Deuteronomy 4

Deuteronomy 4:1

statutes = ordinances: Godward. Exodus 12:24, Exodus 12:43; Exodus 30:21. Hebrews 9:1.

judgments = duties and punishments, manward. First occurrence in plural in Exodus 21:1. The two often united. See Deuteronomy 5:1; Deuteronomy 6:1; Deuteronomy 12:1. Malachi 4:4, &c.

teach. Hebrew. lamad (whence “Talmud”) = to cause to learn. First occurrence.

for to do. Old English idiom: modern idiom = to do.

Deuteronomy 4:2

Ye shall not add. Compare Ch. Deuteronomy 12:32. Proverbs 30:5, Proverbs 30:6. Jeremiah 23:28; Jeremiah 26:2. Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 2:7. Revelation 22:18, Revelation 22:19.

Deuteronomy 4:3

men. Hebrew ’ish. See App-14. Baal-peor. See note on Deuteronomy 3:29 and Numbers 25:1-5, Numbers 25:9. Psalms 106:28. Hosea 9:10. 1 Corinthians 10:8.

destroyed = exterminated. Hebrew. shmadh.

Deuteronomy 4:5

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Deuteronomy 4:6

understanding = discernment.

understanding = discerning.

Deuteronomy 4:7

what. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

God = a god, or gods. Hebrew ’Elohim. App-4.

nigh = nigh to help. Compare Psalms 32:9; Psalms 34:18; Psalms 119:151; Psalms 145:18. Nehemiah 13:4.

Deuteronomy 4:8

so righteous. See App-15. Compare 2 Samuel 7:23.

Deuteronomy 4:9

take heed. Note the three occurrences in this chapter (verses: Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 4:15, Deuteronomy 4:23).

thy soul = thyself. Hebrew thy nephesh.

Deuteronomy 4:10

Specially. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6. Might be supplied by the word “Remember”.

Horeb. Occurs three times before Deut. (viz. Exodus 3:1; Exodus 17:6; Exodus 33:6). Sinai is the general word, but occurs only once in Deut. (Deuteronomy 33:2).

Deuteronomy 4:11

thick darkness. See Exodus 20:21, and compare Hebrew. araphel. 2 Samuel 22:10. 1 Kings 8:12. Psalms 97:2.

Deuteronomy 4:12

spake. See note on Deuteronomy 2:1.

saw. Figure of speech Zeugma. App-6.: by which one verb ’saw" is used with two objects and suits only the first. A second verb “heard” must be supplied: compare Exodus 3:16. 2 Kings 11:12. 1 Timothy 4:3. It is for the purpose of calling attention to the emphasis thus put on the verb “saw”; an idol being that which is seen.

similitude = appearance of form, or likeness.

Deuteronomy 4:13

even ten. Hebrew the ten.

wrote. See note on Exodus 17:14; only here and Deuteronomy 10:4 in Deut. See also App-47.

Deuteronomy 4:14

me. Emphasis on “me” to call attention to the mediation of Moses.

Deuteronomy 4:15

yourselves = your souls. Hebrew. nephesh. See Deuteronomy 4:9 above and App-13.

Deuteronomy 4:16

graven image. Hebrew. pesl = a sculpture (Exodus 20:4).

figure. Hebrew semel = only here, 2 Chronicles 33:7, 2 Chronicles 33:15, and Ezekiel 8:3, Ezekiel 8:5.

likeness = form. Hebrew. tablinith = model.

Deuteronomy 4:19

host of heaven: sun, moon, and stars. This sin foreknown. 2 Kings 17:18; 2 Kings 23:4. Compare Amos 5:26 with Acts 7:42, Acts 7:43.

Deuteronomy 4:20

iron furnace. Compare Genesis 15:17. Ex. Deuteronomy 3:2, Deuteronomy 3:3, 1 Kings 8:51-53. Jeremiah 11:4.

to be, &c. Compare Exodus 19:5. Exodus 9:29; Exodus 32:9.

Deuteronomy 4:21

angry. Compare Deuteronomy 1:37; Deuteronomy 3:2.

Deuteronomy 4:23

forbidden thee. Hebrew. zivvah, a Homonym = to command, and to forbid. Here it = forbid, also in Judges 13:14, where it is wrongly rendered “command”.

Deuteronomy 4:24

a consuming fire. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. Compare Exodus 24:17. Hebrews 12:29.

children = sons.

