Deuteronomy 4:32-40

The LORD Is God

32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?
33 Has any other people heard the voice of God[a] speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?
34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.
36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.
37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,
38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.

Deuteronomy 4:32-40 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 23

  • 1. Deuteronomy 32:7; Job 8:8
  • 2. S Genesis 1:27; Isaiah 45:12
  • 3. Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 30:1; Jeremiah 9:16; Matthew 24:31
  • 4. ver 7; 2 Samuel 7:23
  • 5. Exodus 20:22; Deuteronomy 5:24-26
  • 6. Exodus 14:30; Exodus 6:6
  • 7. Isaiah 7:12
  • 8. S Exodus 4:17; Exodus 7:3
  • 9. Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 26:8; Deuteronomy 29:3; 1 Chronicles 16:12; Psalms 9:1; Psalms 40:5; Jeremiah 32:20
  • 10. S Exodus 3:20; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 6:21; Deuteronomy 15:15; Exodus 13:3
  • 11. Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 34:12; Psalms 45:4; Psalms 65:5
  • 12. ver 39; Exodus 8:10; Deuteronomy 7:9; Deuteronomy 32:4,12; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 19:19; Isaiah 43:10; Mark 12:32; Isaiah 45:5,18
  • 13. S Exodus 19:19; Hebrews 12:25; Exodus 19:9,19
  • 14. Deuteronomy 8:5
  • 15. Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 23:5; Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalms 44:3; Jeremiah 31:3; Hosea 11:1; Malachi 1:2; Malachi 2:11
  • 16. S Exodus 3:20; S Exodus 33:14; Ex 13:3,9,14
  • 17. Numbers 34:14-15; Deuteronomy 7:1; Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 18. Exodus 8:10
  • 19. S ver 35; Exodus 15:11; Joshua 2:11
  • 20. S Leviticus 22:31; Deuteronomy 5:33
  • 21. ver 1; S Genesis 26:5; Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 11:1; Psalms 105:45; Isaiah 48:18
  • 22. Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 12:25; Isaiah 3:10
  • 23. S Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 6:3,18; Ephesians 6:2-3

Footnotes 1

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