Deuteronomy 4:31

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you, destroy you, or forget the covenant He swore to your ancestors.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־בְּרִ֣ית אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לָהֶֽם׃

Transliteration

For ʾēl raḥûm YHWH ʾĕlōheḵā, not yarpəḵā and-not yašḥîṯeḵā, and-not yiškaḥ ʾet-bərîṯ ʾăḇōṯeḵā which nišbaʿ to-them.

Grammar Details

• *ʾēl*: masculine singular noun - God/deity/mighty one
• *raḥûm*: adjective, masculine singular - compassionate/merciful
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *ʾĕlōheḵā*: masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your God
• *yarpəḵā*: verb, Hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - he will abandon you
• *yašḥîṯeḵā*: verb, Hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - he will destroy you
• *yiškaḥ*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will forget
• *bərîṯ*: feminine singular construct noun - covenant of
• *ʾăḇōṯeḵā*: masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your fathers
• *nišbaʿ*: verb, Niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he swore

Word Meanings

• *ʾēl*: God/deity/mighty one/power
• *raḥûm*: compassionate/merciful/full of compassion
• *yarpəḵā*: to abandon/let go/forsake
• *yašḥîṯeḵā*: to destroy/ruin/corrupt
• *yiškaḥ*: to forget/ignore/neglect
• *bərîṯ*: covenant/treaty/alliance
• *ʾăḇōṯeḵā*: fathers/ancestors/forefathers
• *nišbaʿ*: to swear/take an oath/pledge

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  (For the LORD your God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  (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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  for Jehovah{H3068} thy God{H430} is a merciful{H7349} God;{H430} he will not fail{H7503} thee, neither destroy{H7843} thee, nor forget{H7911} the covenant{H1285} of thy fathers{H1} which he sware{H7650} unto them.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  (For the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} is a merciful{H7349} God{H410};) he will not forsake{H7503}{(H8686)} thee, neither destroy{H7843}{(H8686)} thee, nor forget{H7911}{(H8799)} the covenant{H1285} of thy fathers{H1} which he sware{H7650}{(H8738)} unto them.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For the Lorde thy God is a pitiefull God: he will not forsake the nether destroye the, nor forgett the appoyntmet made with thy fathers which he sware vnto them.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For ye LORDE yi God is a mercifull God, he shal not forsake the, ner destroye the: nether shall he forget the couenaunt with thy fathers, which he sware vnto them.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  (For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the couenant of thy fathers, which hee sware vnto them.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  (For the Lorde thy God is a mercifull God) he wyll not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the appoyntment of thy fathers, which he sware vnto them.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  (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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  for Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Because the Lord your God is a God of mercy, he will not take away his help from you or let destruction overtake you, or be false to the agreement which he made by an oath with your fathers.

• World English Bible (2000)

  for Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  (for he is a merciful God), he will not let you down or destroy you, for he cannot forget the covenant with your ancestors that he confirmed by oath to them.

Referenced Verses

• Lev 26:42 : 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
• Deut 31:8 : 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
• Jonah 4:2 : 2 And he prayed to the LORD, saying, 'O LORD, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own land? That is why I tried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from sending calamity.
• 2 Chr 30:9 : 9 If you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by those who took them captive, and they will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.
• Lev 26:45 : 45 For their sake, I will remember the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God: I am the LORD.
• Deut 31:6 : 6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Neh 9:31 : 31 Still, in Your great mercies, You did not utterly destroy them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God.
• Ps 116:5 : 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
• Ps 145:8-9 : 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all he has made.
• Jer 14:21 : 21 For the sake of Your name, do not despise us; do not dishonor Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it.
• Ps 111:9 : 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name.
• Ps 111:5 : 5 He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.
• Ps 86:5 : 5 For You, Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.
• Exod 34:6-7 : 6 The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 7 Maintaining steadfast love to thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, but not leaving the guilty unpunished. He punishes the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
• Neh 1:5 : 5 Then I said, 'Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
• Josh 1:5 : 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor abandon you.
• 1 Chr 28:20 : 20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
• Luke 1:72 : 72 He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered His holy covenant—
• Mic 7:18 : 18 Who is a God like You, forgiving iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love.
• Num 14:18 : 18 'The LORD is slow to anger, abundant in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion; yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity upon the children to the third and fourth generation.'
• Ps 86:15 : 15 But You, O Lord, are a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
• Ps 105:8 : 8 He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations.