Deuteronomy 4:2

King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹ֣א תֹסִ֗פוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ לִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶֽם

Transliteration

Not tōsipû upon-the-dābār which ʾānōkî mᵉṣawweh ʾetkhem, and-not tigrᵉʿû from-it; to-lishmōr ʾet-miṣwōt YHWH your-ʾĕlōhêkem which ʾānōkî mᵉṣawweh ʾetkhem

Grammar Details

• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *tōsipû*: verb, hiphil imperfect, second person masculine plural - you shall add
• *ʿal*: preposition - upon/to
• *dābār*: noun, masculine singular - word/thing/matter
• *ʾānōkî*: pronoun, first person singular - I
• *mᵉṣawweh*: participle, piel, masculine singular - commanding
• *ʾetkhem*: direct object marker with second person masculine plural suffix - you
• *tigrᵉʿû*: verb, qal imperfect, second person masculine plural - you shall diminish/subtract
• *mimmenû*: preposition with third person masculine singular suffix - from it
• *lishmōr*: preposition with infinitive construct, qal - to keep/observe
• *miṣwōt*: noun, feminine plural construct - commandments of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the divine name
• *ʾĕlōhêkem*: noun, masculine plural with second person masculine plural suffix - your God

Word Meanings

• *tōsipû*: you shall add/increase/supplement
• *dābār*: word/thing/matter/command
• *mᵉṣawweh*: commanding/ordering/instructing
• *tigrᵉʿû*: you shall diminish/subtract/reduce/take away
• *lishmōr*: to keep/observe/guard/preserve
• *miṣwōt*: commandments/precepts/orders

Referenced Verses

• Deut 12:32 : 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
• Prov 30:6 : 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reove thee, and thou be found a liar.
• Josh 1:7 : 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
• Rev 22:18-19 : 18 For I testify unto every man that heath the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that a written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which a written in this book.
• Gal 3:15 : 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
• Eccl 12:13 : 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• Matt 5:18 : 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
• Matt 5:43 : 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
• Matt 15:2-9 : 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
• Mark 7:1-9 : 1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.