Deuteronomy 4: Moses urges Israel to obey, and to make no image
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What happens?
Moses calls on Israel to keep the statutes and rules he teaches, without adding to them or taking from them, and to remember the day at Horeb when Yahweh spoke out of the fire and they saw no form. So they must not make any image or worship the sun, moon and stars; if they do, they will be scattered among the nations, but if they seek Yahweh there with all their heart, he will not forget his covenant. The chapter ends with Moses setting apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan, and an opening line for the law that follows.
Who is speaking?
Moses speaks to Israel in verses 1 to 40. In verse 10 he repeats what Yahweh said to him at Horeb, and in verse 6 he gives what the nations will say. These are Moses' words, so none of them are in gold. The narrator tells verses 41 to 49. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you.
In plain English: Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules (this Bible: ordinances) that I am teaching you, and do them, so that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
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2You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.
In plain English: Do not add to the word I command you, and do not take anything away from it, so that you keep the commandments of Yahweh your God that I command you.
Good to know: Moses says it again in : "You shall not add to it, nor take away from it." and give a warning about adding to and taking away from the words of that book.
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3Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for Yahweh your God has destroyed all the men who followed Baal Peor from among you.
In plain English: Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did at Baal Peor (or: because of Baal Peor). Yahweh your God destroyed from among you every man who followed Baal Peor.
Good to know: This is the event of , where Israel joined itself to Baal Peor and Yahweh's anger burned against them. says 24,000 died by the plague.
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4But you who were faithful to Yahweh your God are all alive today.
In plain English: But you who held fast (this Bible: were faithful) to Yahweh your God are all alive today.
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5Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it.
In plain English: Look, I have taught you statutes and rules, as Yahweh my God commanded me, so that you do them in the land you are going into to take as your own.
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6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
In plain English: Keep them and do them, because this is your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of the peoples. They will hear of all these statutes and say, "Truly this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
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7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?
In plain English: For what great nation is there that has a god as near to it as Yahweh our God is to us whenever we call on him?
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8What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you today?
In plain English: And what great nation is there that has statutes and rules as right (this Bible: righteous) as all this law that I am setting before you today?
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9Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children—
In plain English: Only be careful, and watch yourself closely (literally: guard your soul very much), so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not leave your heart as long as you live. Make them known to your children and your grandchildren,
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10the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
In plain English: the day you stood before Yahweh your God at Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, "Gather the people to me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth, and so that they may teach their children."
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11You came near and stood under the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.
In plain English: You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain. The mountain burned with fire up to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud and thick darkness.
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12Yahweh spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice.
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to you out of the middle of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but you saw no form. There was only a voice.
The Hebrew word: "Form" is temunah, which the dictionary gives as "something portioned (i.e. fashioned) out, as a shape". This Bible says "form" in 8 of the 10 verses that use it, and 5 of those 10 are in this chapter (verses 12, 15, 16, 23 and 25).
Good to know: The same word is in , where Yahweh says of Moses, "he shall see Yahweh's form". Here Moses tells the people that they saw no form at Horeb. The text gives both and does not explain more.
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13He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets.
In plain English: He told you his covenant, which he commanded you to keep: the ten commandments (literally: the ten words). He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
Good to know: In Hebrew, "the ten commandments" is "the ten words". This Bible says "ten commandments" in only 3 verses: here, and . Moses repeats the ten commandments in to .
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14Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.
In plain English: At that time Yahweh commanded me to teach you statutes and rules, so that you would do them in the land you are crossing over to take as your own.
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15Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire,
In plain English: So be very careful (literally: guard your souls very much), because you saw no form of any kind on the day Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb out of the middle of the fire.
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16lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
In plain English: Do not ruin yourselves (this Bible: corrupt yourselves) by making for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of a male or a female,
The Hebrew word: "Carved image" is pesel, which the dictionary gives as "an idol". This Bible says "image" or a longer form (images) in all 30 verses that use it. It is the word in the commandment of (this Bible: idol).
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17the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
In plain English: the likeness of any animal on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
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18the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;
In plain English: the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish in the water under the earth.
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19and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky.
In plain English: And do not lift up your eyes to the sky and look at the sun, the moon and the stars, all the army (or: host) of the sky, and be drawn away to bow down to them and serve them. Yahweh your God has given them as a share (this Bible: allotted them) to all the peoples under the whole sky.
The Hebrew word: "Allotted" is chalaq, which the dictionary gives as "to apportion or separate": to give out as shares.
Good to know: The text does not say more about what it means that Yahweh has given the sun, moon and stars to all the peoples. uses the same word of other gods that Yahweh "had not given" to Israel.
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20But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today.
In plain English: But Yahweh has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be his own people (literally: a people of inheritance), as you are today.
