The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:31 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:31

KJV: (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

YLT: for a merciful God is Jehovah thy God; He doth not fail thee, nor destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which He hath sworn to them.

Darby: for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God, he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them.

ASV: for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

(For the LORD  thy God  [is] a merciful  God;  ) he will not forsake  thee, neither destroy  thee, nor forget  the covenant  of thy fathers  which he sware  unto them. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:15-31 - Jehovah "a Jealous God"
How often Moses repeats, "take heed." We must watch as well as pray and keep our souls diligently. We must specially beware of idols-that is, any visible thing which takes the place of the unseen and eternal, veiling it from our view. The soul must learn to lean on the everlasting arm.
How true that description of the iron furnace! The metaphor is derived from the process of smelting metal. We have had our Egypts, where by trials the real ore of character was disintegrated from its rocky matrix. But though God may remove us from outward affliction, He is Himself the furnace of purification, by His Spirit and Word, and in the secrets of our hearts, Deuteronomy 4:24. But His fire burns our bonds, while our heads are unsinged, Daniel 3:25.
If these words meet the eyes of any who are among the scattered and vanished ones, let them seek God again, and they shall certainly find Him; for He is merciful, He will not fail nor destroy, nor forget the olden Covenant, Deuteronomy 4:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:31 mean?

for a God [is] merciful Yahweh your God not He will forsake you nor destroy you forget - the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them
כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ יִשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־ בְּרִ֣ית אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לָהֶֽם

אֵ֤ל  a  God  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
רַחוּם֙  merciful 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַחוּם  
Sense: compassionate.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יַרְפְּךָ֖  He  will  forsake  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: רָפָה  
Sense: to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.
וְלֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ  destroy  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
יִשְׁכַּח֙  forget 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּרִ֣ית  the  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ  of  your  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
נִשְׁבַּ֖ע  He  swore 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לָהֶֽם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural