Deuteronomy 4:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?

Berean Standard Bible:

And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

American Standard Version:

And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And what nation{H1471} is there so great{H1419}, that hath statutes{H2706} and judgments{H4941} so righteous{H6662} as all this law{H8451}, which I set{H5414} before{H6440} you this day{H3117}?

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 147:19

  • He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

Psalms 147:20

  • He hath not dealt so with any nation: and [as for his] judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Romans 7:12

  • Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:14

  • ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Psalms 119:86

  • All thy commandments [are] faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

2 Timothy 3:16

  • All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:17

  • That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 4:8

Deuteronomy 4:8 is part of the Old Testament, specifically the fifth book of the Torah, which is traditionally attributed to Moses. This verse is set within a larger discourse where Moses is addressing the Israelites as they stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy serves as a series of sermons or addresses, exhorting the people to remain faithful to God's covenant.

In Deuteronomy 4:8, Moses poses a rhetorical question to emphasize the uniqueness and superiority of the Israelite legal system, as given by God. The verse reflects a central theme in Deuteronomy: the promotion of exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and adherence to His laws. Moses challenges the Israelites to consider whether any other nation has statutes and judgments as fair and just as the ones God has provided to them. This verse underscores the high esteem in which the Israelites were to hold their laws, which were not merely civil ordinances but were part of a covenantal relationship with God.

The historical context of this verse is significant. The Israelites are about to enter a land with many nations practicing different laws and customs, some of which may have seemed appealing or practical. Moses is warning them against adopting foreign ways and reminding them of the distinctiveness and righteousness of their own legal code, which is integral to their identity as God's chosen people. The verse also serves to instill pride and confidence in the Israelites regarding their unique status and the divine origin of their laws, encouraging them to uphold these laws as a testament to God's wisdom and justice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H1471
    There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גּוֹי
    Transliteration: gôwy
    Pronunciation: go'-ee
    Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
  2. Strong's Number: H1419
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גָּדוֹל
    Transliteration: gâdôwl
    Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
    Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
  3. Strong's Number: H2706
    There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֹק
    Transliteration: chôq
    Pronunciation: khoke
    Description: from חָקַק; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage); appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, [idiom] necessary, ordinance(-nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
  4. Strong's Number: H4941
    There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
    Transliteration: mishpâṭ
    Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
    Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong.
  5. Strong's Number: H6662
    There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צַדִּיק
    Transliteration: tsaddîyq
    Pronunciation: tsad-deek'
    Description: from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man).
  6. Strong's Number: H8451
    There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תּוֹרָה
    Transliteration: tôwrâh
    Pronunciation: to-raw'
    Description: or תֹּרָה; from יָרָה; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch; law.
  7. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  8. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
  9. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.