The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:7 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:7

KJV: For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

YLT: For which is the great nation that hath God near unto it, as Jehovah our God, in all we have called unto him?

Darby: For what great nation is there that hath God near to them as Jehovah our God is in everything we call upon him for?

ASV: For what great nation is there, that hath a god so nigh unto them, as Jehovah our God is whensoever we call upon him?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For what nation  [is there so] great,  who [hath] God  [so] nigh  unto them, as the LORD  our God  [is] in all [things that] we call  upon him [for]? 

What does Deuteronomy 4:7 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 4:7 mean?

For who [is] the nation great that has God [so] near to it as Yahweh our God [is] to us for whatever [reason] we may call upon Him
כִּ֚י מִי־ ג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קְרֹבִ֣ים אֵלָ֑יו כַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ בְּכָּל־ קָרְאֵ֖נוּ‪‬‪‬ אֵלָֽיו

מִי־  who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
ג֣וֹי  the  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
גָּד֔וֹל  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
קְרֹבִ֣ים  [so]  near 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.
אֵלָ֑יו  to  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כַּיהוָ֣ה  as  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-k, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ  our  God  [is]  to  us 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּכָּל־  for  whatever  [reason] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
קָרְאֵ֖נוּ‪‬‪‬  we  may  call 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֵלָֽיו  upon  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).