Deuteronomy 3 24

Deuteronomy 3:24 kjv

O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

Deuteronomy 3:24 nkjv

'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?

Deuteronomy 3:24 niv

"Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?

Deuteronomy 3:24 esv

'O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

Deuteronomy 3:24 nlt

'O Sovereign LORD, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do?

Deuteronomy 3 verses

Deuteronomy 3 24 Meaning

Deuteronomy 3:24 expresses Moses' heartfelt prayer to the Lord God, acknowledging God's unique greatness and powerful acts, emphasizing that no other deity in heaven or on earth can compare to Him in might or deed. It signifies Moses' recognition of God's unparalleled sovereignty and omnipotence, realizing that God has only begun to reveal the full extent of His power through His actions for Israel.

Deuteronomy 3 24 Context

Deuteronomy 3:24 is part of a passionate prayer by Moses to God, pleading for permission to enter the Promised Land. This plea occurs shortly before his death and follows the account of the conquests east of the Jordan River. Moses reminds God of the significant victories He has granted Israel, particularly against Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan. By acknowledging God's power and beginning to "show Your servant Your greatness," Moses is strategically invoking God's past faithfulness and present might as a basis for his appeal, subtly hinting that God, who has already done so much, should complete His work by allowing Moses to cross the Jordan. The immediate context of Deuteronomy chapter 3 details the victories, the distribution of land, and then Moses' personal request and God's firm refusal. Historically, this prayer occurs after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, as the Israelites stand on the threshold of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 3 24 Word analysis

• O Lord God: (Hebrew: Adonai Yahweh/Elohim - אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה or אֱלֹהִים). Adonai (Lord) denotes absolute sovereignty and mastery, often used in a prayerful context instead of the divine, ineffable name YHWH. Elohim (God) is a general plural noun for God, sometimes translated as "gods," but here indicating the supreme, universal God, reinforcing His might and comprehensive dominion. The combination Adonai Elohim emphasizes God's majesty and sovereign power as addressed by a worshiper.
• You have begun: (Hebrew: Hechilota - הַחִלּוֹתָ). This signifies the commencement of a continuous, ongoing process. Moses implies that the mighty works God has done are just the initial revealings of His greater power yet to be fully manifested. It speaks to God's initiative and unfolding plan.
• to show Your servant: (Hebrew: Laha'arot Avdekha - לְהַרְאוֹת עַבְדֶּךָ). God's revelation is personal to Moses ("Your servant"), highlighting the special relationship he shares with God. The purpose is for Moses to perceive and understand God's attributes. "Servant" is a title of honor and trust bestowed upon those faithfully carrying out God's will (e.g., Moses, Joshua, David).
• Your greatness: (Hebrew: Gadlekha - גָּדְלֶךָ). Refers to the immensity, majesty, and magnanimity of God. It encapsulates His infinite power, supreme authority, and divine glory. It's His inherent character that makes Him distinct from all creation.
• and Your mighty hand: (Hebrew: V'yadkha HaChazakah - וְיָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה). This is a well-established metaphor in the Old Testament for God's powerful, effective action and intervention in human history. It implies irresistible power and direct, miraculous involvement, especially in deliverance and judgment.
• for what god is there: (Hebrew: Ki Mi-El - כִּי מִי-אֵל). This is a powerful rhetorical question serving as a polemic against pagan polytheism. El here is a generic term for deity. The question emphatically states that no other deity, real or imagined, possesses the qualities or performs the deeds of the God of Israel.
• in heaven or on earth: (Hebrew: Bashamayim Uv'aretz - בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ). Establishes God's universal sovereignty and omnipresence. It implies that His power and dominion are not confined to a single sphere or people, but extend throughout all creation, without exception.
• who can do such deeds: (Hebrew: Asher Ya'aseh K'ma'asekha - אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה כְמַעֲשֶׂיךָ). Refers to God's miraculous acts, interventions, and creative works, particularly those demonstrating His unique power in bringing Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. It questions if any other god has such a record of tangible, powerful accomplishments.
• and mighty works as Yours?: (Hebrew: Uv'gvorotekha - וּבִגְבוּרֹתֶיךָ). G'vurah refers to strength, power, or valor, often military might or heroic acts. This phrase reiterates the previous one, emphasizing God's exceptional acts of power and victory, making it clear that His interventions are unmatched.

Words-group analysis:

• "O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand": This phrase highlights God's initiation and continuous revelation of His unparalleled power to His chosen representative. It acknowledges God as the source of all power and the one who actively engages with His creation and servants.
• "for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such deeds and mighty works as Yours?": This is a direct challenge and theological affirmation. It refutes polytheism and implicitly declares the God of Israel as the one, true, supreme, and active deity, unparalleled in power and efficacy, ruling over all domains, both celestial and terrestrial. This declaration forms the bedrock of monotheism and Jewish theology.

Deuteronomy 3 24 Bonus section

The prayer of Moses here, specifically in Dt 3:23-29, serves as a poignant example of persistent prayer to God even in the face of what appears to be a fixed divine decree. Although God ultimately denied Moses entry into the land, this prayer wasn't in vain. It allowed Moses to express his heart and deepened his understanding of God's character and sovereignty. It emphasizes that while God is unchangeable in His nature and ultimate purpose, sincere, submissive prayer still has a place in His economy. It highlights the principle that true prayer acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty ("Lord God... your greatness and your mighty hand") before expressing personal desires. This passage also subtly foreshadows the future, as only Christ, the ultimate "servant," would fully bring His people into their ultimate inheritance (Heb 4).

Deuteronomy 3 24 Commentary

Deuteronomy 3:24 encapsulates a profound theological truth amidst a personal plea. Moses' prayer, though seeking a personal outcome (entry into the Promised Land), pivots on a magnificent affirmation of God's unmatched nature. It's a spontaneous outpouring of recognition from a man who has witnessed God's "mighty hand" firsthand in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and throughout the wilderness.

The phrase "You have begun to show" is crucial; it suggests that despite the monumental deeds already accomplished, Moses understands that God's power and greatness are so infinite that He has only scratched the surface of what He can reveal and perform. This fosters both awe and a deep trust in God's ongoing capacity to act. The rhetorical question about other gods serves as a foundational monotheistic statement, contrasting the true God with the impotent idols and local deities of the surrounding nations. It's not merely a rhetorical flourish but a polemical declaration asserting Yahweh's absolute singularity and supremacy in both creation and salvific history. There is no comparable being, no rival power, in any realm. This confession of God's unrivaled power and unique deity stands as a core tenet for Israel and for all believers. For us, it reminds us to focus solely on the true God in worship and trust, for no other can save, no other can empower, and no other is worthy of such devotion. It grounds our hope and assurance in His unparalleled capability to perform His will and fulfill His promises.