Deuteronomy 4:37

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,

Deuteronomy 4:37 in Other Translations

KJV
37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
ESV
37 And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,
NLT
37 Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power.
MSG
37 He loved your ancestors and chose to work with their children. He personally and powerfully brought you out of Egypt
CSB
37 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,

Deuteronomy 4:37 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:37

And because he loved thy fathers
Not their immediate fathers, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, and entered not into the good land because of their unbelief, but their more remote fathers or ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had some singular testimonies of the love of God to them, Abraham is called their friend of God, and Isaac was the son of promise in whom the seed was called; and Jacob is particularly said to be loved by God, when Esau was hated:

therefore he chose their seed after them;
not to eternal life and salvation, but to the enjoyment of external blessings and privileges, to be called by his name, and to set up his name and worship among them, and to be a special people to him above all people on the earth, as to outward favours, both civil and ecclesiastical:

and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
which was done not only in the sight of the Egyptians openly, they not daring to hinder them, as the wonders wrought to oblige them to let them go out, done in the sight of the Israelites as before observed, but in the sight of God, he going before them in the pillar of cloud and fire, smiling upon them the Israelites, and looking with a frown upon the host of the Egyptians, and conducting the people by the angel of his presence.

Deuteronomy 4:37 In-Context

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.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 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
  • 2. S Exodus 3:20; S Exodus 33:14; Ex 13:3,9,14
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.