Deuteronomy 4:14 kjv
And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Deuteronomy 4:14 nkjv
And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.
Deuteronomy 4:14 niv
And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
Deuteronomy 4:14 esv
And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.
Deuteronomy 4:14 nlt
It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
Deuteronomy 4 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 24:12 | The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me... and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment which I have written, that you may teach them." | Moses as recipient and teacher of the Law |
| Num 12:7-8 | "My servant Moses... He is faithful in all My house. With him I speak mouth to mouth..." | Moses' unique direct relationship with God |
| Deut 5:31 | "But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments... that you may teach them..." | Reiteration of Moses' mediatorial teaching role |
| Lev 26:46 | These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between Himself and the children of Israel by the hand of Moses... | Law given via Moses |
| Deut 4:1 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you... that you may live..." | Call to obey the taught laws for life |
| Deut 4:6 | "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." | Israel's distinctiveness through their laws |
| Deut 6:1 | "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them..." | Direct purpose of teaching is observance |
| Deut 6:7 | "You shall teach them diligently to your children..." | Emphasis on intergenerational teaching |
| Deut 8:1 | "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land..." | Obedience to laws ensures land possession |
| Deut 11:8-9 | "You shall therefore keep every commandment... that you may be strong and go in and possess the land..." | Connection of keeping commands to possessing land |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you..." | Joshua's commission linked to Mosaic Law |
| Psa 19:7-11 | The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul... | The perfection and benefit of God's law |
| Psa 119:98 | Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies... | The wisdom derived from God's commands |
| Prov 3:1-2 | My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands... | General wisdom teaching adherence to law |
| Ezek 20:11 | I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which, if a man does, he will live by them. | Life offered through obedience to God's laws |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." | Christ fulfilling the Law |
| Rom 3:20 | ...for by the law is the knowledge of sin. | The law's role in revealing sin |
| Gal 3:24 | Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ... | Law as a guide to Christ |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant... I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts..." | New Covenant: Internalized Law |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | All flesh is as grass... but the word of the LORD endures forever. | The eternal nature of God's word |
Deuteronomy 4 verses
Deuteronomy 4 14 Meaning
Deuteronomy 4:14 declares God's command to Moses at Mount Horeb, entrusting him with the divine mandate to teach Israel God's revealed laws. These laws, encompassing statutes and judgments, were given with the specific purpose of guiding the people to live obediently and righteously, ensuring their secure and prosperous dwelling in the land they were about to possess.
Deuteronomy 4 14 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 4 opens with Moses reiterating God's covenant commands to Israel as they stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land. This particular verse (Deut 4:14) is nested within Moses' extensive reminder of the awe-inspiring event at Horeb (Mount Sinai), where God revealed Himself through fire but without any visible form (vv. 10-12). This served as a potent warning against idolatry and the making of images, as they saw no representation of God. Consequently, the emphasis shifts to the verbal revelation—God's direct communication through Moses. The verse directly links God's purpose for giving the Law through Moses to Israel's entry into and successful dwelling in the land, underscoring the conditional nature of their inheritance on obedience.
Deuteronomy 4 14 Word analysis
- "And the LORD" (Hebrew:
Yĕhovah/YHWH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the personal, holy, and faithful God who entered into a relationship with His people. It emphasizes the divine authority and intimate relationship from which the commands originated. - "commanded me" (Hebrew:
tzavah): Signifies a divine imperative, an authoritative order given by God to Moses. This highlights that the instruction did not originate with Moses but was a direct divine mandate, making him a commissioned agent. - "at that time": Specifically refers to the period of the covenant making and the giving of the Law at Mount Horeb/Sinai (referenced in earlier verses like Deut 4:10). It anchors the command historically to the foundational event of Israel's nationhood.
- "to teach you" (Hebrew:
lamad): More than just 'tell' or 'transmit,' it means to instruct, to cause to learn, implying thorough education and ongoing discipleship. This signifies Moses' role as a mentor and guide for the people in God's ways. - "statutes" (Hebrew:
choq/chuqqah): Often refers to divine decrees, fixed ordinances, or prescribed regulations, typically cultic, ceremonial, or immutable moral laws. These are fixed rules from a divine Legislator. - "and judgments" (Hebrew:
mishpat): Denotes justice, judicial decisions, or legal precedents, often relating to civil, social, and ethical matters. These are equitable rulings, principles for just living and social order. - "that you might perform them" (Hebrew:
la'asot): This is the crucial purpose (teleological). The laws were not given for mere intellectual assent or theoretical understanding, but for practical implementation, for living them out daily. Obedience is the central aim. - "in the land": Refers specifically to the Promised Land of Canaan. The commands were contextually given for Israel to establish and live out a righteous society in their designated territory.
- "where you are going over to possess it" (Hebrew:
yarash): Implies entering, inheriting, and taking rightful possession of the land. It links their claim and secure dwelling in the land directly to their faithful obedience to the divine statutes and judgments.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "statutes and judgments": This comprehensive pair (
choqandmishpat) signifies the full spectrum of God's law or Torah. It includes divine pronouncements fixed by revelation and principles of justice for ethical living, covering religious, civil, and moral spheres. It signifies God's complete provision for their holistic existence. - "that you might perform them in the land where you are going over to possess it": This phrase illuminates the profound interplay between covenant obedience, national identity, and geographic inheritance. The security and flourishing of Israel in their promised homeland were entirely contingent upon their active and diligent adherence to God's revealed will. Their identity as God's chosen people and their continued claim to the land were inseparable from their obedience to these very laws.
Deuteronomy 4 14 Bonus section
- The emphasis on "teaching" (למד,
lamad) signifies that God desired an educated, discerning populace, not just compliant automatons. This required Moses to transmit God's intricate laws in an understandable manner, fostering a community that valued learning God's ways (compare Deut 6:7-9). - This verse provides a crucial contrast to the pagan nations that surrounded Israel, whose laws often stemmed from human wisdom, tyranny, or perceived cosmic forces, not direct divine command for ethical living. Israel's laws were intended to set them apart as a "wise and understanding people" (Deut 4:6) due to their divine origin and ethical purity.
- The conditional nature of inheriting and remaining in the land, clearly stated here, is a pervasive theme throughout Deuteronomy and the subsequent historical books, serving as a prophetic warning of the consequences of disobedience, such as exile.
Deuteronomy 4 14 Commentary
Deuteronomy 4:14 articulates a foundational principle: God's revelation always has a purpose beyond mere knowledge. Here, the divine communication, mediated through Moses, is explicitly for the purpose of action. The "statutes and judgments" comprise the comprehensive blueprint for Israel's life, delineating ethical, moral, and cultic parameters. This divine legal system was designed not only to govern their social fabric but also to establish their unique identity as a people set apart by God. Crucially, the practical "performance" of these laws was the very condition for enjoying the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, specifically the enduring possession and prosperity in the Promised Land. This verse highlights the theocratic nature of Israel, where civil and religious laws were intertwined expressions of God's sovereignty over every facet of their national life. It underscores that spiritual truth demands practical embodiment and that the health of a community is inextricably linked to its obedience to divine principles.