Deuteronomy 4 1

Deuteronomy 4:1 kjv

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

Deuteronomy 4:1 nkjv

"Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:1 niv

Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:1 esv

"And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:1 nlt

"And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 1 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:1 calls the people of Israel to listen intently to and actively obey God's statutes and rules, which Moses is teaching them. The purpose of this obedience is clear: they are to live a blessed and prosperous life, and in doing so, they will be able to enter and take possession of the Promised Land that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, is giving them as an inheritance. This verse highlights the essential connection between divine instruction, human obedience, and the realization of God's covenant promises.

Deuteronomy 4 1 Context

Deuteronomy 4:1 opens the second major address of Moses to the new generation of Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This chapter immediately follows a historical recap in chapters 1-3, which reminded the people of God's faithfulness and their ancestors' disobedience during the wilderness wanderings, culminating in their exclusion from the land. This verse thus pivots from the historical past to the immediate future, presenting God's commands as the crucial prerequisite for successfully entering and thriving in the land. The broader context of Deuteronomy is a covenant renewal document, framing the Law (Torah) not merely as a set of legal stipulations, but as a path to life and blessing, fostering an intimate relationship between YHWH and His people. It implicitly warns against the pitfalls of the previous generation, stressing that obedience is non-negotiable for entering into the full inheritance of God's promises. It also sets up a stark contrast between YHWH's wise and life-giving laws and the futile, destructive practices of the nations around them.

Deuteronomy 4 1 Word analysis

• Now therefore (וְעַתָּה – və‘attāh): This conjunctive phrase serves as a logical conclusion or transition, tying the previous historical review (Deut 1-3) to the current injunction. It emphasizes the present urgency and the direct consequence of the lessons learned from history. It implies, "In light of all that has happened and been spoken..."
• listen (שְׁמַע – shema‘): Far more than merely hearing, shema‘ signifies deep, attentive listening that leads to understanding, internalizing, and ultimately, obeying. It implies active engagement, receptivity, and a commitment to action. This is a foundational verb in Deuteronomy and for Israel's relationship with God, embodying the "Shema Israel" theme.
• O Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yiśrā’ēl): A direct and personal address to the entire covenant community, identifying them as God's chosen people, the recipients of His specific instructions and promises.
• statutes (חֻקִּים – ḥuqqim): Refers to established ordinances, decrees, or fixed regulations that often imply a divine imperative, fixed by a higher authority. They are not negotiable and are often seen as principles for life or boundary markers.
• and the rules (וּמִשְׁפָּטִים – ūmišpāṭim): These are judgments or customary laws that provide specific applications or interpretations of the broader statutes. They deal with cases and societal matters, demonstrating how divine principles are to be applied in daily life and legal disputes. Together, chuqqim and mishpatim comprehensively represent the entire body of divine law given by God.
• that I am teaching you (אֲנֹכִי מְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם – ʾānōḵî məlammēḏ ʾeṯkem): Highlights Moses' role as the divinely appointed mediator and instructor. It underscores the divine origin of the law, presented through Moses. The ongoing present tense suggests that the teaching is active and present before them.
• and do them (וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם – va‘ăśîṯem ʾōṯām): This is a critical imperative for active obedience. Knowledge and listening are insufficient; performance and compliance are required. It speaks to practical implementation of the law in all areas of life.
• that you may live (לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן – ləmaʿan tiḥyûn): States the immediate and profound purpose of obedience. "Live" signifies not just mere physical existence but thriving, well-being, fullness of life, prosperity, health, and a flourishing existence in God's favor. It implies escaping divine judgment and experiencing God's blessing.
• and go in and take possession (וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם – ûvāʾṯem wîraštəem): These verbs indicate physical action: entering the land, and then acquiring and inheriting it as their own, thereby fulfilling God's long-standing covenant promises to their forefathers regarding the land.
• the land (אֶת־הָאָרֶץ – ʾeṯ-hāʾāreṣ): The specific geographical inheritance promised to Abraham's descendants. It represents the fulfillment of God's faithfulness and a place of secure dwelling and prosperity.
• that the LORD (אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה – ʾăšer Yahweh): Identifies God as Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, who is faithful to His promises. This underscores the divine guarantor of the land.
• the God of your fathers (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם – ʾĕlōhê ʾăḇōṯêḵem): Connects the present generation's experience and covenant to the historical covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It emphasizes continuity and God's unwavering faithfulness across generations.
• is giving you (נֹתֵן לָכֶם – nōṯēn lāḵem): Stresses the land as a gracious, sovereign gift from God, not something earned by their merit. The present participle "is giving" implies a continuing act of provision and gift-giving as they step into it.

Deuteronomy 4 1 Bonus section

• This verse encapsulates a crucial theme in Deuteronomy: the conditional nature of Israel's staying in the land. While the land was an unconditional gift promised to their ancestors, their continued possession and flourishing within it were dependent on their obedience to the covenant laws. This distinguishes their entering from their remaining.
• The phrase "that you may live" has significant ethical and theological implications beyond mere physical existence. It refers to a life in full communion and blessing with the Living God, reflecting His own life and character. Disobedience, conversely, leads to a spiritual and often physical "death" in terms of separation from God's favor and blessing.
• Deuteronomy 4, beginning with this verse, emphasizes the uniqueness of YHWH's laws and wisdom among the nations, positioning Israel as a light to the world not through military might but through their distinctive walk with God.
• The connection between listening (Shema) and doing (Asah) is vital throughout the Old Testament and continues into the New Testament where Jesus highlights the importance of being "doers of the word and not hearers only" (Jas 1:22). It reflects that true faith always leads to obedience.

Deuteronomy 4 1 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:1 serves as a foundational call to obedience, succinctly presenting the core theological premise of the Mosaic covenant: listen, obey, live. Moses' exhortation begins with an urgent "Now therefore listen," signifying a moment of crucial decision after the review of history. The "listening" demanded (shema‘) is active and comprehensive, not merely auditory reception but an attentive heedfulness leading to action. Israel is to internalize God's "statutes" (fixed, foundational principles) and "rules" (specific applications of those principles), encompassing the entire divine instruction. The law is not burdensome but a means to "live," which implies a flourishing existence, blessed by God, secure from danger, and filled with well-being—the antithesis of the "death" or spiritual desolation associated with disobedience. This flourishing life culminates in their ability to "go in and take possession" of the Promised Land, a direct fulfillment of the ancient covenant promise to Abraham. The repeated emphasis on "the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you" highlights divine grace, covenant fidelity, and continuity. The land is a gift, and the law is the instruction for how to live rightly within that gift. The verse implicitly carries a strong polemic against the ways of surrounding pagan nations, whose practices led to death and expulsion, unlike the path of life offered by YHWH. The call to obedience for life and inheritance resonates deeply through the Old Testament and finds its ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament's call to obey Christ's words for eternal life and inheritance in the heavenly Kingdom.