Deuteronomy 4:34

Or hath God assayed to go [and] take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Or hath God {H430} assayed {H5254} to go {H935} and take {H3947} him a nation {H1471} from the midst {H7130} of another nation {H1471}, by temptations {H4531}, by signs {H226}, and by wonders {H4159}, and by war {H4421}, and by a mighty {H2389} hand {H3027}, and by a stretched out {H5186} arm {H2220}, and by great {H1419} terrors {H4172}, according to all that the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} did {H6213} for you in Egypt {H4714} before your eyes {H5869}?

Or has God ever tried to go and take for himself a nation from the very bowels of another nation, by means of ordeals, signs, wonders, war, a mighty hand, an outstretched arm and great terrors -like all that ADONAI your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation—by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors—as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes?

Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:34

Deuteronomy 4:34 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by Moses to the Israelites, serving as a profound reminder of God's unique and miraculous intervention in their history. It highlights the unparalleled way God delivered them from Egyptian bondage, setting them apart as His chosen people.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' farewell address to the generation poised to enter the Promised Land. He is calling them to remember God's faithfulness and power displayed through the Exodus from Egypt. Moses emphasizes the uniqueness of their experience, contrasting the LORD's actions with those of any other deity or nation. The preceding verses (Deuteronomy 4:32-33) also stress the unprecedented nature of God speaking directly to them and preserving them.

Key Themes

  • God's Unparalleled Sovereignty: The verse challenges the listener to consider if any other "god" has ever undertaken such an extraordinary feat – taking a nation from the midst of another. This underscores the LORD's supreme power and authority over all creation and human history.
  • Divine Intervention and Deliverance: It vividly enumerates the various methods God employed: "temptations" (trials/tests for Pharaoh and Egypt), "signs," "wonders," "war," "a mighty hand," "a stretched out arm," and "great terrors." These collectively describe the plagues and the Red Sea crossing, demonstrating God's active and decisive involvement in their liberation.
  • Eyewitness Account: The phrase "before your eyes" is crucial. It emphasizes that these were not distant legends but events directly experienced by the generation that witnessed the Exodus, making their responsibility to obey even greater.
  • Formation of a Nation: God's purpose was not merely to save individuals but to forge a distinct nation, Israel, for Himself out of another. This act established their identity and their special covenant relationship with Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrases "mighty hand" (Hebrew: yad chazaqah) and "stretched out arm" (Hebrew: zeroa netuyah) are iconic biblical idioms. They frequently appear together throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exodus 6:6, Psalm 136:12) to denote God's irresistible power, sovereign authority, and direct, forceful action. The "temptations" (Hebrew: massot) refer to the tests or trials God brought upon Egypt through the plagues, serving as proof of His power and judgment.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 4:34 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today:

  • Remember God's Faithfulness: Just as Israel was to remember God's past mighty acts, we are called to recall how God has intervened in our lives and in history. This builds faith and trust for current and future challenges.
  • Recognize God's Sovereignty: This verse affirms that God is actively involved in the affairs of mankind, able to accomplish His purposes against all odds. His power is limitless.
  • Cultivate Gratitude: The extraordinary nature of God's deliverance should inspire deep gratitude and worship for His unique love and power demonstrated on our behalf.

Understanding this verse reinforces the foundation of Israel's faith and provides a powerful testimony to the unparalleled nature of the LORD God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 26:8

    And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

  • Deuteronomy 5:15

    And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

  • Exodus 6:6

    Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

  • Deuteronomy 7:19

    The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.

  • Deuteronomy 7:8

    But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  • Deuteronomy 7:9

    Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

  • Jeremiah 32:21

    And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
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