Deuteronomy 4 37

Deuteronomy 4:37 kjv

And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

Deuteronomy 4:37 nkjv

And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power,

Deuteronomy 4:37 niv

Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,

Deuteronomy 4:37 esv

And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,

Deuteronomy 4:37 nlt

Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power.

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 37 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:37 reveals that God's actions towards Israel – their election and deliverance from Egypt – were not based on their merit but on His unmerited, covenantal love for their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This divine love initiated His sovereign choice and was powerfully demonstrated in the Exodus, establishing Israel's unique relationship with the Most High God.

Deuteronomy 4 37 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 4 is part of Moses' grand sermon to the generation of Israelites poised to enter the Promised Land, serving as a powerful call to obedience and a foundational statement of their identity and relationship with Yahweh. Moses meticulously recounts Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness and their responsibility. Specifically, verse 37 falls within Moses' reminder that their unique status among nations, the miracles witnessed, and their deliverance from Egypt were entirely due to God's love and sovereign action, not their own merits or size. This sets up a profound theological polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations, asserting that Yahweh is the singular, powerful, and loving God who acts in history, unlike their idols. It underscores God's mighty acts to provoke Israel's faithful response and devotion.

Deuteronomy 4 37 Word analysis

• And because He loved (וַיַּעַן אֲשֶׁר אָהַב, vayya'an asher ahav):

  • Vayya'an asher: "And because," indicates cause and effect, presenting God's love as the reason for His subsequent actions.
  • Ahav (אָהַב): The verb "to love." In this context, it signifies an active, deliberate, and deeply affectionate choice that predates any worthiness on the part of the recipient. This divine love (hesed) is the ultimate initiator of God's covenant relationship with Israel.
  • Significance: It establishes divine initiative; Israel's election is an act of grace, not human earning. This refutes any self-glorification by Israel regarding their status.

• your fathers (אֲבֹתֵיכֶם, avoteykem):

  • Refers specifically to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).
  • Significance: God's covenant was first made with them, and His faithfulness extends generationally. It highlights the intergenerational aspect of God's redemptive plan and His commitment to His sworn promises. This forms the historical bedrock of Israel's identity.

• therefore He chose (וַיִּבְחַר, vayyivchar):

  • Vayyivchar: "And He chose," derived from bachar (בָּחַר), meaning "to choose" or "to elect."
  • Significance: Emphasizes God's sovereign and unconditional election. Israel was chosen out of all nations not for any inherent quality but solely due to God's will and pre-existing love. This established them as God's segulah (special treasure or possession).

• their descendants after them (זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם, zara'am achareyhem):

  • Zara'am: "their seed" or "their offspring."
  • Achareyhem: "after them" or "following them."
  • Significance: Confirms that God's choice and the benefits of the covenant extend directly from the patriarchs to their physical lineage. This highlights the continuity of the covenant promises and God's multi-generational faithfulness. It signifies that the present generation experienced redemption because of God's ancient promises.

• and brought you out (וַיּוֹצִאֲךָ, vayyotzi'akha):

  • Vayyotzi'akha: "And He brought you out," from yatsa (יָצָא), "to go out," "to come forth," or "to bring forth."
  • Significance: Points directly to the Exodus, the pivotal saving event in Israel's history. This act of liberation serves as the foundational demonstration of God's power, justice, and covenant faithfulness. It defined Israel's national existence.

• with His presence (בְּפָנָיו, b'fanayv):

  • B'fanayv: "With His face" or "before His face." The term panim (פָּנִים) literally means "face," but in this context, it signifies direct, personal involvement and presence, often associated with the Shekinah glory of God.
  • Significance: This is not merely an action performed by God but implies God's personal, intimate, and powerful intervention. It distinguishes Yahweh from other deities who were perceived as distant or requiring intermediaries, highlighting His active participation in the redemption.

• with His great power (בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדוֹל, b'kocho haggadol):

  • B'kocho: "With His strength/power," from koach (כֹּחַ).
  • Haggadol: "the great," an adjective emphasizing the immense scale and magnitude of God's might.
  • Significance: Highlights the overwhelming and irresistible nature of God's power, capable of overcoming any obstacle, especially the mighty Egyptian empire and Pharaoh. This attribute instills awe and removes any notion of human ability or strength playing a role in their deliverance.

• from Egypt (מִמִּצְרָיִם, mimitzrayim):

  • Mimitzrayim: "from Egypt."
  • Significance: Identifies the place of their severe bondage, humiliation, and idolatry. It signifies complete liberation from a state of oppression into freedom and serves as a powerful symbol of redemption from darkness and servitude.

Words-group analysis:

• "And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them...": This phrase firmly establishes God's antecedent love and sovereign choice as the twin foundations for Israel's special status. It explicitly states that Israel's election is not due to their own merit, but to God's unwavering faithfulness to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs. This counters any sense of Israelite boasting or perceived earned righteousness.
• "...and brought you out with His presence, with His great power from Egypt,": This clause describes the historical, tangible demonstration of that love and choice through the Exodus. It highlights the divine, miraculous nature of their liberation, emphasizing that God personally and powerfully intervened. The deliverance was utterly an act of divine might, rendering human effort irrelevant. This serves as the primary evidence of Yahweh's unique identity as the living and acting God, setting Him apart from the impotent gods of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 4 37 Bonus section

This verse forms a cornerstone of Deuteronomic theology, frequently reiterating the divine initiative and unmerited favor that characterize God's covenant with Israel. The repetition of these themes throughout Deuteronomy is a pedagogical strategy to prevent Israel from developing pride or relying on self-righteousness, ensuring their fidelity remains rooted in grateful response to God's hesed. It prefigures the New Testament concept of salvation by grace through faith, showing that even in the Old Covenant, the foundation of relationship with God was His unconditional love.

Deuteronomy 4 37 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:37 acts as a foundational theological statement for Israel, encapsulating the essence of their unique relationship with God. It asserts that God's loving initiative, demonstrated through His unmerited love for their ancestors, was the sole basis for their election as His chosen people. This concept directly challenges any notion that Israel earned their status through merit or numerical strength. Their distinctiveness stemmed purely from divine grace.

The verse then points to the quintessential event proving this love and choice: the Exodus. Moses explicitly highlights that this deliverance was accomplished not by human strength or diplomatic maneuvering, but "with His presence, with His great power." This means God Himself, in His full, unhindered might, directly intervened. This emphasis on God's personal and overwhelming power serves several critical purposes: it humbles Israel, reminding them of their dependence; it establishes God's unique sovereignty over all creation and all other purported deities (a strong polemic against the pantheon of Egypt and Canaan); and it reassures them of His continued ability to deliver and guide.

In essence, Deut 4:37 grounds Israel's identity and future security in God's historical faithfulness and overwhelming power, rooted in His prior covenant love. This historical memory becomes the compelling reason for their ongoing obedience and devotion, for if God so acted on their behalf with such love and power, how could they do anything but worship Him alone?