Deuteronomy 10 17

Deuteronomy 10:17 kjv

For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Deuteronomy 10:17 nkjv

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

Deuteronomy 10:17 niv

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Deuteronomy 10:17 esv

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

Deuteronomy 10:17 nlt

"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.

Deuteronomy 10 verses

Deuteronomy 10 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 10:17 declares the absolute supremacy, unique sovereignty, unparalleled power, and unwavering justice of God, identifying Him as the ultimate authority over all other spiritual and temporal powers, and highlighting His incorruptible impartiality. This description serves as the foundational reason for Israel's required devotion and ethical conduct.

Deuteronomy 10 17 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 10 is part of Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab just before they entered the Promised Land. This section specifically (Deu 9:7-10:11) recounts the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments, the incident of the Golden Calf, God's renewed covenant with Israel despite their rebellion, and Moses' intercession for them. Verses 12-22 serve as an exhortation, urging Israel to respond to God's faithfulness with fear, love, obedience, and service. Verse 17 directly follows a call for "circumcision of the heart" (Deu 10:16), meaning to be inwardly dedicated to God, not just outwardly conforming. It provides the theological basis—the character of God Himself—for why Israel should obey and love Him so profoundly. This declaration of God's sovereignty, power, and justice lays the groundwork for the ethical demands that follow, particularly concerning care for the vulnerable (Deu 10:18-19). Historically, Israel was surrounded by polytheistic nations with pantheons of lesser gods, often influenced by offerings or human status, making Yahweh's declaration as "God of gods" and "who shows no partiality and takes no bribe" a profound polemical statement.

Deuteronomy 10 17 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "indeed." It introduces the foundational reason for the preceding exhortation to fear, walk in, love, serve, and keep the commands of the Lord (Deu 10:12-16). This isn't a suggestion; it's a declaration of divine truth that underpins all obedience.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH, transliterated as "Yahweh"): This is the covenant name of God, unique to Israel, revealing His personal, unchanging, and redeeming character. It signifies His self-existence ("I Am Who I Am") and His specific relationship with His people, emphasizing His reliability and faithfulness.
• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Eloheikhem): "God" (Elohim) signifies His power and authority as Creator and Ruler. The suffix "your" (plural) emphasizes the covenant relationship He has established with the collective nation of Israel. He is their specific God, not a generic deity.
• is God (הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים - hu ha'Elohim): "He is the God," indicating His singular, ultimate divinity. This construction implies an absolute assertion: He alone is God, distinct from any other claimants.
• of gods (הָאֱלֹהִים - ha'Elohim): Here, "Elohim" is used to refer to all other beings, real or imagined, considered divine by human cultures (e.g., pagan deities, angelic beings, or even human judges/rulers metaphorically called "gods" in some contexts like Ps 82:1, 6). This is a strong polemic against polytheism prevalent in the Ancient Near East. Yahweh's sovereignty is not merely among others but over all.
• and Lord (וַאֲדֹנֵי - va'adonei): "Adonai," signifying Master, Sovereign, Owner. This word emphasizes supreme authority and control.
• of lords (הָאֲדֹנִים - ha'adonim): Refers to all human rulers, potentates, or those who hold authority. Just as God is "God of gods" over divine realms, He is "Lord of lords" over all earthly powers and principalities. No earthly authority can stand against Him or command ultimate allegiance.
• the great (הַגָּדוֹל - hagadol): Conveys His immense scope, vastness, and superiority. It refers to His character, power, and glory that are immeasurable and beyond human comprehension.
• the mighty (הַגִּבֹּר - hagibbor): Signifies His strength, valor, and capacity to act with irresistible power. This attribute speaks to His ability to perform great deeds, deliver His people, and overcome all obstacles and enemies. Often depicts God as a divine warrior.
• and the awesome God (וְהַנּוֹרָא - v'hanora): Evokes fear, reverence, and dread. It points to God's overwhelming majesty and holiness, inspiring both terror in the wicked and profound reverence in the righteous. This "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of wisdom.
• who shows no partiality (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִשָּׂא פָנִים - asher lo yissa fanim): Literally, "who does not lift up faces." This idiom means God does not favor anyone based on external status, wealth, power, or personal connection. He judges and interacts based on righteousness and truth, not favoritism. This stood in stark contrast to human courts and pagan deities who could be swayed by bribes or social standing.
• and takes no bribe (וְלֹא יִקַּח שֹׁחַד - v'lo yikkach shochad): Emphasizes His incorruptibility and absolute justice. No amount of money or material offering can influence His judgment or persuade Him to act unfairly. This attribute ensured that His laws and judgments were intrinsically just, without the manipulation or corruption common in human judicial systems and pagan religious practices where gods could be appeased through material sacrifice to overlook sin or grant favors.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords": This majestic title, repeated elsewhere (Ps 136:2-3, 1 Tim 6:15, Rev 19:16), declares God's ultimate supremacy. It is a polemic against the polytheistic environment, asserting that Yahweh is not just a god among many, but the ultimate authority over all so-called gods (spiritual entities) and all human rulers. It grounds His covenant with Israel in His unique, unrivaled power and position.
• "the great, the mighty, and the awesome God": These three descriptive adjectives capture God's infinite qualitative difference from anything in creation. "Great" speaks of His immeasurable scope and importance; "Mighty" of His omnipotence and active power; and "Awesome" of His holiness, majesty, and the profound reverence He inspires. Together, they form a robust declaration of His omnipotence, omnipresence (by implication of greatness), and transcendance.
• "who shows no partiality and takes no bribe": These two clauses speak to God's perfect justice and impartiality. They describe ethical attributes directly opposed to human corruption and favoritism. God judges justly, purely based on truth and righteousness, regardless of one's social status, wealth, or perceived merit. This revolutionary concept in the ancient world meant that justice was accessible to all—the powerful and the weak, the rich and the poor—because the ultimate Judge could not be swayed. This ethical monotheism becomes the blueprint for Israel's legal and social codes.

