Deuteronomy 10:17

KJV

For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

KJV (with Strong's)

For the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} is God {H430} of gods {H430}, and Lord {H113} of lords {H113}, a great {H1419} God {H410}, a mighty {H1368}, and a terrible {H3372}, which regardeth {H5375} not persons {H6440}, nor taketh {H3947} reward {H7810}:

Complete Jewish Bible

For ADONAI your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes.

Berean Standard Bible

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.

American Standard Version

For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 10:17 stands as a profound theological declaration, articulating the unparalleled nature and character of Yahweh. It proclaims Him as the supreme authority over all perceived powers and rulers, an infinitely great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who governs with absolute impartiality and incorruptible justice. This foundational statement establishes the very basis for Israel's covenant obligations, calling them to reflect His righteous attributes in their communal life and individual conduct, thereby setting a divine standard for justice and ethical living.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Moses' second major discourse to the Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab as they stood on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. It serves as the theological bedrock for the ethical exhortations found in [Deuteronomy 10:12-22](/deuteronomy/10-12-22 "Deuteronomy 10:12-22 - Call to Obedience and Love"), where Moses passionately reviews God's faithfulness and calls the people to a renewed, wholehearted covenant relationship. The immediate preceding verse, [Deuteronomy 10:16](/deuteronomy/10-16 "Deuteronomy 10:16 - Circumcise Your Hearts"), commands the Israelites to "circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked," urging them to remove spiritual stubbornness and cultivate an inner receptivity to God's commands. Verse 17 then provides the irrefutable reason for such radical devotion: because God is supremely sovereign, awe-inspiring, and perfectly just, He alone is worthy of absolute allegiance, and His people are called to emulate His righteous character in their communal life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Moses' address takes place at a pivotal moment in Israelite history—forty years after the Exodus, as the generation that rebelled in the wilderness has passed away, and a new generation prepares to inherit the land. They are about to encounter Canaanite cultures rife with polytheism, idolatry, and corrupt judicial practices, where deities were often seen as capricious, bribable, and partial to their devotees. In this context, the declaration of Yahweh as "God of gods, and Lord of lords" served as a powerful polemic against the surrounding pagan pantheons, asserting His unique, incomparable supremacy. Furthermore, the emphasis on God's impartiality ("regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward") was a revolutionary concept, contrasting sharply with the often-corrupt legal systems of the ancient Near East, where justice could be bought or influenced by status. This divine attribute was to be the model for Israel's own judicial and social structures as they established their society in the land, ensuring that their governance reflected divine righteousness.
* **Key Themes:** [Deuteronomy 10:17](/deuteronomy/10-17 "Deuteronomy 10:17 - God's Supreme Sovereignty and Impartial Justice") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Deuteronomy. First, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Supremacy**, asserting Yahweh's absolute dominion over all creation, all nations, and all other spiritual entities, whether real or imagined. This is a recurring theme, emphasizing that Israel's covenant relationship is with the one true, ultimate power. Second, the description of God as "a great God, a mighty, and a terrible" highlights the **Awe and Majesty of God**, fostering a sense of reverential fear and worship. This "terrible" quality (in the KJV sense of awe-inspiring) is meant to compel obedience rooted in profound respect for His holiness and power, as seen throughout the covenant stipulations in [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy "The Book of Deuteronomy"). Third, the declaration that God "regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward" establishes the fundamental theme of **Impartiality and Justice**. This attribute of God becomes the ethical standard for Israel's judges, leaders, and indeed, every individual, calling them to administer justice fairly and compassionately, reflecting the very character of the God who chose them, as further expounded in [Deuteronomy 16:19](/deuteronomy/16-19 "Deuteronomy 16:19 - Do Not Pervert Justice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** This term, often translated as "God," is used here in a superlative construction, "God of gods." While _ʼĕlôhîym_ can refer to other deities or even judges, its pairing with "of gods" (also _ʼĕlôhîym_) emphatically declares Yahweh's absolute supremacy. It signifies that He is the ultimate and supreme God, standing above all other beings, powers, or deities that might be worshipped or acknowledged by humans, asserting His unique and ultimate authority.
* **Terrible (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** Derived from a primitive root meaning "to fear" or "to revere," "terrible" in the King James Version carries the archaic meaning of "awe-inspiring," "dreadful," or "reverence-inducing." It speaks to God's immense majesty, power, and holiness that evokes profound respect, wonder, and holy fear, rather than mere fright. It describes a God whose presence and actions are so grand and powerful that they command utter reverence and submission from all creation.
* **Regardeth not persons (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ pânîym'_):** This idiom, literally "does not lift up faces," signifies absolute impartiality. The root _nâsâʼ_ means "to lift" or "to bear," and _pânîym_ refers to "face" or "presence." In this context, it means God does not show favoritism or bias based on external factors such as social status, wealth, nationality, physical appearance, or any other human distinction. His judgment and dealings are based purely on righteousness and truth, treating all individuals justly according to their deeds and character.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords":** This opening clause establishes Yahweh's absolute supremacy and unrivaled authority. The repetition of "God of gods" and "Lord of lords" uses a Hebrew superlative construction, common in the ancient Near East, to declare that He is the ultimate, incomparable deity, above all other gods (whether pagan idols or lesser spiritual beings) and all earthly rulers or authorities. He is the sovereign over all creation and all power structures, the one true God to whom ultimate allegiance is due.
* **"a great God, a mighty, and a terrible":** This phrase further describes God's inherent attributes, building upon His supreme status. "Great" speaks to His immeasurable scope, boundless power, and infinite majesty; "mighty" emphasizes His strength, omnipotence, and ability to act decisively in history and creation; and "terrible" (in its archaic sense) highlights His awe-inspiring majesty and holiness, which rightly evokes profound reverence, wonder, and holy fear from all creation, compelling obedience rooted in deep respect.
* **"which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward":** This final clause defines God's perfect justice and incorruptibility, providing an ethical model for His people. "Regardeth not persons" means He is absolutely impartial, showing no favoritism based on status, outward appearance, or any human distinction. His judgments are based purely on righteousness. "Nor taketh reward" signifies that He cannot be bribed, swayed, or influenced by any external offering or personal gain, ensuring that His judgments are always pure, uncompromised, and perfectly just, reflecting His intrinsic holiness and truth.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 10:17 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truth and impress it upon the listeners. The most prominent is **Superlative Language**, seen in the phrases "God of gods" and "Lord of lords." This is a common Hebrew idiom (e.g., "Holy of Holies," "Song of Songs") used to express the ultimate degree of something, emphatically asserting Yahweh's absolute supremacy and uniqueness above all other real or perceived deities and earthly rulers. This serves as a strong **Polemic** against the polytheistic beliefs and practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations, asserting monotheism and Yahweh's incomparable nature. The description of God as "great," "mighty," and "terrible" uses a series of **Divine Epithets** to build a cumulative picture of His overwhelming power, majesty, and holiness, invoking a profound sense of **Awe** and reverential fear in the listener. Finally, the two negative statements, "regardeth not persons" and "nor taketh reward," function as a form of **Parallelism** or **Merism**, defining God's perfect justice by stating what He does *not* do. This emphasizes His complete impartiality and incorruptibility, providing a clear and non-negotiable ethical standard for Israel to emulate in their own judicial and social systems.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 10:17 serves as a cornerstone for understanding the character of God, not just in the Old Testament but throughout the entire biblical narrative. It establishes the theological foundation for the covenant relationship, asserting that the God who chose Israel is uniquely sovereign, infinitely powerful, and perfectly just. This declaration of God's impartiality and incorruptibility is revolutionary, setting a divine standard for justice that transcends human biases and corruption. It implies that since God is inherently just, His people are called to reflect this attribute in their own societal structures, legal systems, and interpersonal relationships, ensuring that justice flows like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. This verse thus provides both a compelling reason for worship and a clear blueprint for ethical living, reminding believers that their God is not only worthy of all praise but also the ultimate model for righteous conduct in a world often marred by injustice and partiality.