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21Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance;
In plain English: Yahweh was also angry with me because of you (literally: because of your words). He swore that I would not cross the Jordan and would not go into the good land that Yahweh your God is giving you as your inheritance.
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22but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land.
In plain English: I am going to die in this land. I will not cross the Jordan. But you will cross over and take possession of that good land.
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23Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you.
In plain English: Be careful not to forget the covenant Yahweh your God made with you, and not to make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything Yahweh your God has forbidden you (literally: has commanded you).
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24For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
In plain English: For Yahweh your God is a fire that burns up (this Bible: a devouring fire), a jealous God.
The Hebrew word: "Jealous" here is qanna, which the dictionary gives as "jealous". It is in only 5 verses of the Bible, always of Yahweh: here, , , and , where it says "Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God".
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25When you father children and children’s children, and you have been long in the land, and then corrupt yourselves, and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in Yahweh your God’s sight to provoke him to anger,
In plain English: When you have children and grandchildren, and you have been in the land a long time (literally: grown old in the land), if you ruin yourselves by making a carved image in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the eyes of Yahweh your God, to make him angry,
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26I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to possess it. You will not prolong your days on it, but will utterly be destroyed.
In plain English: I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will soon be wiped out from the land you are crossing the Jordan to take as your own. You will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
Good to know: Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses again in and .
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27Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Yahweh will lead you away.
In plain English: Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will be left among the nations where Yahweh drives you.
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28There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
In plain English: There you will serve gods made by human hands, wood and stone, which cannot see, hear, eat or smell.
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29But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you will find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
In plain English: But from there you will seek Yahweh your God, and you will find him, when you search for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
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30When you are in oppression, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice.
In plain English: When you are in distress and all these things have come on you, in the latter days (literally: at the end of the days; or: in days to come) you will return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice.
The Hebrew words: "In the latter days" is be'acharit hayamim, "at the end of the days". The dictionary gives acharit as "the last or end, hence, the future".
How it is translated: This Bible says "latter" in 26 of the 60 verses that use acharit, and "end" in 30. The words "latter days" are in 12 verses of this Bible; in Deuteronomy, here and in .
What changes: Read as "the latter days" or "the end of the days", the verse can point to a far-off time at the end. Read as "in days to come", it means later on, after the scattering of . The Hebrew allows both.
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31For Yahweh your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.
In plain English: For Yahweh your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you (this Bible: fail you) or destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
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32For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it?
In plain English: Ask now about the days of the past, before your time, from the day God created man on the earth, and from one end of the sky to the other: has anything as great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?
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33Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
In plain English: Did any people ever hear the voice of God (or: of a god) speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
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34Or has God tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
In plain English: Or has God (or: any god) ever tried to go and take a nation for himself out of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, like all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
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35It was shown to you so that you might know that Yahweh is God. There is no one else besides him.
In plain English: You were shown this so that you would know that Yahweh is God. There is no other besides him.
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36Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you. On earth he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire.
In plain English: From heaven he let you hear his voice, to teach (or: to discipline) you. On earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire.
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37Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their offspring after them, and brought you out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt;
In plain English: Because he loved your fathers, he chose their descendants after them. He brought you out of Egypt by his presence (literally: by his face) and by his great power,
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38to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today.
In plain English: to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you, to bring you in and give you their land as your inheritance, as it is today.
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39Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Yahweh himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else.
In plain English: So know today, and take it to heart, that Yahweh is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
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40You shall keep his statutes and his commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for all time.
In plain English: Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may live long in the land Yahweh your God is giving you for all time.
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41Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise,
In plain English: Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan, toward the sunrise,
Good to know: These are cities of refuge. commands three cities beyond the Jordan and three in Canaan, and names the same three cities, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. tells Israel to set apart three more in the land.
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42that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally and didn’t hate him in time past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
In plain English: so that anyone who killed his neighbor without meaning to, and had not hated him before (literally: yesterday and the day before), could flee there, and by fleeing to one of these cities he could live:
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43Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
In plain English: Bezer in the wilderness, on the plain (the level land), for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
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44This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.
In plain English: This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.
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45These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
In plain English: These are the testimonies, the statutes and the rules that Moses spoke to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt,
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46beyond the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck when they came out of Egypt.
In plain English: beyond the Jordan, in the valley across from Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. Moses and the Israelites struck him down when they came out of Egypt.
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47They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;
In plain English: They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise,
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48from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Siyon (also called Hermon),
In plain English: from Aroer, on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount Siyon (that is, Hermon),
Good to know: Siyon is a name for Hermon (the dictionary: "the summit of Mount Hermon"). It is not Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem: the two names are spelled with different Hebrew letters. Siyon is found only here.
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49and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
In plain English: and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan to the east, as far as the sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.
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