Deuteronomy 4
BSA1 Hear now [at this time, listen carefully], O Israel [the descendants of Jacob], the statutes [decrees, laws] and ordinances [judgments, regulations] I am teaching [guiding, instructing] you to follow [obey, observe], so that you may live [have life, thrive] and may enter [go in, possess] and take possession [occupy, inherit] of the land [the earth, the promised territory] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the God [Elohim, the Creator] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers], is giving [providing, granting] you. word study 2 You must not [in any way] add to or [take away from] subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments [divine laws and instructions] of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] that I am giving you [to obey and follow]. word study 3 Your eyes [the windows of your soul] have seen what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] did at Baal-peor [a place of idolatrous worship], for the LORD [the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God] destroyed [annihilated, brought to nothing] from among you all who followed [walked after, adhered to] Baal of Peor [the Lord of the gap, a Moabite deity]. word study 4 But you [who adhered, cleaving to] who held fast to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme One] are alive [living, having spiritual life] to this day [at this present time, today], every one of you [all, the entire community]. word study 5 See [behold, take notice], I have taught [instructed, guided] you statutes [decrees, laws] and ordinances [judgments, regulations] just as the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] my God [Elohim, the supreme God] has commanded [given orders to, appointed] me, so that you may follow [obey, keep] them in the land [the earth, the promised territory] that you are about to enter [go into, possess] and possess [take control of, occupy]. word study 6 Observe them carefully [with diligence and faithfulness], for this will show your wisdom [insight and good judgment] and understanding [discernment and knowledge] in the sight of the peoples [nations and Gentiles], who will hear of all these statutes [decrees and laws] and say, “Surely this great [powerful and majestic] nation is a wise [intelligent and prudent] and understanding [discerning and knowledgeable] people [community and society].” word study 7 For what nation [so great, of such importance] is great enough to have a god [divine being, deity] as near [close, intimately present] to them as the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] is to us whenever we call [cry out, invoke] on Him [in prayer, for help]? word study 8 And what nation [great or renowned] is great enough to have righteous [just or fair] statutes [divine decrees or laws] and ordinances [judgments or regulations] like this entire law [instruction or Torah] I set before you today [in your presence, at this time]? word study 9 Only be on your guard [carefully watch yourself, be vigilant] and diligently watch yourselves [keep your soul, protect your inner being], so that you do not forget [mislay, be oblivious to] the things your eyes [the source of your vision, your perception] have seen [experienced, witnessed], and so that they do not slip [turn aside, depart] from your heart [the innermost part of your being, your mind and emotions] as long as you live [are alive, have physical and spiritual life]. Teach them [make them known, impart to them] to your children [sons, descendants] and grandchildren [sons’ sons, future generations]. word study 10 The day [a significant moment, a turning point] you stood [in reverence, with awe] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Being] at Horeb [Mount Sinai, the mountain of God’s presence], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to me, “Gather [assemble, bring together] the people [the nation, the community] before Me to hear [listen, obey] My words [My teachings, My commands], so that they may learn [be taught, guided] to fear [reverence, respect] Me all the days [every moment, throughout their lives] they live [exist, have life] on the earth [the land, the world], and that they may teach [guide, instruct] them to their children [their descendants, their posterity].” word study 11 You came near [to approach, to draw close] and stood [in a strong sense, firmly] at the base [underneath, at the foot] of the mountain [a hill], a mountain [a hill] blazing [burning, on fire] with fire [burning, flame] to the heavens [the visible universe, the sky], with black clouds [dark, thick clouds] and deep [thick, heavy] darkness [a state of spiritual or physical gloom]. word study 12 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [to communicate, utter words] to you out of the fire [burning, flame]. You heard [listened, gave attention] the sound [voice, audible expression] of the words [things, matters], but saw [perceived with the eyes, looked upon] no form [likeness, similitude]; there was only [except, besides] a