Deep Dive

Deuteronomy 9:4

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When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 4

The design of Moses in this chapter is to convince the people of Israel of their utter unworthiness to receive from God those great favours that were now to be conferred upon them, writing this, as it were, in capital letters at the head of their charter, "Not for your sake, be it known unto you," Eze 36:32. I. He assures them of victory over their enemies (Deu 9:1-3). II. He cautions them not to attribute their successes to their own merit, but to God's justice, which was engaged against their enemies, and his faithfulness, which was engaged to their fathers (Deu 9:4-6). III. To make it evident that they had no reason to boast of their own righteousness, he mentions their faults, shows Israel their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. In general, they had been all along a provoking people (v. 7-24). In particular, 1. In the matter of the golden calf, the story of which he largely relates (Deu 9:8-21). 2. He mentions some other instances of their rebellion (Deu 9:22, Deu 9:23). And, 3. Returns, at Deu 9:25, to speak of the intercession he had made for them at Horeb, to prevent their being ruined for the golden calf.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 4

אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… הָדַף (Hâdaph, H1920) — to push away or down פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) רִשְׁעָה (rishʻâh, H7564) — wrong (especially moral) גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Deuteronomy 8:17rank 6

You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”

Deuteronomy 9:5rank 5

It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

II Timothy 1:9rank 5

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

I Corinthians 4:7rank 4

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Deuteronomy 12:31rank 3

You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Genesis 15:16rank 3

In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Romans 11:6rank 3

And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.

Ezekiel 36:22rank 2

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.

Ezekiel 36:32rank 2

It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD—let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!

Romans 11:20rank 2

That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

Commentaries

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