Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 4

Verse 1

statutes = ordinances: Godward. Exodus 12:24 , Exodus 12:43 ; Exodus 30:21 .Hebrews 9:1 .

judgments = duties and punishments, manward. First occurrence in plural in Exodus 21:1 . The two often united. See Deuteronomy 5:1 ; Deuteronomy 6:1 ; Deuteronomy 12:1 .Malachi 4:4 , &c.

teach. Hebrew. lamad (whence "Talmud") = to cause to learn. First occurrence.

for to do. Old English idiom: modern idiom = to do.

Verse 2

Ye shall not add. Compare Ch. Deuteronomy 12:32 .Proverbs 30:5 , Proverbs 30:6 . Jeremiah 23:28 ; Jeremiah 26:2 .Ezekiel 2:5 , Ezekiel 2:7 . Revelation 22:18 , Revelation 22:19 .

Verse 3

men. Hebrew ' ish . See App-14 . Baal-peor. See note on Deuteronomy 3:29 and Numbers 25:1-5 , Numbers 25:9 . Psalms 106:28 . Hosea 9:10 . 1 Corinthians 10:8 .

destroyed = exterminated. Hebrew. shmadh.

Verse 5

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 6

understanding = discernment.

understanding = discerning.

Verse 7

what. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

God = a god, or gods. Hebrew 'Elohim. App-4 .

nigh = nigh to help. Compare Psalms 32:9 ; Psalms 34:18 ; Psalms 119:151 ; Psalms 145:18 . Nehemiah 13:4 .

Verse 8

so righteous. See App-15 . Compare 2 Samuel 7:23 .

Verse 9

take heed. Note the three occurrences in this chapter (verses: Deuteronomy 4:9 , Deuteronomy 4:15 , Deuteronomy 4:23 ).

thy soul = thyself. Hebrew thy nephesh .

Verse 10

Specially. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 . Might be supplied by the word "Remember".

Horeb. Occurs three times before Deut. (viz. Exodus 3:1 ; Exodus 17:6 ; Exodus 33:6 ). Sinai is the general word, but occurs only once in Deut. (Deuteronomy 33:2 ).

Verse 11

thick darkness. See Exodus 20:21 , and compare Hebrew. araphel . 2 Samuel 22:10 . 1 Kings 8:12 .Psalms 97:2 .

Verse 12

spake. See note on Deuteronomy 2:1 .

saw. Figure of speech Zeugma. App-6 .: by which one verb 'saw" is used with two objects and suits only the first. A second verb "heard" must be supplied: compare Exodus 3:16 . 2Ki 11:12 . 1 Timothy 4:3 . It is for the purpose of calling attention to the emphasis thus put on the verb "saw"; an idol being that which is seen .

similitude = appearance of form, or likeness.

Verse 13

even ten. Hebrew the ten.

wrote. See note on Exodus 17:14 ; only here and Deuteronomy 10:4 in Deut. See also App-47 .

Verse 14

me. Emphasis on "me" to call attention to the mediation of Moses.

Verse 15

yourselves = your souls. Hebrew. nephesh. See Deuteronomy 4:9 above and App-13 .

Verse 16

graven image. Hebrew. p esl = a sculpture (Exodus 20:4 ).

figure. Hebrew semel = only here, 2Ch 33:7 , 2 Chronicles 33:15 , and Ezekiel 8:3 , Ezekiel 8:5 .

likeness = form. Hebrew. tablinith = model.

Verse 19

host of heaven: sun, moon, and stars. This sin foreknown. 2 Kings 17:18 ; 2 Kings 23:4 . Compare Amos 5:26 with Acts 7:42 , Acts 7:43 .

Verse 20

iron furnace. Compare Genesis 15:17 . Ex. Deuteronomy 3:2 , Deuteronomy 3:3 , 1 Kings 8:51-53 .Jeremiah 11:4 .

to be, &c. Compare Exodus 19:5 .Exodus 9:29 ; Exodus 32:9 .

Verse 21

angry. Compare Deuteronomy 1:37 ; Deuteronomy 3:2 .

Verse 23

forbidden thee. Hebrew. zivvah, a Homonym = to command, and to forbid. Here it = forbid, also in Judges 13:14 , where it is wrongly rendered "command".

Verse 24

a consuming fire. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare Exodus 24:17 . Hebrews 12:29 .

children = sons.