voice [sound, audible expression]. word study 13 He declared [openly, to tell] to you His covenant [agreement, promise], which He commanded [ordered, gave charge] you to follow [obey, keep]—the Ten [a decade] Commandments [laws, decrees] that He wrote [inscribed, recorded] on two [a pair, dual] tablets [stone slabs, polished tablets] of stone [rock, pebbles]. word study 14 At that time [in that specific moment, when] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] commanded [gave orders, appointed] me to teach [guide, instruct] you the statutes [decrees, laws] and ordinances [judgments, justice] you are to follow [obey, keep] in the land [the earth, territory] that you are crossing [passing over, transitioning] the Jordan [the river] to possess [take control, occupy, inherit]. word study 15 So since you saw [no image] no form [likeness, similitude] of any kind on the day [a specific period of time, a significant moment] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] spoke [communicated, gave a message] to you out of the fire [burning, flame] at Horeb [Mount Sinai, a sacred location], be careful [watchful, guarded, exceedingly careful] word study 16 that you do not act corruptly [or turn to evil ways] and make an idol [graven image, carved statue] for yourselves of any form [pattern, model] or shape, whether in the likeness of a male [man, male person] or female [woman, female person], word study 17 of any beast [animal, living creature] that is on the earth [land, ground] or bird [winged fowl, little bird] that flies [to fly, soaring] in the air [heaven, sky], word study 18 or of any creature [living being, animal] that crawls [creeps, moves lightly] on the ground [land, earth] or fish [sea creature, aquatic animal] that is in the waters [deep sea, ocean] below [underneath, beneath the earth]. word study 19 When you look [gaze upward, lift your eyes] to the heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm] and see the sun [the celestial body] and moon [the natural satellite] and stars [shining celestial bodies]—all [everything, the entirety] the host [army, vast multitude] of heaven—do not be enticed [seduced, tempted] to bow down [prostrate yourself, worship] and worship [serve, pay homage to] what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] has apportioned [divided, assigned] to all [every, the whole] the nations [peoples, tribes] under [beneath, subject to] heaven [the sky, the divine realm]. word study 20 Yet the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has taken [selected, chosen] you and brought [led, guided] you out of the iron [a strong metal] furnace [a place of refining and purification], out of Egypt [a land of bondage and oppression], to be the people [a nation, a community] of His inheritance [a possession, a gift], as you are today [at this present time, in this current state]. word study 21 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], however, was angry [displeased, breathed hard] with me on account of you, and He swore [made an oath, vowed] that I would not cross [pass over, transition] the Jordan [the river running from Lebanon to the Dead Sea] to enter [go into, approach] the good [pleasant, beneficial] land [earth, territory] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is giving [providing, granting] you as an inheritance [something passed down, a heritage]. word study 22 For [because of God’s plan] I will not be crossing [to pass over, transition] the Jordan [the river, a boundary], because I must die [to cease living, meet my end] in this land [the earthly territory, a specific region]. But you shall cross over [to transition, go beyond] and take possession [to occupy, have control] of that good [pleasant, beneficial] land [the promised territory, a gift from God]. word study 23 Be careful [take heed unto yourselves, beware] that you do not forget [be oblivious to, mislay] the covenant [promise, agreement] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] that He made [cut, established] with you; do not make [create, fashion] an idol [graven image, carved likeness] for yourselves in the form [likeness, similitude] of anything He has forbidden [commanded against, charged] you. word study 24 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] is a consuming [devouring, all-burning] fire [burning, flame], a jealous [zealous, intensely passionate] God [who desires exclusive worship]. word study 25 After you have children [sons and daughters, descendants] and grandchildren [children’s children, future generations] and you have been in the land [the promised territory, Canaan] a long time, if you then act corruptly [do evil, become morally rotten] and make an idol [a carved image, a false god] of any form [likeness]—doing evil [wickedness, wrong] in the sight of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and provoking Him to anger [stirring up His wrath, offending Him]— word study 26 I call heaven [the visible universe and the abode of God] and earth [the land or ground] as witnesses