Deuteronomy 10 17 Bonus section

The concept of God as "God of gods and Lord of lords" can be seen as a superlative expression, using a common Hebrew grammatical form to indicate ultimate superiority, rather than a literal belief in other "gods" on the same ontological level as Yahweh. It emphasizes that if other "gods" exist (whether actual spiritual entities like angels or demons, or merely perceived idols), Yahweh is incomparably greater and sovereign over them. This verse's emphasis on God's impartiality and incorruptibility directly informs New Testament teachings on universal salvation, where all people—Jew or Gentile, rich or poor—are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9), demonstrating God's consistent character of not favoring any group based on outward status or achievements. Furthermore, the combination of God's immense power and His ethical justice (His "awesome" nature alongside "no partiality") forms the foundation for true worship and proper societal structure within the covenant, guiding Israel to both fear God and imitate His justice in their dealings with one another and outsiders.

Deuteronomy 10 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:17 is a cornerstone theological declaration in the Old Testament, succinctly summarizing key attributes of God's character. It serves as a profound basis for the covenant relationship and Israel's required response. By asserting God as "God of gods and Lord of lords," Moses confronts the polytheistic context of the ancient Near East, establishing Yahweh as the sole supreme being, incomparable to any other claimed deity or earthly ruler. This is not just a theological statement, but a deeply practical one for a nation constantly tempted to worship other gods or put trust in human power. The descriptors "great, mighty, and awesome" articulate His overwhelming power, majesty, and holiness, inspiring both reverence and humble submission. Crucially, the verse shifts from His transcendence to His moral character: "who shows no partiality and takes no bribe." These attributes of perfect justice and incorruptibility differentiate Yahweh starkly from pagan deities, who were often thought to be appeased by material offerings or manipulated by human influence. This absolute impartiality provides assurance that His dealings, judgments, and promises are entirely just and cannot be corrupted. It serves as the ethical bedrock for Israel's own call to administer justice impartially, particularly caring for the vulnerable like the orphan, widow, and sojourner (Deu 10:18-19). This verse sets the stage for an obedient life, as love and obedience become the only appropriate response to a God so supremely powerful and perfectly just.