Deuteronomy 9:4 kjv
Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deuteronomy 9:4 nkjv
"Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land'; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you.
Deuteronomy 9:4 niv
After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you.
Deuteronomy 9:4 esv
"Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you.
Deuteronomy 9:4 nlt
"After the LORD your God has done this for you, don't say in your hearts, 'The LORD has given us this land because we are such good people!' No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way.
Deuteronomy 9 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 9:5 | Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart... but for the wickedness of these nations... | Direct contextual clarification. |
| Deut 9:6 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land... for your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. | Reinforces Israel's unworthiness. |
| Deut 7:7-8 | It was not because you were more numerous than any other people... but because the LORD loved you... | Israel's election based on God's love, not merit. |
| Gen 15:16 | ...in the fourth generation they shall come back here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. | God's timing for judgment of nations. |
| Lev 18:24-25 | Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become defiled... the land vomited out its inhabitants. | Canaanite wickedness led to expulsion. |
| Psa 44:3 | For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm bring them victory... but by Your right hand... | God's power brings victory, not human strength. |
| Isa 64:6 | We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. | Human righteousness is insufficient. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me... | Boasting should be in God alone. |
| Hab 2:4 | The righteous shall live by his faith. | Contrasts with self-righteousness. |
| Luke 18:9-14 | Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The tax collector, who humbled himself, was justified. | Against self-righteous pride. |
| Rom 3:20 | For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight. | Righteousness not from works. |
| Rom 3:27 | Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by a law of faith. | Excludes human boasting in salvation. |
| Rom 4:2 | For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. | Abraham's justification was by faith, not works. |
| Rom 9:11-13 | ...in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls... | God's choice is sovereign, not based on merit. |
| 1 Cor 1:29 | ...so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. | God orchestrates humility in salvation. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. | Salvation is entirely God's gift. |
| Tit 3:5 | He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy... | God's mercy is the basis of salvation. |
| Rev 15:3-4 | Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! | Acknowledging God's just judgments. |
| Psa 78:54-55 | He brought them to His sacred territory... and drove out nations before them... | God's act of bringing Israel to the land. |
| Neh 9:7-8 | You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram... and brought him to the land to give it to him. | God's choice and leading from Abraham onwards. |
| Deut 8:17-18 | You may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' But remember the LORD your God... | Similar warning against pride over wealth. |
| Psa 115:1 | Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! | Giving all glory to God alone. |
Deuteronomy 9 verses
Deuteronomy 9 4 Meaning
Deuteronomy 9:4 is a profound warning from Moses to the Israelites, preventing them from attributing their future conquest of the land of Canaan to their own moral goodness or righteousness. It explicitly states that Israel’s success in dispossessing the nations inhabiting the land will not be due to their own merit, but rather solely because of the egregious wickedness of those nations. This verse underscores God's righteous judgment against sin and His sovereign hand in fulfilling His promises, emphasizing that the inheritance of the land is a gift based on divine justice and grace, not human worthiness.
Deuteronomy 9 4 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 9 serves as a crucial theological discourse within Moses' final speeches to Israel before their entry into the Promised Land. The preceding chapters (especially 7 and 8) emphasize God's covenant faithfulness and Israel's call to obedience, yet Moses knows the human heart's propensity towards pride and self-exaltation. This verse directly follows Moses’ declaration that they are about to cross the Jordan and dispossess nations "greater and mightier" than themselves (Deut 9:1-3). Therefore, to prevent any misconception of their privileged status, Moses pre-emptively debunks any notion of their own righteousness as the reason for their success. The chapter then continues with vivid examples of Israel's past rebellions and stubbornness (like the golden calf incident), further driving home the point that they are inherently undeserving. This context is essential as it grounds the divine gift of the land in God's character (justice and grace), not in Israel's merit, thereby preserving God's glory and humbling the people.
Deuteronomy 9 4 Word analysis
- Do not say in your heart: (אַל־תֹּאמַר בִּלְבָבֶךָ, ’al-tomar bilvavekha). The Hebrew levav (heart) denotes the core of a person’s being, including intellect, will, emotions, and conscience. "Saying in your heart" signifies an internal thought, a deep-seated conviction, or a secret belief, rather than an outward vocalization. This points to the subtle and insidious nature of spiritual pride, which can reside unseen within one's inner thoughts. It’s a warning against self-deception and arrogant self-attribution.
