Deuteronomy 4:32-34

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?

Deuteronomy 4:32-34 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 11

  • 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

Footnotes 1

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