The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:6 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:6

KJV: Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

YLT: and ye have kept and done them (for it is your wisdom and your understanding) before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these statutes, and they have said, Only, a people wise and understanding is this great nation.

Darby: And ye shall keep and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Verily this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

ASV: Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Keep  therefore and do  [them]; for this [is] your wisdom  and your understanding  in the sight  of the nations,  which shall hear  all these statutes,  and say,  Surely this great  nation  [is] a wise  and understanding  people. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 - "take Heed To Thyself"
Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children while they went to succor their brethren. But God's commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.
Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God's wondrous works, Deuteronomy 3:24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God's self-revelation.
Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the divine decision. Compare Deuteronomy 3:23-25 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Do not pray against God's will, but with it, 1 John 5:14. When God says No, there are always tender compensations, such as this Pisgah-vision.
Israel's tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God's will, in statutes, including the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters. [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 4:6 mean?

Therefore be careful and to observe [them] for that [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear - all statutes these and say surely a people Wise and understanding nation [is] great this
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־ הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־ חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן הַגּ֥וֹי הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮  Therefore  be  careful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒  and  to  observe  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הִ֤וא  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
חָכְמַתְכֶם֙  your  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם  and  your  understanding 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.
לְעֵינֵ֖י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הָעַמִּ֑ים  of  the  peoples 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יִשְׁמְע֗וּן  will  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַחֻקִּ֣ים  statutes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
וְאָמְר֗וּ  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
רַ֚ק  surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
עַם־  a  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
חָכָ֣ם  Wise 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
וְנָב֔וֹן  and  understanding 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
הַגּ֥וֹי  nation  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הַגָּד֖וֹל  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.