* [2 Chronicles 19:7](/2_chronicles/19-7 "2 Chronicles 19:7 - God's Impartiality in Judgment")
* [Romans 2:11](/romans/2-11 "Romans 2:11 - God Shows No Partiality")
* [James 2:1-4](/james/2-1-4 "James 2:1-4 - Warning Against Partiality")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 10:17 calls us to a profound re-evaluation of our understanding of God and, consequently, our lives. Recognizing God as the "God of gods and Lord of lords" should cultivate a deep sense of reverence, humility, and absolute trust within us, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance belongs to Him alone, above all earthly powers, ideologies, or personal desires. His "greatness," "might," and "terribleness" (awe-inspiring nature) invite us into worship that is both passionate and reverent, acknowledging His incomparable majesty and power. More practically, God's absolute impartiality and incorruptibility challenge us to examine our own hearts and actions. Do we show favoritism based on wealth, social status, race, influence, or personal affinity? Are we tempted to compromise our integrity for personal gain or convenience, or to pervert justice in any form? This verse compels us to mirror God's character by actively pursuing justice, fairness, and compassion in all our interactions, treating every person with dignity and respect, knowing that God Himself judges without partiality. It also offers immense comfort and security, assuring us that in a world often marked by injustice and corruption, ultimate justice rests in the hands of a perfectly righteous and unswayable God, who sees and judges all things rightly.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God as "God of gods and Lord of lords" impact your daily worship and your view of earthly authorities and systems?**
* **In what specific areas of your life might you be tempted to show partiality, and how can you intentionally cultivate God's impartiality in those areas?**
* **How does the "terrible" (awe-inspiring) nature of God inspire both profound reverence and unwavering confidence in your walk with Him?**

