The Meaning of Deuteronomy 10:17 Explained

Deuteronomy 10:17

KJV: For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

YLT: for Jehovah your God -- He is God of the gods, and Lord of the lords; God, the great, the mighty, and the fearful; who accepteth not persons, nor taketh a bribe;

Darby: For Jehovah your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward;

ASV: For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the LORD  your God  [is] God  of gods,  and Lord  of lords,  a great  God,  a mighty,  and a terrible,  which regardeth  not persons,  nor taketh  reward: 

What does Deuteronomy 10:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 10:1-22 - What The Lord Requires Of Us
The second writing of the Law reminds us of the work wrought in us by the Holy Spirit. When first we hear the Law, we are condemned; but when we have repented and believed, God writes it on the fleshly tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10. Together with this deepening love and delight in God's Law, we enter into the spiritual equivalent of Levi's calling, standing to minister, and blessing in God's name.
Every word of the magnificent parable from Deuteronomy 10:12 deserves careful pondering. Let us learn what God requires and then ask Him to create such things in us. As Augustine puts it: "Give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt." But we must be willing to enter into the inner significance of the initial Jewish rite, which; is also taught in baptism, Romans 2:26-29; Colossians 2:11-12. The separation of Calvary's Cross leads to the filling of Pentecost! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 10

1  God's mercy in restoring the two tablets
6  in continuing the priesthood
8  in separating the tribe of Levi
10  in hearkening unto Moses' plea for his people
12  An exhortation to obedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 10:17 mean?

For Yahweh your God is God of gods and Lord of lords the God great mighty and awesome who not regards persons nor takes a bribe
כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֚וּא אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַאֲדֹנֵ֖י הָאֲדֹנִ֑ים הָאֵ֨ל הַגָּדֹ֤ל הַגִּבֹּר֙ וְהַנּוֹרָ֔א אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־ יִשָּׂ֣א פָנִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יִקַּ֖ח שֹֽׁחַד

יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים  of  gods 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַאֲדֹנֵ֖י  and  Lord 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
הָאֲדֹנִ֑ים  of  lords 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
הָאֵ֨ל  the  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
הַגָּדֹ֤ל  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הַגִּבֹּר֙  mighty 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
וְהַנּוֹרָ֔א  and  awesome 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
יִשָּׂ֣א  regards 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
פָנִ֔ים  persons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִקַּ֖ח  takes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
שֹֽׁחַד  a  bribe 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁחַד  
Sense: present, bribe.