Bible Strands
Psalms 147:20
He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Israel, declaring that God's revelations are not extended to other peoples. This statement directly follows the assertion that God gave His statutes and judgments specifically to Jacob.
The words — The phrase לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן לְכָל גּוֹי (lo' asah khen le-khol goy) translates literally as "He has not done thus for any nation." The clause בַּל יְדָעוּם (bal yeda'um) means "they have not known them," referring to the divine judgments just mentioned.
The thread — This pattern of exclusive covenant revelation appears in Deuteronomy 4:7, which questions what nation possesses a god as near as the LORD, and in Romans 3:1, which examines the value of Jewish identity. Deuteronomy 4:32 reinforces this by pointing to God's unique historical acts directed toward Israel.
Why it lands — The text states that divine instruction is restricted to a specific people rather than universally available. A reader must accept that knowledge of God's judgments depends on receiving His declared word, not on assuming general access to it.
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
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 4:32 Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?
- Deuteronomy 4:7 For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
- Romans 3:1 What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
- Isaiah 5:1 I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
- Acts 14:16 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
- Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”