Deuteronomy 4 31

Deuteronomy 4:31 kjv

(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Deuteronomy 4:31 nkjv

(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Deuteronomy 4:31 niv

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Deuteronomy 4:31 esv

For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

Deuteronomy 4:31 nlt

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 31 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:31 proclaims the steadfast character of God, assuring Israel of His unfailing compassion and commitment to His sworn covenant. Despite any potential for their failure or deviation, God, by His very nature as a merciful God, will neither abandon, destroy, nor forget the solemn promises He made to their forefathers. It highlights divine fidelity as the secure foundation of their existence and future hope.

Deuteronomy 4 31 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 4 is a powerful rhetorical address by Moses to the Israelites gathered on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. It serves as an earnest appeal for them to remember and obey the divine statutes given at Horeb (Mount Sinai). Moses emphatically reminds them of God's direct intervention at Horeb, their unique privilege as the only nation to hear God's voice directly, and the consequences of disobedience, especially idolatry. Verse 31 stands within a section (Deut 4:25-31) that anticipates Israel's future disobedience and subsequent dispersion among the nations. Even within this grim foresight of judgment and exile, Moses interjects a profound statement of hope. This hope is anchored not in Israel's fidelity, which he anticipates will fail, but solely in God's immutable character and His prior covenantal oath. It's a foundational theological truth: even in their chastisement, God's nature as merciful and covenant-keeping ensures their eventual restoration and survival as a people. It strongly refutes any contemporary belief that their gods were capricious or that human failure permanently severed divine favour; instead, Yahweh's nature provides an enduring basis for hope even through divine discipline.

Deuteronomy 4 31 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction indicates a causal or explanatory relationship. It connects the potential future judgment (mentioned in prior verses) with the underlying, unchangeable character of God that offers a path to return and restoration. It assures that even in future distress, God's mercy will be active.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the incommunicable covenant name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, faithful God who enters into relationship with His people and keeps His promises. It emphasizes His unchanging nature and active presence.
• your God (אֱלֹהֶיךָ, 'Eloheykha): The possessive suffix indicates a specific, personal, and exclusive relationship between Yahweh and Israel. It highlights that this merciful God is their God, who chose them and is bound to them by covenant.
• is a merciful (אֵל רַחוּם, 'El Rachum):
  • merciful (רַחוּם, rachum): Derived from the Hebrew root rechem, meaning "womb" or "compassion." It signifies a deep, profound, visceral pity or tender affection, like a mother for her child. This quality makes God uniquely distinct from the impersonal or demanding deities of the ancient Near East, who were often appeased rather than inherently merciful.
  • God (אֵל, 'El): A general term for God, but here combined with rachum, it portrays God's ultimate power and being as intrinsically linked to compassion.
• He will not (לֹא, lo): This is a strong negative particle, reinforcing the impossibility of the actions that follow from God's character.
• fail you (יַרְפְּךָ, yarpekha): From the root רָפָה (rapha), meaning to "let go, slacken, abandon, forsake." It means God will not weaken His hold, loosen His grasp, or abandon His commitment to them. He remains firm in His support and presence.
• nor destroy you (וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתֶךָ, v'lo yashḥiteka): From שָׁחַת (shachat), "to spoil, corrupt, ruin, annihilate." This asserts God's ultimate commitment to their preservation as a people, even if individual generations might experience judgment. Their existence as a nation is secured by divine promise.
• nor forget (וְלֹא יִשְׁכַּח, v'lo yishkakh): From שָׁכַח (shakhach), "to forget, disregard, cease to care for." This signifies God's continuous remembrance of His promises and His people, irrespective of their temporary backsliding. His memory is perfect and unwavering.
• the covenant (הַבְּרִית, ha'b'rit): The definite article "the" points to a specific, well-known, foundational pact. This refers primarily to the Abrahamic Covenant of promise (Gen 12, 15, 17) and secondarily to the Mosaic Covenant (Exod 19-24), which provides the terms for enjoying the blessings of the land within the broader Abrahamic promise. It is a solemn agreement sealed by an oath.
• of your fathers (אֲבֹתֶיךָ, avotekha): Specifically references Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This links the covenant to ancestral promises, highlighting its antiquity, permanence, and the foundational role these patriarchs played in God's redemptive plan.
• which He swore to them (אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לָהֶם, 'asher nishba lahem): Emphasizes the solemnity and unchangeable nature of the covenant. God's oath binds Him definitively; it is a promise reinforced by His divine integrity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the Lord your God is a merciful God": This opening declaration sets the theological framework. It defines the character of Israel's unique deity as one whose fundamental nature is boundless compassion, distinguishing Yahweh from capricious or vengeful gods of surrounding nations. His sovereignty is inextricably linked with His deep love.
• "He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget": This powerful triple negative provides an unbreakable guarantee of God's fidelity. "Fail," "destroy," and "forget" cover all aspects of abandonment or cessation of relationship, emphatically declaring God's sustained commitment, preservation, and remembrance. This divine steadfastness offers the ultimate security for Israel's identity and future.
• "the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them": This phrase grounds God's enduring commitment in specific, historical, and unchangeable promises. It is not an arbitrary act of kindness but the outworking of a solemnly established, ancient agreement, securing Israel's place within God's wider plan for redemption based on His unchangeable oath to the patriarchs.

Deuteronomy 4 31 Bonus section

The positioning of Deut 4:31 immediately after a dire warning of dispersion and destruction for disobedience makes its message of hope exceptionally potent. It illustrates a crucial theological principle: divine discipline, though severe, always operates within the boundaries of God's unchanging covenant promises. It is a polemic against pagan beliefs where deities could arbitrarily forsake their worshippers; Yahweh, in contrast, is fundamentally committed because of His nature and His sworn oath. This truth provided Israel, and provides believers today, an unwavering ground for future hope and return even from the direst consequences of sin, reminding them that repentance will always be met by the unceasing mercy of God who cannot forget His sworn word. The Abrahamic covenant, being unconditional and dependent solely on God's initiative and oath, serves as the ultimate bedrock for this promise.

Deuteronomy 4 31 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:31 provides profound reassurance of God's immutable character and covenant faithfulness, especially pertinent given the warnings of impending apostasy and exile earlier in the chapter. Moses presents a truth about God that transcends human unfaithfulness: His essential being is merciful (rachum), indicating a deep, almost parental, compassion that does not waiver. This quality dictates His actions – He cannot and will not ultimately abandon His people. The three emphatic negatives—"not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget"— underscore the absolute certainty of God's sustained care. This preservation is explicitly tied to "the covenant of your fathers," a reference to the irrevocable promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sealed by God's own oath. Thus, even when judgment is necessary, it is corrective and purgative, not annihilating, because God's word and His very nature secure His people's ultimate preservation and hope of restoration. This verse ensures that, no matter the consequences of their disobedience, a pathway back to divine favour remains open through repentance, rooted in God's unfailing love. For practical usage, this verse reassures believers through seasons of personal or communal hardship or discipline that God's covenant love remains the secure foundation, prompting repentance and hope, rather than despair.