Deuteronomy 10:14 kjv
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Deuteronomy 10:14 nkjv
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14 niv
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14 esv
Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14 nlt
"Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 10 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Point) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | God as Creator of all. |
| Psa 24:1 | The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof... | God's ownership of creation. |
| Psa 50:12 | If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. | God's absolute ownership. |
| Psa 89:11 | The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. | God's ownership and foundation. |
| Psa 115:15-16 | May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!... heaven belongs to the Lord, but the earth he has given to the children of man. | God owns heavens, delegates earth. |
| Neh 9:6 | You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it... | Reiterates God as sole Creator and Owner of cosmos. |
| 1 Ki 8:27 | "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you..." | God's transcendence; infinite nature. |
| 2 Chr 2:6 | "...heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him." | God's vastness beyond creation. |
| Isa 42:5 | Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it... | God as Creator and Sustainer. |
| Isa 45:18 | For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens... | God as sovereign Creator. |
| Jer 23:24 | "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?" | God's omnipresence and omnipresence. |
| Job 41:11 | "Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine." | God's sovereignty over all. |
| Dan 4:35 | all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth... | God's unchallenged rule. |
| Hag 2:8 | "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts." | God's ownership extends to material wealth. |
| Acts 4:24 | "...Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them," | Apostolic confession of God's universal creation and dominion. |
| Acts 17:24 | The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man... | God's Lordship over all, unlike idols. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. | Christ as agent and sustainer of creation. |
| Heb 1:2-3 | but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world... Upholding the universe by his word of power. | Christ's role in creation and sustaining. |
| Heb 11:3 | By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. | Creation by divine word. |
| Rev 4:11 | "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." | Heavenly worship for creation. |
| Rom 11:36 | For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. | All things originate from, are sustained by, and lead to God. |
| 1 Cor 10:26 | For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." | Practical application of God's ownership (food). |
Deuteronomy 10 verses
Deuteronomy 10 14 Meaning
Deuteronomy 10:14 declares God's absolute and exclusive ownership over the entire cosmos: the highest heavens, all other heavens, the earth, and everything existing within them. It serves as a foundational truth establishing the Lord God's ultimate sovereignty, majesty, and unchallengeable dominion as Creator and Sustainer of all that is.
Deuteronomy 10 14 Context
Deuteronomy 10:14 appears within Moses' second speech to Israel, delivered on the plains of Moab as the people prepare to enter the Promised Land. This section, particularly chapters 9 and 10, serves as a crucial theological reminder of God's covenant faithfulness despite Israel's frequent rebellion. Moses is recounting core events and foundational truths, particularly stressing the character of God (vv. 12-13) and Israel's resultant obligation to fear, love, and obey Him. Verse 14 sets the stage for the following exhortations by establishing God's unparalleled greatness and sovereignty.
Historically and culturally, Israel was surrounded by nations worshipping various gods, often deities associated with specific domains (e.g., sky gods, earth gods, storm gods). This verse is a direct polemic against such polytheistic notions. It unequivocally declares that YHWH, the God of Israel, is not merely one god among many, nor is His authority limited to a particular land or sphere. Instead, He is the sole, absolute sovereign over the entire universe, challenging any idolatrous belief in competing or lesser deities. This assertion of divine supremacy provided the theological grounding for Israel's exclusive devotion to YHWH and their rejection of foreign gods.
Deuteronomy 10 14 Word analysis
- Behold (Hebrew: hinneh, הִנֵּה): This interjection serves to draw immediate attention and emphasis to the profound truth being presented. It signifies importance and calls for urgent consideration of the subsequent declaration, functioning like "Pay attention!" or "Indeed!".
- to the Lord (Hebrew: la-YHWH, לַיהוה): YHWH (the Tetragrammaton) is the personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies God's self-existence, His eternal nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. The preposition "la-" indicates possession or belonging, literally "to YHWH belongs."
- your God (Hebrew: Eloheykha, אֱלֹהֶיךָ): Elohim is the general Hebrew term for God, indicating power and might. The suffix "-eykha" means "your," personalizing the relationship between YHWH, the mighty Creator, and the covenant people, Israel. It underscores that this omnipotent Being is uniquely in covenant with them.
- belong (implied): The sense of possession is inherent in the preceding phrase, showing that what follows is under the ultimate ownership and jurisdiction of God.
