King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 4:34 Mean?

Deuteronomy 4:34 in the King James Version says “Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonde... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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?

Deuteronomy 4:34 · KJV


Context

32

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

33

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

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?

35

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

36

Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders...

Moses catalogues seven ways God delivered Israel, each term highlighting a different aspect of divine power. Bemassot (בְּמַסֹּת, 'temptations/trials') refers to the testing of Egypt through plagues. Be'otot (בְּאֹתֹת, 'signs') and bemophetim (וּבְמוֹפְתִים, 'wonders') describe miraculous attestation. Bemilchamah (וּבְמִלְחָמָה, 'war') recalls the conflict with Pharaoh's army. Beyad chazakah (בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, 'mighty hand') and bizeroa netuyah (וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה, 'stretched out arm') are anthropomorphic expressions of divine power. Uvemora'im gedolim (וּבְמוֹרָאִים גְּדֹלִים, 'great terrors') evokes the fear that fell upon Egypt.

The unique phrase laqachat lo goy miqqerev goy (לָקַחַת לוֹ גוֹי מִקֶּרֶב גּוֹי, 'to take a nation from within another nation') describes an extraction unprecedented in history. Israel was not merely liberated from foreign soil but surgically removed from Egypt's very midst. No human military operation accomplishes this; only divine intervention explains Israel's existence.

The final phrase le'enekha (לְעֵינֶיךָ, 'before your eyes') grounds everything in eyewitness testimony. The audience includes those who witnessed these events as children. Moses appeals to living memory, not ancient legend. The Exodus is historical fact, not mythological speculation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Moses recounts the unprecedented Exodus deliverance with its signs, wonders, mighty hand, and outstretched arm. These events occurred approximately 40 years earlier (c. 1446 BC in early dating), including the ten plagues, Red Sea crossing, and wilderness provisions. No other nation could claim such dramatic divine intervention in their national origin.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the comprehensive nature of God's deliverance of Israel—using every means necessary—encourage you regarding His commitment to His people?
  2. What 'mighty acts' of God in your own life or in church history strengthen your confidence in His power to deliver?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
א֣וֹ׀1 of 27
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

הֲנִסָּ֣ה2 of 27

assayed

H5254

to test; by implication, to attempt

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם3 of 27

Or hath God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

לָ֠בוֹא4 of 27

to go

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

לָקַ֨חַת5 of 27

and take

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

ל֣וֹ6 of 27
H0
גּוֹי֒7 of 27

him a nation

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

מִקֶּ֣רֶב8 of 27

from the midst

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

גּוֹי֒9 of 27

him a nation

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

בְּמַסֹּת֩10 of 27

by temptations

H4531

a testing, of men (judicial) or of god (querulous)

בְּאֹתֹ֨ת11 of 27

by signs

H226

a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc

וּבְמֽוֹפְתִ֜ים12 of 27

and by wonders

H4159

a miracle; by implication, a token or omen

וּבְמִלְחָמָ֗ה13 of 27

and by war

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

וּבְיָ֤ד14 of 27

hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

חֲזָקָה֙15 of 27

and by a mighty

H2389

strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent)

וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ16 of 27

arm

H2220

the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force

נְטוּיָ֔ה17 of 27

and by a stretched out

H5186

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

וּבְמֽוֹרָאִ֖ים18 of 27

terrors

H4172

fear; by implication, a fearful thing or deed

גְּדֹלִ֑ים19 of 27

and by great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

כְּ֠כֹל20 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר21 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂ֨ה22 of 27

did

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לָכֶ֜ם23 of 27
H0
יְהוָ֧ה24 of 27

according to all that the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם25 of 27

Or hath God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם26 of 27

for you in Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃27 of 27

before your eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 4:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 4:34 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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