Deuteronomy 4:26

I call. Figure of speech Deasis. App-6. Compare Deuteronomy 31:28.

heaven and earth = the heavens and the earth (always plural and with Hebrew particle ’eth, except Genesis 2:1. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1). One of the thirteen occurrences of the Hebrew expressions noted in the Massorah. Genesis 1:1. Exodus 20:11; Exodus 31:17. Exodus 4:26; Exodus 30:19; Exodus 31:28. 2 Kings 19:15. 2 Chronicles 2:12. Isaiah 37:16. Jeremiah 23:24; Jeremiah 32:17. Haggai 2:6, Haggai 2:21.

this day. A solemn idiom, used for great emphasis. Occurs forty-two times (see App-10) in this book: Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:1; Deuteronomy 6:6; Deuteronomy 7:11; Deuteronomy 8:1, Deuteronomy 8:11, Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 9:1, Deuteronomy 9:3; Deuteronomy 10:13; Deuteronomy 10:11, Deuteronomy 10:2, Deuteronomy 10:8, Deuteronomy 10:13, Deuteronomy 10:26, Deuteronomy 10:27, Deuteronomy 10:28, Deuteronomy 10:32; Deuteronomy 13:18; Deuteronomy 15:5, Deuteronomy 15:15; Deuteronomy 19:9; Deuteronomy 26:3, Deuteronomy 26:16, Deuteronomy 26:17, Deuteronomy 26:18; Deuteronomy 27:1, Deuteronomy 27:4, Deuteronomy 27:10; Deuteronomy 28:1, Deuteronomy 28:13, Deuteronomy 28:14, Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 30:2, Deuteronomy 30:8, Deuteronomy 30:11, Deuteronomy 30:15, Deuteronomy 30:16, Deuteronomy 30:18, Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 32:46. It is this Old Testament idiom in Luke 23:43.

destroyed = exterminated. Hebrew. shmad.

Deuteronomy 4:27

scatter. Hebrew. puz = disperse. See Genesis 10:18; Genesis 11:4, Genesis 11:9, not used in Leviticus 26:33, but is used in Jeremiah 30:11, and frequently: also in Ezek. Compare Deuteronomy 28:64, and Ezekiel 20:23.

nations = peoples.

heathen = nations.

Deuteronomy 4:28

serve gods. Compare Daniel 5:23. Revelation 9:20.

Deuteronomy 4:29

thou shalt. This agrees with the Samaritan Pentateuch Text, but the printed Hebrew Text has “ye shall”.

seek. Compare Leviticus 26:40. Jeremiah 29:13, &c.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13.

Deuteronomy 4:30

the latter days = the end of the days.

Deuteronomy 4:31

He will not forsake. First occurrence of this promise. Repeated in Deuteronomy 31:6 for the journey. Repeated to Joshua for conflict, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:6; to Solomon for work, 1 Chronicles 28:20; to us for daily provision and comfort, Hebrews 13:5, Hebrews 13:6.

Deuteronomy 4:32

the days. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, put for the events which took place in them.

created (singular) These two words occur together three times (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:3, and here).

Deuteronomy 4:33

Did . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

God: or, a god.

as = according as.

Deuteronomy 4:34

hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

God: or, a god.

from, the midst. Here we have the whole of Exodus, compare Jeremiah 32:21.

temptations = trials, or, provings.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6), in this verse.

war = fightings. Exodus 14:25.

Deuteronomy 4:35

He is God. Compare 1 Kings 18:39. Isaiah 45:21.

Deuteronomy 4:37

because. Compare Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 9:5; Deuteronomy 10:15.

Deuteronomy 4:39

God. Hebrew. ha-elohlm = the God.

Deuteronomy 4:40

for ever = all the days: i.e. for all time.

Deuteronomy 4:41

Then. Emphatic, marking the end of his first address.

Moses. Change to third person, not because it is now editorial, but because the first direct address is ended. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1.

severed = separated. Compare Exodus 21:13. Numbers 35:6-29.

Deuteronomy 4:42

hated = he hated.

Deuteronomy 4:44

this: i.e. which hereafter followeth. The commencement of the new section according to the Structure.

children = sons.

Deuteronomy 4:45

testimonies. Hebrew. ’ud, to say again and again, hence, testifyings, affirmations, &c.

statutes, and the judgments. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1.

Deuteronomy 4:46

smote. Compare Numbers 21:24. Numbers 1:4.

Deuteronomy 4:47

of Og. Compare Numbers 21:33. Numbers 3:3.

Deuteronomy 4:48

Sion. Written for Sirion. See Deuteronomy 3:9.

Deuteronomy 4:49

on this side = across: a neutral term. Compare Deuteronomy 1:1.