Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately following his command not to forget the covenant or carve forbidden idols. He issues this declaration as the theological basis for their strict prohibition against idolatry.
The words — The phrase אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה ('esh o.khe.lah) literally means "a consuming fire," and קַנָּא (qanna') translates to "jealous." These terms function as direct predicates describing Yahweh's nature.
The thread — The text appears in Deuteronomy 4:24, parallels Deuteronomy 9:3 where God advances as a consuming fire to judge nations, and aligns with Exodus 24:17 which describes His glory as fire. Hebrews 12:29 later applies the "consuming fire" imagery to describe divine judgment.
Why it lands — The verse states that Yahweh is a consuming fire and a jealous God, establishing that He will actively destroy idolatry rather than tolerate it. It demands immediate obedience to the preceding command against carving images, framing covenant faithfulness as a matter of survival.
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
King James Version
For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
- Deuteronomy 9:3 But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.
- Exodus 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites.
- Nahum 1:6 Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
- Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”
- Deuteronomy 6:15 For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.
- Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
- Exodus 34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
- Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.
- 1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?