Deuteronomy 4:44 kjv
And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
Deuteronomy 4:44 nkjv
Now this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 4:44 niv
This is the law Moses set before the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 4:44 esv
This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 4:44 nlt
This is the body of instruction that Moses presented to the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 4 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 21:1 | "Now these are the rules that you shall set before them." | Moses setting rules/laws |
| Lev 26:46 | "These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the LORD gave..." | God's comprehensive law |
| Num 36:13 | "These are the commandments and the ordinances that the LORD commanded..." | God's commands through Moses |
| Deut 1:5 | "Moses began to explain this law, saying..." | Moses explains the Law |
| Deut 4:1 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you..." | Call to obey the teaching |
| Deut 4:5 | "See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me..." | Moses transmitting God's commands |
| Deut 4:8 | "And what great nation is there that has statutes and rules so righteous..." | Uniqueness of Israel's divine law |
| Deut 5:31 | "But you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments..." | God speaks commands directly to Moses |
| Deut 6:1 | "Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded..." | Introduction to core commandments |
| Ps 1:2 | "...his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." | Love for God's Law |
| Ps 19:7-8 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul..." | Perfection and benefit of God's Law |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's word as guidance |
| Prov 3:1 | "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments..." | Importance of remembering divine instruction |
| Isa 8:20 | "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word..." | The Law as ultimate authority |
| Jer 31:33 | "I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | New Covenant: Law written on hearts |
| Mal 4:4 | "Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and rules..." | Last Old Testament prophet affirms Mosaic Law |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets..." | Christ fulfills the Law |
| John 1:17 | "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." | Law through Moses, Grace through Christ |
| Rom 3:20 | "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight..." | Law reveals sin, not salvation |
| Rom 7:12 | "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." | Goodness and holiness of the Law |
| Gal 3:24 | "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came..." | Law as a guide to Christ |
| Heb 3:5 | "Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house..." | Moses as a faithful servant |
| Deut 6:7 | "You shall teach them diligently to your children..." | Mandate to teach the Law |
| Neh 8:8 | "They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear..." | Later generations teaching the Law |
Deuteronomy 4 verses
Deuteronomy 4 44 Meaning
Deuteronomy 4:44 declares that the instructions, statutes, and judgments that follow were formally presented by Moses to the people of Israel. It serves as a declarative preface, signifying the commencement of a detailed reiteration and exposition of the divine Law given by God through Moses, forming the core of their covenant responsibilities and guiding their life in the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 4 44 Context
Deuteronomy 4:44 stands as a significant pivot point within the book of Deuteronomy. It concludes Moses' lengthy historical recollection and theological discourse (chapters 1-4), which reminded Israel of God's past faithfulness, their covenant responsibilities, and the severe consequences of disobedience. Specifically, verse 44 introduces the detailed exposition of the Mosaic Law that dominates the rest of the book (chapters 5-26), often referred to as the Deuteronomic Code. Moses, speaking to the new generation on the plains of Moab just before entering Canaan, emphasizes that these are not merely human regulations but divine instructions directly from God. This setting on the threshold of the Promised Land underscores the vital importance of understanding and adhering to this "Torah" as foundational for their success, blessings, and continued covenant relationship with Yahweh.
Deuteronomy 4 44 Word analysis
- וְזֹאת (V'zot): "And this," or "Now this." This word serves as a conjunction, connecting the preceding historical and hortatory material (chapters 1-4) to the forthcoming legislative body of the book. It signals a formal transition and introduction, marking the beginning of a new, central segment of Moses' address.
- הַתּוֹרָה (ha'Torah): "The law," "the instruction," "the teaching." From the root yarah (to throw, direct, teach), Torah is more comprehensive than a mere legal code. It encompasses divine guidance, principles for living, statutes, judgments, and commands, representing God's benevolent self-revelation and blueprint for a flourishing life in covenant with Him. Its definite article "ha-" ("the") points to a specific, well-known body of instruction already given through Moses.
- אֲשֶׁר (Asher): "That," "which." A relative pronoun connecting "the Torah" to the action performed by Moses, specifying it as the one "that" he set before them.
- שָׂם (Sam): "Set," "placed," "appointed," "laid down," "put before." (from the verb sim). This verb signifies a deliberate, authoritative, and formal act of presentation. It implies that Moses did not merely speak incidentally but formally and officially "laid down" these instructions for their clear comprehension and binding obedience. It conveys the authority and weight behind the act.
- מֹשֶׁה (Moshe): "Moses." The divinely appointed mediator, prophet, and leader through whom God delivered the Law to Israel. His name highlights his unparalleled role in Old Testament history as the primary human instrument in establishing the covenant. It underscores the divine authority behind the laws, as they came through God's chosen representative.
- לִפְנֵי (Lifney): "Before," "in the presence of," "to." This preposition signifies a public and explicit presentation. It was made accessible for all Israel to hear, understand, and bear witness to, emphasizing accountability and communal responsibility.
- בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (B'nei Yisrael): "The sons of Israel," or "the people of Israel." Refers to the entire nation, the covenant community. It emphasizes that the Law was given for the benefit and governance of the entire assembly, not just a select few, requiring the collective and individual commitment of every member.
Words-group analysis
- וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂם מֹשֶׁה: This phrase functions as an emphatic introduction, essentially saying, "And this very instruction that Moses personally presented." It links the identity of the Law directly to Moses' authoritative act as God's mediator, solidifying its divine origin and the unique circumstances of its promulgation. It highlights the Law as God's specific gift, revealed through His chosen servant.
- שָׂם מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: This grouping emphasizes the formal, public, and deliberate act of presenting the divine Law. Moses, in his divinely appointed role, publicly and clearly laid out God's commands before the entire community of Israel. This public act ensured that all the people were made aware of their covenant obligations, making them collectively responsible and accountable for their adherence to the "Torah."
Deuteronomy 4 44 Bonus section
- Covenant Renewal: Deuteronomy, including this verse, functions as a formal covenant renewal document for the new generation entering the land, patterned after ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, with Yahweh as the great King and Israel as His vassal. This "setting forth" of the law reinforces the terms of that relationship.
- A Second Giving: While not new laws, Moses' "setting forth" (Deuteronomy means "second law" or "repetition of the law") here involves an exposition and explanation suited for a generation about to face new challenges in Canaan, emphasizing practical application and the spirit of the Law.
- Foundation for Later Books: The Law "set before" Israel in Deuteronomy became the foundational theological and legal framework for the subsequent books of the Old Testament (Joshua through 2 Kings), often serving as the standard by which Israel's and its leaders' obedience or disobedience was judged.
Deuteronomy 4 44 Commentary
Deuteronomy 4:44 is a crucial verse because it functions as the literary bridge between the exhortational preamble (Deut 1-4) and the heart of the Deuteronomic Law (Deut 5-26). It's a precise, formal declaration marking the point at which Moses begins the "setting before" — or authoritative re-presenting — of God's Torah to the new generation of Israelites. This wasn't merely a recounting of historical events or moral advice, but the authoritative establishment of God's covenant instructions for their future in the Promised Land. The term "Torah" here is comprehensive, encompassing all God's wisdom, statutes, judgments, and principles. By attributing this directly to Moses, the verse firmly asserts the divine authority and enduring significance of the following commands, impressing upon the people the absolute necessity of obedience for their blessings, life, and unique identity as God's chosen people.