### FAQ
**What does "God of gods, and Lord of lords" mean in the context of monotheism?**

Answer: This phrase, "God of gods, and Lord of lords" (Hebrew: _Elohei ha-Elohim v'Adonei ha-Adonim_), is a superlative expression, common in ancient Near Eastern languages and Hebrew. It does not imply the actual existence of other true gods or lords in a polytheistic sense. Instead, it emphatically declares Yahweh's absolute and unrivaled supremacy over all other entities that might be called "gods" (e.g., pagan deities, idols, spiritual beings, or even human rulers who claim divine authority) or "lords." It asserts that He is the ultimate, incomparable, and sovereign power, the one true God who stands above all others, reinforcing the monotheistic truth that there is no God like Him and He alone is worthy of worship and allegiance, as affirmed in passages like [Deuteronomy 4:35](/deuteronomy/4-35 "Deuteronomy 4:35 - There is No Other God").

**How does God's impartiality ("regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward") apply to us today?**

Answer: God's impartiality means He judges and interacts with humanity based on righteousness and truth, not on external factors like wealth, social status, nationality, or personal connections. He cannot be bribed or swayed by any influence. This attribute serves as a foundational ethical principle for believers today, calling us to embody fairness, justice, and equality in all our dealings. In our personal lives, it means treating everyone with dignity and respect, avoiding prejudice and favoritism, and making decisions based on merit and truth. In our communities and societies, it means advocating for just systems, opposing corruption, and ensuring that all people have equal access to justice and opportunity, reflecting the character of the God we serve ([James 2:1-9](/james/2-1-9 "James 2:1-9 - Warning Against Partiality")). This divine impartiality provides a powerful standard for human conduct and a source of comfort that ultimate justice will prevail.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 10:17, with its majestic declaration of God's supreme authority, awe-inspiring power, and perfect impartiality, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The title "Lord of lords" is directly applied to Christ in the New Testament, signifying His ultimate dominion and sovereignty over all creation, powers, and authorities ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords")). As the incarnate Son, Jesus perfectly embodies the "great," "mighty," and "terrible" (awe-inspiring) nature of God, demonstrating divine power over sickness, nature, and even death, revealing the glory of God in human flesh ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm"); [John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus")). Crucially, Christ is the ultimate manifestation of God's impartiality and incorruptible justice. He "regardeth not persons," extending salvation and grace to all who believe, regardless of their social standing, ethnicity, or past sins, thereby breaking down all barriers between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free, Male and Female in Christ"); [Colossians 3:11](/colossians/3-11 "Colossians 3:11 - Christ is All and in All")). His sacrifice on the cross was not a "reward" or bribe to God, but the perfect, just, and unblemished atonement for sin, demonstrating God's righteousness in justifying those who believe in Jesus, thereby upholding divine justice while offering mercy ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25-26 "Romans 3:25-26 - God Presented Christ as a Propitiation")). Thus, in Christ, the attributes of the sovereign, awe-inspiring, and perfectly just God of Deuteronomy are fully revealed and made accessible to humanity, inviting all to come and find reconciliation and new life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 10:34

¶ Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Romans 2:11

For there is no respect of persons with God.

Nehemiah 9:32

Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

Galatians 2:6

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me:

Job 34:19

[How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

Daniel 2:47

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Deuteronomy 7:21

Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God [is] among you, a mighty God and terrible.