King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 4:38 Mean?

Deuteronomy 4:38 in the King James Version says “To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.”

Deuteronomy 4:38 · KJV

Context

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.

37

And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

38

To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.

39

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

40

Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance...

Moses articulates the purpose clause of verse 37: God loved, chose, and delivered Israel lehorish (לְהוֹרִישׁ, 'to dispossess/drive out') nations and lahavi'akha (לַהֲבִיאֲךָ, 'to bring you in') and latet lekha (לָתֶת לְךָ, 'to give you') their land. Three infinitives of purpose reveal God's comprehensive plan: removal of enemies, entrance into blessing, and receipt of inheritance.

The nations are described as gedolim va'atsumim (גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים, 'greater and mightier') than Israel. This is not false modesty but military reality. The Canaanites possessed fortified cities, iron chariots, professional armies, and centuries of territorial establishment. By every human calculation, Israel should fail. Their success would therefore demonstrate divine power, not Israelite prowess.

The phrase kayom hazeh (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, 'as it is this day') points to already-accomplished conquest east of the Jordan. Sihon and Og—both mightier than Israel—have fallen. What God began He will complete. The partial fulfillment guarantees the whole. Christians live similarly between Christ's first and second comings—initial victory assuring final triumph.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Moses explains God's purpose in bringing Israel to the edge of Canaan: to dispossess nations greater and mightier than they. The Canaanite city-states had superior military technology (iron chariots) and fortified cities, making God's promise to give Israel victory a matter requiring faith in divine intervention rather than military strength.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does recognizing that your spiritual enemies are 'greater and mightier' than you drive you to depend on God's power rather than your own?
  2. What partial victories in your life serve as evidence that God will complete the work He has begun?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
לְהוֹרִ֗ישׁ1 of 14

“To drive out”

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

גּוֹיִ֛ם2 of 14

“nations”

H1471

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

גְּדֹלִ֧ים3 of 14

“thee greater”

H1419

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

וַֽעֲצֻמִ֛ים4 of 14

“and mightier”

H6099

powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous

מִמְּךָ֖5 of 14
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ6 of 14

“from before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

לַהֲבִֽיאֲךָ֗7 of 14

“than thou art to bring”

H935

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

לָֽתֶת8 of 14

“thee in to give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְךָ֧9 of 14
H0
אֶת10 of 14
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אַרְצָ֛ם11 of 14

“thee their land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

נַֽחֲלָ֖ה12 of 14

“for an inheritance”

H5159

properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

כַּיּ֥וֹם13 of 14

“as it is this day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּֽה׃14 of 14
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

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 4:38 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 4:38 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 7:1Deuteronomy 11:23Deuteronomy 9:1-5Exodus 23:27-28Deuteronomy 2:31-3:16Psalms 44:2-3

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