Deuteronomy 12:32

See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites on the plains of Moab, concluding the covenant law before their entry into the Promised Land. The verse functions as a regulatory boundary for the worship practices detailed in the preceding chapter.

The words — מְצַוֶּ֣ה (me.tza.Veh) = [am] commanding, and כָּל (kol) = every. These terms frame the directive as a comprehensive and active divine injunction.

The thread — The prohibition against altering divine instruction appears in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18, while Joshua 1:7 commands strict obedience and warns against deviating from the law.

Why it lands — The text demands exact compliance with the revealed command and forbids human modification of the instruction. A reader must accept the boundary as fixed and execute the directive without personal amendment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֵ֣ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-every הַדָּבָ֗רha./da.Var<the>/ word אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiI מְצַוֶּ֣הme.tza.Veh[am] commanding אֶתְכֶ֔ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you אֹת֥וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ it תִשְׁמְר֖וּtish.me.Ruyou will take care לַעֲשׂ֑וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do לֹא־lo'-not תֹסֵ֣ףto.Sefyou must add עָלָ֔יו'a.La/vto/ it וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not תִגְרַ֖עtig.Ra'you must diminish מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ פmi.Me./nufrom/ it

King James Version

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:2 You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
Revelation 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Deuteronomy 13:18 because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”