Deuteronomy 4:8 kjv
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Deuteronomy 4:8 nkjv
And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
Deuteronomy 4:8 niv
And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
Deuteronomy 4:8 esv
And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
Deuteronomy 4:8 nlt
And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?
Deuteronomy 4 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:6 | "Keep them therefore and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples..." | Torah as wisdom & testimony to nations |
| Ex 19:5-6 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be My treasured possession..." | Israel's unique covenant status |
| Psa 19:7-8 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;" | Perfection and beneficial nature of God's law |
| Psa 119:137 | "Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments." | God's judgments reflect His righteousness |
| Psa 119:172 | "My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness." | All God's commandments are righteous |
| Psa 147:19-20 | "He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation..." | God's unique revelation to Israel |
| Neh 9:13 | "You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes..." | God gave Israel righteous and good laws |
| Isa 33:22 | "For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; He will save us." | God as the ultimate judge and lawgiver |
| Rom 7:12 | "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." | The Law's inherent goodness and righteousness |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus affirms and fulfills the Law |
| Rom 3:31 | "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." | Faith upholds, not abolishes, the Law's truth |
| Rom 8:3-4 | "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us..." | Righteousness of the Law fulfilled through the Spirit in believers |
| Gal 3:24 | "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." | Law's role in guiding towards Christ |
| Rom 13:8-10 | "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." | Love as the summary and fulfillment of the Law |
| Jas 4:12 | "There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy." | God is the sole Lawgiver and Judge |
| Isa 2:3 | "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." | Future global reach of God's Law from Zion |
| Mic 4:2 | "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." | Future global adherence to God's Law |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession..." | Echoes Israel's unique status for new covenant people |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." | God's word (including the Law) is divinely inspired for righteousness |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." | God as the source of true wisdom and understanding |
Deuteronomy 4 verses
Deuteronomy 4 8 Meaning
Deuteronomy 4:8 highlights the unparalleled nature of Israel's divine law among all nations. It presents a rhetorical question, asserting that no other great nation possesses statutes and judgments as inherently righteous and just as the Torah given to Israel by God. This law reflects God's own character and is a testament to Israel's unique and privileged relationship with the Creator, offering perfect guidance for life and conduct.
Deuteronomy 4 8 Context
Deuteronomy 4 is part of Moses' second major address to the Israelites as they stand on the plains of Moab, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. This chapter serves as a passionate exhortation to obey God's commandments, emphasizing the life and blessing that comes from adherence and the severe consequences of disobedience. Verses 5-8 specifically highlight the unique privilege and profound wisdom Israel possessed due to God's direct revelation of His law. Moses explains that observing these statutes and judgments would be a public display of their wisdom and understanding to the surrounding nations, who would recognize the divine quality and righteousness of Israel's legal system, attributing it to their intimate relationship with God. Verse 8, therefore, climaxes this thought, serving as a rhetorical affirmation of the law's supreme superiority.
Deuteronomy 4 8 Word analysis
- And what great nation: This phrase is a rhetorical question designed to provoke awe and underscore Israel's unparalleled status. It implies that no other nation, regardless of its size, power, or perceived greatness, possessed what Israel had.
- is there: Emphasizes the unique and singular nature of this possession; there are no rivals or equals.
- that has: Signifies possession, implying a direct granting or a special heritage.
- statutes (חֻקִּים - chukkim): These refer to divine decrees or ordinances, often moral laws, or unexplainable rules (e.g., dietary laws, sacrificial rituals) given purely by divine authority. They are not based on human logic but on God's will, emphasizing His sovereignty as Lawgiver. They often delineate holiness and separation.
- and judgments (מִשְׁפָּטִים - mishpatim): These denote civil laws, legal rulings, and applications of justice based on ethical principles. They relate to how people should treat each other, deal with disputes, and ensure justice within society. They reflect God's character as a righteous and just judge. The pairing of chukkim and mishpatim signifies the comprehensive nature of the Torah, covering both ceremonial/religious life and social/civil life.
- so righteous (צַדִּיק - tzaddiq): This core term means just, morally correct, in conformity with a divine standard, upright, or vindicated. Applied to the statutes and judgments, it means they perfectly align with God's perfect moral nature. This is in stark contrast to human-devised legal codes (like the Code of Hammurabi), which, while advanced for their time, contained elements of injustice, arbitrariness, or lack of ultimate divine authority. God's laws are not only good for human society but fundamentally good because they originate from the Righteous One.
- as all this law (הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת - ha'Torah ha'zoth): "Torah" literally means "instruction" or "teaching." It is more expansive than just "statutes and judgments," encompassing the entire body of divine revelation given by God, including narratives, prophecies, and wisdom. It refers to the comprehensive covenant instruction that Moses was delivering. It emphasizes that this complete system is the embodiment of divine righteousness.
- which I set before you this day: This highlights the immediacy and divine origin of the law. "I" refers to Moses as God's mediator, "set before you" signifies presenting for understanding and adherence, and "this day" emphasizes its present applicability and the current opportunity to renew the covenant. It implies a direct, personal, and relevant command, not an ancient, forgotten text.
Deuteronomy 4 8 Bonus section
- The rhetorical question serves as both an exaltation of God's law and a warning against deviation. By affirming its unparalleled quality, Moses reminds Israel of the severe consequences of forsaking such a perfect standard.
- This verse sets a theological precedent that God's ways are higher than man's (Isa 55:8-9), His justice purer, and His wisdom supreme.
- The "righteousness" of the law implies it covers both cultic purity and moral uprightness, demonstrating that God's concern extended to all aspects of life, unlike many pagan deities whose influence was often limited or capricious.
- The very act of giving such a perfect law speaks volumes about the nature of God's care and love for His people, desiring their flourishing and well-being.
Deuteronomy 4 8 Commentary
Deuteronomy 4:8 powerfully underscores the unparalleled uniqueness of God's covenant with Israel. It presents a divine claim of supremacy for the Torah, contrasting it sharply with any humanly devised legal code or pagan belief system. The distinctiveness lies not merely in the comprehensiveness or organizational prowess of the laws, but in their intrinsic righteousness, derived directly from the character of God Himself. Unlike laws developed through human reason or decreed by earthly kings, Israel's law possessed perfect justice, emanating from the divine source of all justice and truth. This made Israel, paradoxically, both uniquely responsible and incredibly privileged. Their adherence to these righteous laws would not only secure their blessing but also serve as a living testimony to the world of the greatness and character of the One True God. It highlights that the relationship with Yahweh inherently produced the most superior and just societal framework known to humanity at that time, positioning Israel as a light to the nations (Deut 4:6).