against you this day [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] that you will quickly [hastily, with urgency] perish [be destroyed or lost] from the land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region] that you are crossing the Jordan [the river running from Lebanon to the Dead Sea] to possess [to take control of, by driving out others and occupying it]. You will not live long [prolong your days] upon it, but will be utterly [completely, totally] destroyed [desolate, annihilated]. word study 27 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will scatter [disperse, shatter] you among the peoples [nations, Gentiles], and only a few [a small band, a remnant] of you will survive [remain, be left] among the nations [Gentile nations, heathen] to which the LORD [the supreme Ruler] will drive [lead, guide] you [to a place of exile]. word study 28 And there [in that place, at that time] you will serve [worship, give allegiance to] man-made [crafted by human hands] gods [idols, false deities] of wood [trees, wooden images] and stone [rocks, statues], which [these lifeless objects] cannot see [perceive, have vision] or hear [listen, have auditory perception] or eat [consume, have appetite] or smell [have olfactory sense, discern scent]. word study 29 But if from there [in those lands, from thence] you will seek [search for, try to know] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God], you will find [attain, discover] Him if you seek [search after, ask for] Him with all [everything, your entire being] your heart [the innermost part of a person, including mind, will, and emotions] and with all [your whole, complete] your soul [the essence of a person, living being]. word study 30 When you are in [deep] distress [trouble, tribulation] and all these things [events, circumstances] have happened to you, then in [the distant, latter] later days [period of time, era] you will return [turn back, come back] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God] and listen [hear, obey] to His voice [sound, spoken word]. word study 31 For the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] is a merciful [compassionate, full of loving-kindness] God; He will not abandon [forsake, leave without support] you or destroy [ruin, bring to nothing] you or forget [be oblivious to, neglect] the covenant [promise, agreement] with your fathers [ancestors, forefathers], which He swore [made a solemn oath, promised faithfully] to them by oath [solemn vow, pledge]. word study 32 Indeed, ask now [please, I pray] from one end [the extremity] of the heavens [the visible universe, the sky] to the other about the days [the periods of time, the epochs] that long preceded you, from the day [the time, the era] that God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] created [brought into being, formed] man [Adam, humanity] on earth [the land, the ground]: Has anything as great [mighty, extraordinary] as this [what is happening] ever happened [occurred, taken place] or been reported [heard, spoken of]? word study 33 Has a people [nation, community] ever heard [listened, obeyed] the voice [sound, utterance] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God] speaking [communicating, proclaiming] out of the fire [flames, divine presence], as you have [in the same manner], and lived [survived, remained alive]? word study 34 Or has any god [attempted to possess] tried to take as his own a nation [a Gentile people, a large group of non-Hebrews] out of another nation—by trials [testings, temptations], signs [miraculous tokens, othoth], wonders [miracles, marvelous deeds], and war [battle, conflict], by a strong [powerful, mighty] hand and an outstretched [stretched out, extended] arm, and by great [large, mighty] terrors [fears, dreadful things]—as the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] did for you in Egypt [the land of the Nile, a country in northeastern Africa], before your eyes [in your sight, visibly]? word study 35 You [the one being addressed] were shown [to see, to look after, to provide for] these things so that you would know [to ascertain by seeing, to learn, to perceive] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is God [Elohim, the supreme God]; there is [exists, is present] no other [none else, nothing] besides [apart from, separate from] Him [He, the self-existent One]. word study 36 He let you hear [from the very heavens, out of heaven itself] His voice [the sound of God’s speaking, a voice from above] from heaven [the visible universe, the abode of God] to discipline [to instruct, correct, or teach] you, and on earth [the land, the material world] He showed [revealed, made visible] you His great [exceeding great, of immense size or importance] fire [burning, flame], and you heard [listened with attention and obedience] His words [the things He spoke, His message] out of [from the midst of, from within] the fire [the refining flames, the blazing fire]. word study 37 Because He loved [with affection and devotion] your fathers [ancestors, forefathers], He chose [selected, elected] their descendants [seed, offspring] after them and brought you out of Egypt [the land of the Egyptians] by His presence [face, before Him] and great [mighty, powerful] power [strength, might], word study 38 to drive out [dispossess, thrust out] before you nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] greater [in size, age, or importance] and mightier [powerful, strong] than you, and to bring you into their land [territory, region] and give it to you for your inheritance [passed down, family possession], as it is [appears, exists] this day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time]. word study 39 Know therefore this day [today, at this moment] and take to heart [lay it to thy heart, consider deeply] that the LORD [Yehovah] is God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] in heaven [the visible universe, the sky] above [in the highest places] and on the earth [the land, the physical world] below [underneath, in all realms]; there is no other [none else, nothing comparable]. word study 40 Keep His statutes [divine decrees, laws] and commandments [God’s instructions, guidelines], which I am giving you today, so that you and your children [descendants, posterity] after you may prosper [be successful, thrive], and that you may live long [enjoy a lengthy life, experience many days] in the land [the earth, the promised territory] that the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] is giving you for all time [forever, throughout eternity]. word study 41 Then [at that time, previously] Moses [the Israelite leader] set aside three [a trio, thrice] cities [towns, settlements] across [beyond, on the other side of] the Jordan [the key river, a border] to the east [toward the sunrise, the direction of the sun] word study 42 to which a manslayer [killer, one who takes a life] could flee [escape, run away] after killing his neighbor [fellow, companion] unintentionally [without prior intent, by accident] without prior malice [hatred, hostility]. To save one’s own life [preserve his own existence, stay alive], he could flee [run to safety] to one of these cities [places of refuge, towns of safety]: word study 43 Bezer [a remote fortress, gold ore] in the wilderness [a desert or open field] on the plateau [a level or plain area, uprightness] belonging to the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben, son of Israel], Ramoth [heights, a place of elevation] in Gilead [a rocky region, a mountainous area] belonging to the Gadites [a tribe living during the time of Moses], or Golan [a fertile region, a place of refuge] in Bashan [a fruitful land, a region east of the Jordan River] belonging to the Manassites [a tribe living during the time of Moses, descendants of Manasseh]. word study 44 This [specific, particular] is the law [instruction, teaching] that Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] set [placed, established] before [in the presence of] the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob]. word study 45 These [specific, divine] are the testimonies [witnesses to God’s laws], statutes [decrees, divine laws], and ordinances [judgments, regulations] that Moses [the Israelite leader] proclaimed [spoke, declared] to them [the children of Israel] after they had come out [departed, escaped] of Egypt [the land of bondage], word study 46 while they were in the valley [beyond, on the east side] across the Jordan [river, a key location] facing Beth-peor [house of Peor, a place of idolatry] in the land [earth, territory] of Sihon [an Amorite king] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], who lived [dwelt, resided] in Heshbon [a city, the capital of the Amorites] and was defeated [smitten, struck] by Moses [the Israelite leader, a prophet] and the Israelites [God’s chosen people] after they had come out [exited, departed] of Egypt [a country, a place of bondage]. word study 47 They took possession [to occupy and control] of the land [earth, territory, or region] belonging to Sihon and to Og [a powerful king] king of Bashan [a fertile region east of the Jordan]—the two [a pair, a duo] Amorite [a member of a Canaanite tribe] kings [royal rulers] across the Jordan [the river, a key location] to the east [the direction of the sunrise, towards the sunrising]— word study 48 extending from Aroer [a place of ruins] on the rim [edge or border] of the Arnon Valley [a brook or stream, also referring to its surrounding territory] as far as Mount Siyon [Sirion, the lofty summit] (that is, Hermon [a sanctuary, a mountain on the northeastern border of Palestine]), word study 49 including all [the entire region] the Arabah [a desert plain, wilderness] on the east [direction of sunrise] side of the Jordan [the river running from Lebanon to the Dead Sea] and as far as [till, up to] the Sea [a large body of water] of the Arabah [the same desert plain], below [underneath, in the lower area] the slopes [ravines, natural formations] of Pisgah [a mountain in Moab]. word study