Deuteronomy 4:6

6 Keep them faithfully because that will show your wisdom and insight to the nations who will hear about all these regulations. They will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and insightful people!"

Deuteronomy 4:6 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:6

Keep therefore and do them
. Observe them, take notice of what is expressed by them, and perform them, both as to matter and manner, as they require:

for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations;
that is, their wisdom and understanding would appear to other nations by their observance of the commands of God:

which hear all these statutes;
which they had a report, got knowledge of by some of the philosophers who travelled into those parts, and by the translation of the Bible into the Greek language:

and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people;
that had such a body of laws, in which they were instructed, and according to which they were governed, and in which they walked; that were so agreeable to reason, truth, justice, and equity; insomuch that so far as they became known they were admired and copied after, both by Greeks and Romans; and hence it was that the oracle F6 declared, that only the Chaldeans and Hebrews were a wise people; the Hebrews came from Chaldea, as Abraham the father of them.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Apud Porphyr. in Euseb Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 10. p. 413.

Deuteronomy 4:6 In-Context

4 but all of you who stayed true to the LORD your God are alive today.
5 So pay attention! I am teaching all of you the regulations and the case laws exactly as the LORD my God commanded me. You must do these in the land you are entering to possess.
6 Keep them faithfully because that will show your wisdom and insight to the nations who will hear about all these regulations. They will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and insightful people!"
7 After all, is there any great nation that has gods as close to it as the LORD our God is close to us whenever we call to him?
8 Or does any great nation have regulations and case laws as righteous as all this Instruction that I am setting before you today?
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible