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Saturday, June 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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JPS Old Testament

Deuteronomy 4:6

Observe therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that, when they hear all these statutes, shall say: 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Obedience;   Wisdom;   Word of God;   Thompson Chain Reference - Understanding;   Wisdom-Folly;   The Topic Concordance - Obedience;   Understanding;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Church of Israel;   Law of Moses, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Decrees;   Disciple, Discipleship;   Ordinance;   Teach, Teacher;   Word;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Polytheism;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Gentiles;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Wisdom;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Demon, Demoniacal Possession, Demoniacs;   Winter ;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Baruch, Book of;   Wisdom;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alexander of Hales (Alexander Alensis);   Astronomy;   Bahya ben Joseph Ibn Paḳuda;   Bisna, Bisinah, Bisni (Bizna);   Education;   Eschatology;   God;   Guillaume of Auvergne;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
King James Version
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Lexham English Bible
And you must observe them diligently, for that is your wisdom and your insight before the eyes of the people, who will hear all of these rules, and they will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people.'
English Standard Version
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
New Century Version
Obey these laws carefully, in order to show the other nations that you have wisdom and understanding. When they hear about these laws, they will say, "This great nation of Israel is wise and understanding."
New English Translation
So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, "Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people."
Amplified Bible
"So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
New American Standard Bible
"So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
Keepe them therefore, and doe them; for that is your wisdome, and your vnderstanding in the sight of the people, which shall heare all these ordinances, and shall say, Onely this people is wise, and of vnderstanding, and a great nation.
Legacy Standard Bible
You shall keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.'
Darby Translation
And ye shall keep and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Verily this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Easy-to-Read Version
Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.'
George Lamsa Translation
And you shall keep them, therefore, and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes, and will say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Good News Translation
Obey them faithfully, and this will show the people of other nations how wise you are. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘What wisdom and understanding this great nation has!'
Christian Standard Bible®
Carefully follow them, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the peoples. When they hear about all these statutes, they will say, ‘This great nation is indeed a wise and understanding people.’
Literal Translation
and you shall keep and do them , for it shall be your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these statutes. And they shall say, This great nation is a people wise and understanding.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Kepe them now therfore and do them: for that is youre wyßdome and vnderstondinge in the sight of all nacions, which wha they haue herde all these ordinaunces, shall saye: O what a wyse and vnderstondinge folke is this? and how excellent a people?
American Standard Version
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Bible in Basic English
So keep these laws and do them; for so will your wisdom and good sense be clear in the eyes of the peoples, who hearing all these laws will say, Truly, this great nation is a wise and far-seeing people.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Kepe them therfore and do them, for that is your wisdome and vnderstandyng in the syght of the people, that they may heare all these ordinaunces, and say: Surely it is a wise and vnderstandyng people, it is a great nation.
King James Version (1611)
Keepe therefore, and doe them; for this is your wisedome and your vnderstanding in the sight of the nations, which shall heare all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and vnderstanding people.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And ye shall keep and do them: for this is your wisdom and understanding before all nations, as many as shall hear all these ordinances; and they shall say, Behold, this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
English Revised Version
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Berean Standard Bible
Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear of all these statutes and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and ye schulen kepe, and schulen fille in werk. For this is youre wisdom and vndurstondyng bifor puplis, that alle men here these comaundementis, and seie, Lo! a wise puple and vnderstondynge! a greet folk!
Young's Literal Translation
and ye have kept and done [them] (for it [is] your wisdom and your understanding) before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these statutes, and they have said, Only, a people wise and understanding [is] this great nation.
Update Bible Version
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Webster's Bible Translation
Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which will hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people.
World English Bible
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
New King James Version
Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
New Living Translation
Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!'
New Life Bible
Keep them and do them. For this will show how wise and understanding you are. The people who will hear all these Laws will say, ‘For sure this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
New Revised Standard
You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore shall ye observe, and do them , for that, will be your wisdom, and discernment, in the eyes of the peoples, - who will hear all these statutes, and will say - Nevertheless, a people wise and discerning, is this great nation.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And you shall observe, and fulfil them in practice. For this is your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding people, a great nation.
Revised Standard Version
Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'

Contextual Overview

1 And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did in Baal-peor; for all the men that followed the Baal of Peor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from the midst of thee. 4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it. 6 Observe therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that, when they hear all these statutes, shall say: 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what great nation is there, that hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is whensoever we call upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children's children; 10 the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me: 'Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

this is your: Job 28:28, Psalms 19:7, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 119:98-100, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 14:8, Jeremiah 8:9, 2 Timothy 3:15, James 3:13

Surely: 1 Kings 4:34, 1 Kings 10:6-9, Psalms 119:99, Daniel 1:20, Daniel 4:9, Daniel 5:11-16, Zechariah 8:20-23, Malachi 3:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:37 - General Deuteronomy 4:40 - keep Deuteronomy 6:3 - and observe Deuteronomy 28:10 - and they shall Deuteronomy 28:13 - if that thou Deuteronomy 29:9 - General Joshua 22:5 - take Judges 20:7 - ye are all 1 Kings 8:42 - For they shall 1 Chronicles 22:12 - that thou mayest 1 Chronicles 28:8 - in the sight 2 Chronicles 30:12 - the commandment Psalms 19:8 - statutes Psalms 53:2 - any that Psalms 119:34 - I shall Proverbs 1:2 - General Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness Song of Solomon 6:9 - The daughters Isaiah 26:2 - righteous Isaiah 27:11 - for it is Jeremiah 11:7 - in the Ezekiel 5:5 - I have Ezekiel 16:14 - thy renown Hosea 8:12 - written Zechariah 8:23 - we have Malachi 4:4 - the law Ephesians 5:17 - understanding 1 Timothy 1:8 - the law

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, and said: 'I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.'
Genesis 4:3
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering;
Genesis 4:5
but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:8
And Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Genesis 4:11
And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said unto the LORD: 'My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Job 5:2
For anger killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Jeremiah 2:5
Thus saith the LORD: what unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of nought, and are become nought?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Keep therefore and do them,..... Observe them, take notice of what is expressed by them, and perform them, both as to matter and manner, as they require:

for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations; that is, their wisdom and understanding would appear to other nations by their observance of the commands of God:

which hear all these statutes; which they had a report, got knowledge of by some of the philosophers who travelled into those parts, and by the translation of the Bible into the Greek language:

and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people; that had such a body of laws, in which they were instructed, and according to which they were governed, and in which they walked; that were so agreeable to reason, truth, justice, and equity; insomuch that so far as they became known they were admired and copied after, both by Greeks and Romans; and hence it was that the oracle f declared, that only the Chaldeans and Hebrews were a wise people; the Hebrews came from Chaldea, as Abraham the father of them.

f Apud Porphyr. in Euseb Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 10. p. 413.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 4:6. Keep - and do them; for this is your wisdom — There was no mode of worship at this time on the face or the earth that was not wicked, obscene, puerile, foolish, or ridiculous, except that established by God himself among the Israelites. And every part of this, taken in its connection and reference, may be truly called a wise and reasonable service.

The nations - and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. — Almost all the nations in the earth showed that they had formed this opinion of the Jews, by borrowing from them the principal part of their civil code. Take away what Asia and Europe, whether ancient or modern, have borrowed from the Mosaic laws, and you leave little behind that can be called excellent.


 
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