Deuteronomy 4:24

24 for Yahweh your God [is] a devouring fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:24

For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire
To his enemies; his wrath is like fire to burn up and destroy all that oppose him and break his commands, and especially idolaters; whose sin of all others is the most provoking to him, since it strikes at his being, his honour and glory; wherefore it follows,

even a jealous God;
who is jealous of his honour in matters of worship, and will not suffer his glory to be given to another, nor his praise to graven images, without resenting it or punishing for it.

Deuteronomy 4:24 In-Context

22 For I [am] going to die in this land; I am not going to cross the Jordan, but you [are] going to cross, and you are going to take possession of this good land.

23 Watch [out] for yourselves so that you do not forget the covenant of Yahweh your God that he had {made} with you and make for yourselves a divine image [of] the form of anything that Yahweh your God {has forbidden},

24 for Yahweh your God [is] a devouring fire, a jealous God.

25 "When you have had children and {grandchildren} and you have grown old in the land and you act corruptly and you make a divine image [of] the form of anything and you do evil in the eyes of Yahweh your God, [thus] provoking him to anger,

26 I call to witness against you today the heaven and the earth, that you will perish soon and completely from the land that you [are] crossing the Jordan into it to take possession of it; {you will not live long on it}, but you will be completely destroyed.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "zealous" or "impassioned"