Verse 26

I call. Figure of speech Deasis. App-6 . Compare Deuteronomy 31:28 .

heaven and earth = the heavens and the earth (always plural and with Hebrew particle ' eth , except Genesis 2:1 . See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 ). One of the thirteen occurrences of the Hebrew expressions noted in the Massorah. Genesis 1:1 .Exodus 20:11 ; Exodus 31:17 . Exodus 4:26 ; Exodus 30:19 ; Exo 31:28 . 2Ki 19:15 . 2 Chronicles 2:12 .Isaiah 37:16 . Jeremiah 23:24 ; Jeremiah 32:17 . Haggai 2:6 , Haggai 2:21 .

this day. A solemn idiom, used for great emphasis. Occurs forty-two times (see App-10 ) in this book: Deuteronomy 4:26 , Deuteronomy 4:39 , Deuteronomy 4:40 ; Deuteronomy 5:1 ; Deuteronomy 6:6 ; Deuteronomy 7:11 ; Deuteronomy 8:1 , Deuteronomy 8:11 , Deuteronomy 8:19 ; Deuteronomy 9:1 , Deuteronomy 9:3 ; Deuteronomy 10:13 ; Deuteronomy 10:11 , Deuteronomy 10:2 , Deuteronomy 10:8 , Deuteronomy 10:13 , Deu 10:26 , Deu 10:27 , Deu 10:28 , Deu 10:32 ; Deuteronomy 13:18 ; Deuteronomy 15:5 , Deuteronomy 15:15 ; Deuteronomy 19:9 ; Deuteronomy 26:3 , Deuteronomy 26:16 , Deuteronomy 26:17 , Deuteronomy 26:18 ; Deuteronomy 27:1 , Deuteronomy 27:4 , Deuteronomy 27:10 ; Deuteronomy 28:1 , Deuteronomy 28:13 , Deuteronomy 28:14 , Deuteronomy 28:15 ; Deuteronomy 30:2 , Deuteronomy 30:8 , Deuteronomy 30:11 , Deuteronomy 30:15 , Deuteronomy 30:16 , Deuteronomy 30:18 , Deuteronomy 30:19 ; Deuteronomy 32:46 . It is this Old Testament idiom in Luke 23:43 .

destroyed = exterminated. Hebrew. shmad .

Verse 27

scatter. Hebrew. puz = disperse. See Genesis 10:18 ; Genesis 11:4 , Genesis 11:9 , not used in Leviticus 26:33 , but is used in Jeremiah 30:11 , and frequently: also in Ezek. Compare Deuteronomy 28:64 , and Ezekiel 20:23 .

nations = peoples.

heathen = nations.

Verse 28

serve gods. Compare Daniel 5:23 .Revelation 9:20 .

Verse 29

thou shalt. This agrees with the Samaritan Pentateuch Text, but the printed Hebrew Text has "ye shall".

seek. Compare Leviticus 26:40 . Jeremiah 29:13 , &c.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 .

Verse 30

the latter days = the end of the days.

Verse 31

He will not forsake. First occurrence of this promise. Repeated in Deuteronomy 31:6 for the journey. Repeated to Joshua for conflict, Joshua 1:5 , Joshua 1:6 ; to Solomon for work, 1 Chronicles 28:20 ; to us for daily provision and comfort, Hebrews 13:5 , Hebrews 13:6 .

Verse 32

the days. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for the events which took place in them.

created (singular) These two words occur together three times (Genesis 1:1 ; Genesis 2:3 , and here).

Verse 33

Did . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

God: or, a god.

as = according as.

Verse 34

hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

God: or, a god.

from, the midst. Here we have the whole of Exodus, compare Jeremiah 32:21 .

temptations = trials, or, provings.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), in this verse.

war = fightings. Exodus 14:25 .

Verse 35

He is God. Compare 1 Kings 18:39 . Isaiah 45:21 .

Verse 37

because. Compare Deuteronomy 7:7 ; Deuteronomy 9:5 ; Deuteronomy 10:15 .

Verse 39

God. Hebrew. ha-elohlm = the God.

Verse 40

for ever = all the days: i.e. for all time.

Verse 41

Then. Emphatic, marking the end of his first address.

Moses. Change to third person, not because it is now editorial, but because the first direct address is ended. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 .

severed = separated. Compare Exodus 21:13 .Numbers 35:6-29 .

Verse 42

hated = he hated.

Verse 44

this: i.e. which hereafter followeth. The commencement of the new section according to the Structure.

children = sons.

Verse 45

testimonies. Hebrew. 'ud , to say again and again, hence, testifyings, affirmations, &c.

statutes, and the judgments. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 .

Verse 46

smote. Compare Numbers 21:24 .Numbers 1:4 .

Verse 47

of Og. Compare Numbers 21:33 .Numbers 3:3 .

Verse 48

Sion. Written for Sirion. See Deuteronomy 3:9 .

Verse 49

on this side = across: a neutral term. Compare Deuteronomy 1:1 .