- after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you: (horisham Yehovah Elohekha mip’paneikha). "Thrust out" (horish) means to dispossess, to drive out forcefully, emphasizing a complete and decisive action. The agent is clearly identified as "the LORD your God" (Jehovah Elohim), underscoring divine sovereignty and intervention. "Before you" signifies that God is clearing the way for them, indicating His active and direct involvement in preparing the path for Israel's inheritance.
- ‘Because of my righteousness: (b’tsidkati). This phrase encapsulates the central false assumption the verse combats. "Righteousness" (tsedaqah) implies moral rectitude, deservingness, or blamelessness. The possessive pronoun "my" signifies a claim of personal merit or spiritual superiority. This is the core error: attributing divine favor or success to one's own deserving qualities.
- the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’: Again, recognizing God's role in the outcome, but falsely imputing the reason to Israel's supposed goodness. It exposes how pride can subtly acknowledge God's power while subtly diverting the glory for the reason for His action to oneself.
- whereas the LORD has thrust out these nations before you: (ki virish’at hagoyim ha’elleh Yehovah Elohekha morishim mip’paneikha). This strong adversative conjunction (ki im) introduces the true reason, setting up a direct contrast with Israel's false premise. It reiterates divine agency in the expulsion.
- because of their wickedness: (birish’at). "Wickedness" (risha') denotes profound moral depravity, ungodliness, guilt, and evil. This is the crucial counter-statement to "because of my righteousness." It asserts that God's action is primarily an act of judgment against the inhabitants' gross sin, rather than an act of reward for Israel's virtue. This demonstrates God's character as a just judge, who holds all nations accountable for their actions, and that His mercy towards Israel did not override His holiness in punishing profound iniquity.
Deuteronomy 9 4 Bonus section
The theological principle embedded in Deuteronomy 9:4—that God's blessings and judgments are rooted in His character (righteousness and mercy), not in human deservingness—forms a foundational truth carried through the entire biblical narrative. This passage functions as a polemic against the notion of "chosenness" being an entitlement earned by human goodness, thus preserving the absolute sovereignty of God in election and His unfathomable grace. This prophetic warning by Moses reveals a timeless understanding of the fallen human heart’s capacity for pride, a sin that God consistently resists. The land, representing God's presence and blessing, serves as an object lesson for Israel, and later, for all believers, demonstrating that any enjoyment of God’s good gifts is due to His benevolence and not to our works, echoing the New Testament emphasis on salvation by grace through faith.
Deuteronomy 9 4 Commentary
Deuteronomy 9:4 stands as a profound theological anchor, pre-empting the inevitable human inclination towards spiritual pride following success. Moses’ warning is not merely a caution against a verbal boast but targets a deeply rooted internal attitude: the self-deceptive belief that one has earned divine favor or blessing through personal merit. This conviction would distort Israel’s understanding of God’s character, undermine the very basis of their covenant relationship, and foster an idolatrous self-reliance. The true reason for their imminent success, as unequivocally stated, lies not in their inherent goodness—for they are repeatedly described as stubborn and rebellious—but in the severe moral corruption and heinous practices of the Canaanite nations. God’s act of dispossessing the Canaanites is thus primarily an execution of His righteous judgment on persistent wickedness, and secondarily, the faithful fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deut 9:5). This verse powerfully dismantles the idea of human works-righteousness as a basis for God's blessings, pointing instead to God's sovereign justice and unmerited favor.
Examples for practical usage:
- A believer should not attribute success in ministry or spiritual growth solely to their own discipline or talent, but acknowledge it as God's grace empowering them.
- When receiving blessings (health, provision, opportunities), one should resist the thought, "I deserve this," and instead offer gratitude, recognizing God's favor and not personal merit.
- Any achievement should lead to humility, acknowledging God's enablement rather than fostering pride or self-satisfaction.