Deuteronomy 10 21

Deuteronomy 10:21 kjv

He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:21 nkjv

He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:21 niv

He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 10:21 esv

He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:21 nlt

He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 10 verses

Deuteronomy 10 21 Meaning

Deuteronomy 10:21 declares that the Lord is the singular focus of Israel's praise and worship, establishing His identity as their God. This worship is grounded not in abstract belief but in the tangible, powerful, and awe-inspiring acts He has visibly performed on their behalf throughout their history. It serves as a reminder that Israel’s loyalty and reverence are a direct response to God’s unmatched deeds and covenant faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 10 21 Context

Deuteronomy 10:21 stands within Moses' second discourse to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, before their entry into Canaan. This section (Deut 10:12-22) is a call to covenant fidelity, emphasizing genuine inward obedience rather than mere external conformity. Moses reiterates what the Lord requires: fear of God, walking in His ways, loving Him, serving Him with all heart and soul, and keeping His commandments. Verse 21 provides the profound reason and motivation for these demands: God's character and His mighty saving acts are the basis for Israel's exclusive devotion and praise. It recalls the recent past, the foundational events of the Exodus, the Sinai covenant, and the wilderness journey, all witnessed directly by the people. This call for exclusive loyalty contrasts sharply with the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations and the lure of idol worship.

Deuteronomy 10 21 Word analysis

• He: Refers directly to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes God's personal and active involvement in the lives of His people, identifying Him as the unique subject of the entire declaration.

• is your praise (תְּהִלָּתֶךָ, tehillatekha): Literally "He is your praise" or "He is your renown." This means God Himself is the object, the subject, and the reason for Israel's praise. He is the one worthy of all adoration and the source of any glory or esteem Israel might have. He is also the one whom Israel praises and boasts in among the nations, demonstrating His uniqueness and power through them.

• and He is your God (וְהוּא אֱלֹהֶיךָ, v'hu Eloheyka): This highlights the exclusive covenant relationship. YHWH is not merely a god but the personal and particular God of Israel. It asserts monotheism in practice: Israel's God is not one among many, but their sole divine allegiance. This reinforces the "first commandment" theme.

• who has done (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, 'asher asah): Indicates God's active, historical intervention. It underscores that God's identity as "praise" and "God" is not static but dynamically revealed through His concrete actions.

• for you: Emphasizes the personal and direct benefit of God's actions. These deeds were specifically performed on Israel’s behalf, for their deliverance, sustenance, and establishment as a people.

• these great (הַגְּדֹלֹת, haggedoloth): Refers to actions immense in power, scale, and effect. These deeds transcend human capability and signify God's sovereign might over all creation and nations.

• and awesome (וְהַנּוֹרָאוֹת, ve'hanno'ra'oth): Derived from the Hebrew root יָרֵא (yare') meaning "to fear" or "to revere." These are actions that inspire deep reverence, holy dread, and profound respect. They reveal God's fearful majesty and judgment, especially evident at Sinai and in the plagues.

• things: Broad term encapsulating all of God's powerful acts in their history, especially the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, the giving of the Law, the provision in the wilderness (manna, water), and the defeat of their enemies.

• which your eyes have seen (אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ, 'asher ra'u eineykha): A critical phrase emphasizing direct, personal, and collective eyewitness testimony. It is an appeal to undeniable empirical evidence. The current generation or their parents had directly observed these miracles, removing any possibility of doubt or excuse for disobedience. This first-hand experience creates a basis for accountability and confirms the reality of God's intervention.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He is your praise and He is your God": This pairing explicitly links worship ("praise") to the covenant relationship ("your God"). It encapsulates Israel's foundational identity as a people whose sole devotion is to YHWH because of who He is for them.
  • "who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen": This phrase grounds the abstract claim of God being "your praise" and "your God" in concrete, visible history. The past acts serve as indisputable proof of God's power, faithfulness, and unique nature, demanding a present response of loyal devotion. The phrase appeals to both divine sovereignty ("great and awesome") and human experience ("eyes have seen"), making faith a rational response to historical revelation.

Deuteronomy 10 21 Bonus section

The phrase "great and awesome things" (הַגְּדֹלֹת וְהַנּוֹרָאוֹת) is a significant theological motif in Deuteronomy and later Old Testament books, particularly in passages recounting God's redemptive history. It emphasizes not only the sheer scale of God's power but also the holy dread and reverence due to Him. This motif serves as a recurring reminder of the basis for Israel's covenant with YHWH, highlighting His distinction from the impotent gods of other nations (polemic against idolatry). This direct experience, as opposed to inherited tradition, gives a strong call for personal and national commitment. This verse encapsulates the Deuteronomic theme of "remembering" (זָכַר, zakhar), which is key to fostering faithfulness and preventing apostasy. It highlights God's uniqueness among all deities by contrasting His mighty deeds with the inability of other gods to act powerfully or intervene in history.

Deuteronomy 10 21 Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:21 is a succinct yet profound declaration affirming God's unique identity and His legitimate claim to Israel's exclusive allegiance. It articulates the fundamental principle that true worship (praise) is intrinsically linked to understanding God's revealed character and His demonstrable works. Moses here grounds the demands for obedience in Israel's history, not merely in a list of rules. The "great and awesome things" refer to God's unparalleled intervention in the Exodus, the Red Sea, Sinai, and the wilderness—events indelibly etched in the collective memory of the nation. The emphasis on "your eyes have seen" makes their responsibility undeniable; they cannot feign ignorance of God's power and faithfulness. This verse functions as a powerful summary of God's salvific acts and a foundational reason for Israel's grateful, obedient, and worshipful response. It reinforces that Israel’s glory and source of honor lie in their God, not in human strength or pagan deities. This calls for remembering, testifying, and living in light of God's miraculous provisions.