God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 4:1
1Israel, listen to the laws and rules I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you will live and be able to enter and take possession of the land that the Lord God of your ancestors is giving you.
Deuteronomy 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.
- New International Version (NIV)Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you.
Context of Deuteronomy 4:1
Israel, listen to the laws and rules I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you will live and be able to enter and take possession of the land that the Lord God of your ancestors is giving you. 2Never add anything to what I command you, or take anything away from it. Then you will be able to obey the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. 3With your own eyes you saw what the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed everyone among you who worshiped the god Baal while you were at Peor.
Read all of Deuteronomy 4Deuteronomy 4:1 word by word
וְעַתָּ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁמַ֤ע אֶל־הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְאֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְלַמֵּ֥ד אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֗וּ וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore hearkenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- unto the statutesחֹקchôq · statute: decreeH2706
- and unto the judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- which I teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
- you, for to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- that ye may liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- and go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and possessיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
- the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of your fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
- givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 4:1
- Deuteronomy 4:8Or what other great nation has such fair laws and rules as all these teachings I am giving you today?
- Deuteronomy 5:1Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: Israel, listen to the laws and rules I’m telling you today. Learn them and faithfully obey them.
- Deuteronomy 6:1These are the commands, laws, and rules the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. Obey them after you enter the land and take possession of it.
- Deuteronomy 8:1Be careful to obey every command I give you today. Then you will live, and your population will increase. You will enter and take possession of the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors with an oath.
- Deuteronomy 11:1Love the Lord your God, and do what he wants you to do. Always obey his laws, rules, and commands.
- Leviticus 19:37“Obey all my laws and all my rules, and live by them. I am the Lord.”
- Leviticus 20:8Obey my laws, and live by them. I am the Lord who sets you apart as holy.
- Leviticus 22:31“Carefully obey my commands. I am the Lord.
- Psalms 105:45so that they would obey his laws and follow his teachings. Hallelujah!
- Psalms 119:4You have commanded that your guiding principles be carefully followed.
- Ezekiel 11:20Then they will live by my laws and obey my rules. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
- Ezekiel 36:27I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my laws, and you will obey my rules.
- Ezekiel 37:24“ ‘My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws.
- Matthew 28:20Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”
- Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly.
- John 15:14You are my friends if you obey my commandments.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Hearken - unto the statutes - Every thing that concerned the rites and ceremonies of religion; judgments - all that concerned matters of civil right and wrong.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The general entreaty contained in this chapter is pointed by special mention and enforcement of the fundamental principles of the whole covenant Deuteronomy 4:9-40, the spiritual nature of the Deity, His exclusive right to their allegiance, His abhorrence of idolatry in every form, His choice of them for His elect people. Compare further Moses‘ third and last address, Deuteronomy 2730.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Earnest exhortations to obedience, and dissuasives from idolatry. (1-23) Warnings against disobedience, and promises of mercy. (24-40) Cities of refuge appointed. (41-49) Verses 1-23 The power and love of God to Israel are here made the ground and reason of a number of cautions and serious warnings; and although there is much reference to their national covenant, yet all may be applied to those who live under the gospel. What are laws made for but to be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The terms statutes and ordinances in Deuteronomy refer to the covenant rules and the detailed application of the main principles of God's law (for example, 4:5, 8, 14, 45; 5:1, 31; see also study note on 4:44).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131. hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you--By statutes were meant all ordinances respecting religion and the rites of divine worship; and by judgments, all enactments relative to civil matters. The two embraced the whole law of God.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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