Deuteronomy 4:6

6 Be careful to keep them. That will show the nations how wise and understanding you are. They will hear about all of those rules. They'll say, "That great nation certainly has wise and understanding people."

Deuteronomy 4:6 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:6

Keep therefore and do them
. Observe them, take notice of what is expressed by them, and perform them, both as to matter and manner, as they require:

for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations;
that is, their wisdom and understanding would appear to other nations by their observance of the commands of God:

which hear all these statutes;
which they had a report, got knowledge of by some of the philosophers who travelled into those parts, and by the translation of the Bible into the Greek language:

and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people;
that had such a body of laws, in which they were instructed, and according to which they were governed, and in which they walked; that were so agreeable to reason, truth, justice, and equity; insomuch that so far as they became known they were admired and copied after, both by Greeks and Romans; and hence it was that the oracle F6 declared, that only the Chaldeans and Hebrews were a wise people; the Hebrews came from Chaldea, as Abraham the father of them.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Apud Porphyr. in Euseb Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 10. p. 413.

Deuteronomy 4:6 In-Context

4 But all of you who remained true to the LORD your God are still alive today.
5 I have taught you rules and laws, just as the LORD my God commanded me. Follow them in the land you are entering to take as your very own.
6 Be careful to keep them. That will show the nations how wise and understanding you are. They will hear about all of those rules. They'll say, "That great nation certainly has wise and understanding people."
7 The LORD our God is near us every time we pray to him. What other nation is great enough to have its gods that close to them?
8 I'm giving you the laws of the LORD today. What other nation is great enough to have rules and laws that are as fair as these?
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