- heaven (Hebrew: hashamayim, הַשָּׁמַיִם): Refers to the visible sky, the atmospheric heavens, and beyond, symbolizing vastness. The dual form of the noun shamayim implies an expansive or perhaps layered heaven, commonly understood in ancient cosmology.
- and the heaven of heavens (Hebrew: u'shmê hashamayim, וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם): This is a superlative Hebrew construct, akin to "holy of holies" or "king of kings." It denotes the highest, most encompassing, and utterly transcendent realms of the universe, beyond human perception or even the angels, representing the uttermost bounds of cosmic space, perhaps God's dwelling place (cf. 1 Ki 8:27). It emphasizes the infinitude of God's dominion.
- with the earth (Hebrew: wəhā’āreṣ, וְהָאָרֶץ): Refers to the terrestrial sphere, the ground beneath, the habitable world. "With" connects the earthly domain directly to the heavens, emphasizing unified, universal dominion.
- and all that is in it (Hebrew: wəḵāl-ʾăšer bām, וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר בָּם): This comprehensive phrase includes all living beings (humans, animals), vegetation, natural resources, and every element or entity within both the heavens and the earth. It denotes God's absolute ownership down to the smallest detail of existence. The use of "them" (bām) implicitly applies to both "heaven of heavens" and "the earth," showing that nothing in the universe is excluded from God's ownership.
Words-group analysis:
- "Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, with the earth and all that is in it.": This entire statement is a majestic affirmation of God's pan-universal sovereignty and absolute proprietorship over all creation. It provides the ultimate basis for reverent awe, fear, and loving obedience towards such an incomparably great God. It combats any notion of multiple gods or limited divine power, establishing YHWH as the sole cosmic ruler whose authority extends without limit, encompassing visible and invisible realms, and all life therein. This holistic declaration reinforces the foundational premise that humanity and all creation are utterly dependent on Him and subject to His ultimate design.
Deuteronomy 10 14 Bonus section
The Hebrew construct "heaven of heavens" (shmê hashamayim) appears multiple times in the Old Testament, most notably in Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple (1 Ki 8:27, 2 Chr 6:18), where it underscores the paradoxical truth that even the temple cannot contain the God whom the heavens themselves cannot contain. This emphasizes God's transcendence – His nature is infinitely greater than, and distinct from, His creation, even as He exercises full ownership over it.
This verse subtly prefigures New Testament revelation concerning Christ. Although the passage speaks of YHWH, later Scripture reveals Jesus as the agent of creation (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2-3). Therefore, God's ultimate ownership and creative power, expressed in Deut 10:14, ultimately points to the full deity of Jesus, through whom and for whom all things were made and held together. It also provides the ultimate philosophical answer to the "problem of evil" and God's right to govern the universe as its rightful owner.
Deuteronomy 10 14 Commentary
Deuteronomy 10:14 articulates a fundamental truth regarding the character of the God of Israel: He is the absolute sovereign over all creation. Moses presents this truth not merely as a factual statement but as the theological cornerstone for Israel's moral and spiritual life. The emphatic "Behold" commands attention to this reality: everything, from the most distant cosmic reaches to the ground beneath their feet, is God's possession. This declaration of infinite ownership transcends simple power; it establishes inherent rights and authority. God does not merely control; He owns. This comprehensive dominion serves as the bedrock for the subsequent call to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him (Deut 10:12).
The phrase "heaven and the heaven of heavens" signifies the ultimate, most expansive reality of God's realm, pushing beyond any conceivable limit of space and reminding Israel that their God is not localized or confined, as pagan deities were thought to be. Coupled with "the earth and all that is in it," the verse leaves no part of existence outside His claim. This divine supremacy implies His right to command and humanity's obligation to obey. It underscores God's worthiness of exclusive worship and devotion, contrasting sharply with the polytheistic environment where many gods laid partial claims. This verse demands absolute commitment because their God is absolutely supreme.
- Practical usage: Understanding God's universal ownership (1) inspires deep awe and humility before His immense power and majesty. (2) It provides assurance that God is fully in control, even amidst chaos, because He owns everything. (3) It calls us to stewardship rather than possessiveness, recognizing that all we have—time, talents, possessions, even life itself—ultimately belongs to Him and should be used for His glory.