Deuteronomy 4:6

Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, instructing them to keep God’s statutes and ordinances before they cross the Jordan into the Promised Land.

The words — שְׁמַרְתֶּם (shamar) means “you will keep” or “take care,” and חָכְמַתְכֶם (chokhmah) translates to “your wisdom,” framing obedience as the source of discernment.

The thread — The link between divine instruction and wisdom recurs in Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10, and 2 Timothy 3:15, which consistently tie understanding to reverence for God and adherence to His word.

Why it lands — The text demands practical obedience to God’s commands so that the community’s lifestyle visibly demonstrates discernment to surrounding nations, requiring consistent action rather than private belief.

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

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮u./she.mar.Temand/ you will take care וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒va./'a.si.Temand/ you will observe [them]כִּ֣יkifor הִ֤ואhi'that חָכְמַתְכֶם֙cha.khe.mat./Khem[will be] wisdom/ your וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔םu./Vi.nat./Khemand/ understanding/ your לְעֵינֵ֖יle./'ei.Neito/ [the] eyes of הָעַמִּ֑יםha./'a.Mimthe/ peoples אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich יִשְׁמְע֗וּןyish.me.'U/nthey will hear/ !אֵ֚ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-all הַחֻקִּ֣יםha./chu.Kimthe/ statutes הָאֵ֔לֶּהha./'E.leh<the>/ these וְאָמְר֗וּve./'a.me.Ruand/ they will say רַ֚קrakcertainly עַם־'am-[is] a people חָכָ֣םcha.Khamwise וְנָב֔וֹןve./na.Vonand/ understanding הַגּ֥וֹיha./Goythe/ nation הַגָּד֖וֹלha./ga.Dol<the>/ great הַזֶּֽה׃ha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Cross-references

Job 28:28 And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
1 Kings 4:34 So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 10:6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true.
Psalms 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Jeremiah 8:9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,