronomy 9:9, 11
  • 23. Exodus 34:28
  • 24. See Exodus 24:12
  • 25. See Ex. 21 - 23

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or just decrees; also verses 5, 8, 14, 45
  • [b]. Hebrew words
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.