Deuteronomy 32 4

Deuteronomy 32:4 kjv

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 nkjv

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4 niv

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 esv

"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 nlt

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
how just and upright he is!

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 4 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:4 declares the flawless and unchanging character of God, portraying Him as the supreme Rock. It asserts that all His actions are perfect, His dealings are founded in justice, and His very being is marked by absolute faithfulness. He is depicted as completely devoid of any perversity or unrighteousness, upholding unwavering integrity and uprightness in all His attributes and ways. This verse stands as a foundational theological statement affirming God's divine perfection as the basis for understanding His covenant, judgments, and redemption.

Deuteronomy 32 4 Context

Deuteronomy 32:4 is part of the "Song of Moses," delivered by Moses to Israel just before his death and their entry into the Promised Land. This prophetic song serves as a powerful testament and a solemn warning. Moses recounts God's benevolent actions towards Israel and contrasts it with Israel's future rebellion and unfaithfulness. Verse 4 forms the theological bedrock of the entire song, laying out the perfect and righteous character of God, which stands in stark contrast to the impending apostasy and corrupt ways of His chosen people (Deut 32:5-6). It is an assurance that God’s future judgments are not arbitrary but are a just response by a perfectly righteous and faithful God to human sin.

Deuteronomy 32 4 Word analysis

• He is the Rock (הַצּוּר - HaTzur):
  • Word: "Rock" (Tzur)
  • Analysis: This metaphor for God emphasizes His immutable nature, steadfastness, strength, and role as a secure refuge and foundation. It suggests immovability and eternal stability, particularly important for a people about to enter a volatile land and face temptations to abandon God. It is a powerful polemic against the instability and weakness of pagan gods carved from wood or stone. God, unlike the false gods, is the true, living, and unchanging Rock of salvation and defense.
• his works are perfect (תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ - tamim pa‘alo):
  • Word: "perfect" (tamim)
  • Analysis: Tamim means complete, faultless, blameless, wholesome, wholehearted, without blemish. When applied to God's works, it implies absolute integrity, flawlessness in design, execution, and outcome. Every act of God, whether creation, redemption, judgment, or preservation, is executed with complete moral and functional perfection. It underscores the absence of error, oversight, or any defect in God's divine operations.
• for all his ways are just (מִשְׂפָּט כָּל־דְּרָכָיו - mishpat kol-d'rakhav):
  • Word: "just" (mishpat)
  • Analysis: Mishpat refers to justice, judgment, equity, ordinance. God's "ways" (d'rakhav) signify His character as manifested in His dealings, governance, and moral administration of the world. This phrase asserts that every path God takes, every decision He makes, and every interaction He has is in perfect conformity with what is right and equitable. His judgments are always true and righteous.
• A God of faithfulness (אֵל אֱמוּנָה - 'El 'Emunah):
  • Word: "faithfulness" ('emunah)
  • Analysis: 'Emunah denotes steadfastness, reliability, truth, constancy, and loyalty. It speaks to God's utter dependability. He is constant in His character, unswerving in His commitments, and true to His promises, particularly His covenant with Israel. This stands in sharp contrast to human unfaithfulness, as will be highlighted in subsequent verses of the song.
• without iniquity (וְאֵין עָוֶל - v'ein 'avel):
  • Word: "iniquity" ('avel)
  • Analysis: 'Avel signifies perversity, wrongdoing, injustice, or twistedness. This strong negation emphasizes God's absolute moral purity and impeccability. There is no trace of injustice, moral twisting, or unfairness in His being or actions. This refutes any notion that God acts arbitrarily or with malevolent intent.
• just and upright is he (צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא - tzaddiq v'yashar Hu'):
  • Word: "just" (tzaddiq)
  • Analysis: Tzaddiq means righteous, conforming to a moral standard of rightness.
  • Word: "upright" (yashar)
  • Analysis: Yashar means straight, equitable, correct, morally straight.
  • Words-group: "just and upright" reinforces and strengthens the prior declarations of God's moral perfection. It reiterates that His very nature is righteousness (He is tzaddiq) and that His conduct is consistently in accordance with moral rectitude (He is yashar). It acts as a concluding, summarizing statement of His character in the verse, underscoring His unblemished integrity from every conceivable angle. This comprehensive description ensures that God is understood as totally free from blame or moral defect.

Deuteronomy 32 4 Bonus section

The deep theological significance of this verse lies in its polemical aspect, though not directly stated, against the capricious and morally flawed deities of surrounding pagan cultures. Unlike the pagan gods who were depicted as unjust, unfaithful, or imperfect, the God of Israel is presented as perfectly righteous and reliable. This truth formed a vital aspect of Israel's unique monotheistic confession. This verse also foreshadows the future covenant relationship with humanity and God's unwavering faithfulness even in light of future judgments and redemption, establishing a crucial theme of biblical theology that runs through the entire narrative of God's interaction with His creation and covenant people.

Deuteronomy 32 4 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:4 is a majestic proclamation of God’s perfect character, serving as the immutable standard against which both human failings and divine actions are to be understood. God is not merely powerful, but perfectly righteous in every attribute and act. The portrayal of Him as the "Rock" signifies His eternal stability and as the only secure foundation for life and faith. His "works are perfect" highlights His flawless execution of all He does, while His "ways are just" affirms the moral rectitude of His governance. The assertion that He is "A God of faithfulness without iniquity, just and upright" encapsulates His absolute trustworthiness, moral purity, and unwavering adherence to truth and righteousness. This foundational truth ensures that even when God brings judgment upon Israel, it is not due to His caprice or injustice, but His righteous response to their own perversity. This verse calls Israel, and all believers, to recognize the unchanging nature of the One in whom they place their trust, confirming His unwavering commitment to righteousness and His covenants, regardless of human performance. It assures believers that God always acts consistent with His perfect character.