Deuteronomy 4:8

And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, concluding his covenant review before they cross the Jordan. He frames the Torah as a present reality set before them "today" to contrast Israel's covenantal status with surrounding nations.

The words — The Hebrew ḥuqqîm (statutes) and mišpāṭîm (judgments) refer to established legal decrees and judicial rulings. These terms describe the righteous ordinances that Moses declares uniquely belong to Israel.

The thread — Deuteronomy 4:8 declares Israel's legal code as unmatched, which aligns with Psalms 147:19's statement that God gave His statutes and judgments to Israel. It also anticipates Romans 7:12's explicit affirmation that the law is holy, righteous, and good.

Why it lands — The text asserts that no other nation possesses a righteous legal system comparable to Israel's Torah, demanding recognition of Yahweh's unique covenantal provision. It requires readers to examine their own obedience to these statutes rather than assume inherent cultural or religious superiority.

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

וּמִי֙u./Miand/ who?גּ֣וֹיGoy[is] a nation גָּד֔וֹלga.Dolgreat אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whichל֛וֹl/o[belongs] to/ itחֻקִּ֥יםchu.Kimstatutes וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֖יםu./mish.pa.Timand/ judgments צַדִּיקִ֑םtza.di.Kimrighteous כְּכֹל֙ke./Khollike/ all הַתּוֹרָ֣הha./to.Rahthe/ law הַזֹּ֔אתha./Zot<the>/ this אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֛י'a.no.KhiI נֹתֵ֥ןno.Ten[am] setting לִפְנֵיכֶ֖םli/f.nei./Khem<to>/ before/ you הַיּֽוֹם׃hai./Yomthis/ day

King James Version

And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Cross-references

Psalms 147:19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
Romans 7:12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Psalms 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalms 119:86 All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
Psalms 119:127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Psalms 119:96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit.