Deuteronomy 4 10

Deuteronomy 4:10 kjv

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Deuteronomy 4:10 nkjv

especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

Deuteronomy 4:10 niv

Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children."

Deuteronomy 4:10 esv

how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.'

Deuteronomy 4:10 nlt

Never forget the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, 'Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.'

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:10 recalls the foundational event at Mount Horeb (Sinai), emphasizing that God's direct revelation to Israel served two primary purposes: for the people themselves to intimately hear His words and thereby cultivate a lifelong, reverent fear of Him, and critically, to instill the same truth and reverence into succeeding generations, ensuring the continuity of faith and obedience. This verse underscores the divine intent behind the Law-giving – not merely as rules, but as a living encounter shaping their very existence and lineage.

Deuteronomy 4 10 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 4 is part of Moses’ first discourse to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This address serves as a vital rehearsal and exhortation of the Law, given to a new generation that had not personally witnessed the Exodus or the original covenant at Mount Horeb. Moses reviews their history, particularly emphasizing the unique nature of God’s direct revelation at Horeb, where He spoke to them from the fire without any form or image. Verse 10 specifically recalls this pivotal moment to impress upon the current generation the solemnity and divine origin of the commands they are about to renew and obey. The context highlights Israel's unique relationship with God as His chosen people, whose identity and existence are fundamentally shaped by the Law and their corporate, awe-filled encounter with their Creator. This chapter powerfully warns against idolatry and stresses obedience as the key to national blessing and long life in the land.

Deuteronomy 4 10 Word analysis

• The day that you stood: This phrase refers to the momentous, singular event at Mount Horeb, emphasizing its historical and theological significance as a collective experience. It highlights Israel's unique privilege of direct encounter with God.
• before the Lord your God: Signifies direct presence and confrontation with the divine. It conveys a sense of accountability and worship in His presence, as they were set apart as His covenant people.
• in Horeb: The biblical name for Mount Sinai. This location is sacred and central to Israelite identity, where the covenant was made and the Ten Commandments were given. Its mention anchors the event in history.
• when the Lord said to me: Establishes Moses' mediatorial role. God communicated His will through Moses, bridging the gap between a holy God and the people. This highlights divine initiative in establishing the relationship.
• Assemble the people: The Hebrew verb is הַקְהֵל (haqhel), meaning to gather, call an assembly. This implies a formal, commanded, public gathering for a significant purpose, setting a precedent for future assemblies to hear the Law.
• that I may let them hear My words: This clarifies God's primary purpose for the assembly: direct divine revelation. It wasn't just to see signs, but to hear the spoken commands, grounding their faith in auditory perception of truth, contrasting with visual idols.
• so that they may learn: Indicates a pedagogical intent. God’s revelation is for instruction and formation, not just for awe. Learning implies cognitive understanding and application.
• to fear Me: The Hebrew יָרֵא (yare) implies profound reverence, awe, and respect for God's holiness and power, coupled with obedience to His commands. It's not terror of punishment but a proper and worshipful understanding of who God is, which naturally leads to faithful living.
• all the days that they live on the earth: This signifies the lasting, perpetual, and existential nature of the "fear of the Lord." It is not a temporary emotional response but a continuous, defining characteristic of their life, impacting every aspect and spanning their entire existence.
• and that they may teach their children: This specifies the intergenerational mandate. The purpose of the Horeb revelation extends beyond the immediate generation, necessitating faithful transmission of God’s word and the "fear of the Lord" to future descendants. This is crucial for covenant continuity.

• "Hear My words... learn to fear Me... teach their children": This group of phrases highlights the central pedagogical chain: God speaks directly, people hear and learn reverent obedience, and then they pass this vital knowledge and lifestyle to the next generation. It shows the comprehensive and enduring purpose of the divine revelation.

Deuteronomy 4 10 Bonus section

The event at Horeb, as highlighted in Dt 4:10, marked Israel as unique among ancient nations. Unlike other peoples who interacted with their gods through idols, dreams, or indirect means, Israel directly heard the voice of the one true God speaking from fire. This direct audible communication served to utterly eliminate any excuse for image-making, solidifying the invisible and transcendent nature of their God (as explicitly commanded in the preceding verses of Dt 4). The mandate to "fear Me" and "teach their children" also speaks to a distinctive Hebrew pedagogical approach—faith and obedience were to be actively transmitted through domestic life, daily discourse, and communal gatherings, fostering a lived theology rather than a purely ceremonial or ritualistic religion. This generational transmission was deemed essential for their continued blessing and existence as a nation, underscoring the communal and perpetual nature of God's covenant with them.

Deuteronomy 4 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:10 is a potent summary of the Sinai covenant's essence and enduring purpose. It re-establishes for the new generation entering Canaan the unique privilege and profound responsibility that came with their direct encounter with God at Horeb. This was not a mere historical event but a formative, identity-shaping experience wherein God revealed Himself through spoken word, demanding and cultivating a "fear" that transcended mere terror. This fear, rooted in reverent awe and obedience to a holy God, was intended to be the continuous governing principle for every Israelite, permeating all aspects of their lives for all their days on earth. Crucially, the verse mandates that this fear, born of hearing God's words, is not to be confined to one generation. It is a sacred legacy to be actively taught and lived out before their children, ensuring the perpetuation of the covenant relationship. This continuity of faith through generational instruction is central to Deuteronomy's message, establishing the divine Law not merely as rules, but as the very foundation of life and heritage for God’s chosen people.