Devarim 4:9

9 Only be shomer over thyself, and be shomer over thy nefesh diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy lev kol yamim of thy life; but teach them to thy banim, and the banim of thy banim;

Devarim 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 ) .

Devarim 4:9 In-Context

7 For what nation is there so great, who hath elohim so near unto them, as Hashem Eloheinu is in all things for which we call upon Him?

8 And what nation is there so great, that hath chukkim and mishpatim tzaddikim as all this torah, which I set before you today?

9 Only be shomer over thyself, and be shomer over thy nefesh diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy lev kol yamim of thy life; but teach them to thy banim, and the banim of thy banim;

10 Specially the yom that thou stoodest before Hashem Eloheicha in Chorev, when Hashem said unto me, Gather Me the people together, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me kol hayamim that they shall live upon ha’adamah and that they may teach their children.

11 And ye came near and stood at the foot of the mountain; the mountain burned with eish unto the midst of Shomayim, with choshech, and anan, and thick darkness.