Deuteronomy 4:9

9 Therefore, take heed to thyself and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them to thy sons and thy sons’ sons.

Deuteronomy 4:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:9

Only take heed to thyself
To walk according to this law, and not swerve from it:

and keep thy soul diligently;
from the transgressions and breaches of it:

lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen;
either the statutes and judgments set before them, and the circumstances of the delivery of them; or the punishment inflicted on the breakers of them; or the favours bestowed on those that observed them:

and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life;
out of thy mind and memory, and have no place in thy affections, through a neglect and disuse of them:

but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
their children and grandchildren, that they may be trained up in them in their youth, and so not depart from them when grown up, and in years; see ( Deuteronomy 6:7 ) .

Deuteronomy 4:9 In-Context

7 For what nation is there so great who has God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

8 And what nation is there so great that has statutes and rights so just as all this law, which I set before you this day?

9 Therefore, take heed to thyself and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them to thy sons and thy sons’ sons.

10 The day that thou didst stand before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather the people together unto me, and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their sons.

11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of the heavens, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.