Deuteronomy 4:6

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן הַגּ֥וֹי הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה

Transliteration

And-ushᵉmartem and-waʿăśîtem, for hîw your-ḥokmatkhem and-your-bînatkhem to-ʿênê the-ʿammîm who yishmᵉʿûn ʾet all-the-ḥuqqîm the-these, and-wᵉʾāmrû surely people-ḥākām and-nābôn the-gôy the-gādôl the-this

Grammar Details

• *û*: conjunction - and
• *shᵉmartem*: verb, qal perfect, second person masculine plural - you shall keep/observe
• *wa*: conjunction - and
• *ʿăśîtem*: verb, qal perfect, second person masculine plural - you shall do/perform
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *hîw*: pronoun, third person feminine singular - it/she
• *ḥokmatkhem*: noun, feminine singular with second person masculine plural suffix - your wisdom
• *bînatkhem*: noun, feminine singular with second person masculine plural suffix - your understanding
• *lᵉ*: preposition - to/for
• *ʿênê*: noun, feminine dual construct - eyes of
• *ʿammîm*: noun, masculine plural - peoples/nations
• *yishmᵉʿûn*: verb, qal imperfect, third person masculine plural - they will hear
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *kol*: noun, masculine singular construct - all of
• *ḥuqqîm*: noun, masculine plural - statutes/decrees
• *ʾēlleh*: demonstrative pronoun, common plural - these
• *wᵉʾāmrû*: conjunction with verb, qal perfect, third person masculine plural - and they will say
• *raq*: adverb - only/surely
• *ʿam*: noun, masculine singular construct - people of
• *ḥākām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise
• *nābôn*: adjective, masculine singular - understanding/discerning
• *gôy*: noun, masculine singular - nation
• *gādôl*: adjective, masculine singular - great/large
• *zeh*: demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular - this

Word Meanings

• *shᵉmartem*: you shall keep/observe/guard/preserve
• *ʿăśîtem*: you shall do/perform/make/accomplish
• *ḥokmatkhem*: your wisdom/skill/expertise
• *bînatkhem*: your understanding/discernment/intelligence
• *ʿammîm*: peoples/nations/ethnic groups
• *yishmᵉʿûn*: they will hear/listen/obey
• *ḥuqqîm*: statutes/decrees/prescribed limits
• *raq*: only/surely/certainly
• *ḥākām*: wise/skillful/experienced
• *nābôn*: understanding/discerning/intelligent
• *gôy*: nation/people/gentiles
• *gādôl*: great/large/important

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  You must keep and do them, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, who will hear about all these statutes and say, 'Indeed, this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Keep{H8104} therefore and do{H6213} them; for this is your wisdom{H2451} and your understanding{H998} in the sight{H5869} of the peoples,{H5971} that shall hear{H8085} all these statutes,{H2706} and say,{H559} Surely this great{H1419} nation{H1471} is a wise{H2450} and understanding{H995} people.{H5971}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Keep{H8104}{(H8804)} therefore and do{H6213}{(H8804)} them; for this is your wisdom{H2451} and your understanding{H998} in the sight{H5869} of the nations{H5971}, which shall hear{H8085}{(H8799)} all these statutes{H2706}, and say{H559}{(H8804)}, Surely this great{H1419} nation{H1471} is a wise{H2450} and understanding{H995}{(H8737)} people{H5971}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Kepe them therfore and doo them, for that is youre wisdome and vnderstandynge in the syghte of the nacyons: whiche when they haue herde all these ordinaunces, shall saye: O what a wyse and vnderstondynge people is this greate nacion.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Kepe them now therfore and do them: for that is youre wysdome and vnderstondinge in the sight of all nacions, which wha they haue herde all these ordinaunces, shall saye: O what a wyse and vnderstondinge folke is this? and how excellent a people?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Keepe them therefore, and doe them; for that is your wisdome, and your vnderstanding in the sight of the people, which shall heare all these ordinances, and shall say, Onely this people is wise, and of vnderstanding, and a great nation.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Kepe them therfore and do them, for that is your wisdome and vnderstandyng in the syght of the people, that they may heare all these ordinaunces, and say: Surely it is a wise and vnderstandyng people, it is a great nation.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

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

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  So keep these laws and do them; for so will your wisdom and good sense be clear in the eyes of the peoples, who hearing all these laws will say, Truly, this great nation is a wise and far-seeing people.

• World English Bible (2000)

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

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say,“Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.”

Referenced Verses

• Job 28:28 : 28 And to man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
• Prov 1:7 : 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Ps 19:7 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
• Ps 111:10 : 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do his commandments; his praise endures forever.
• Dan 5:11-16 : 11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, solving of riddles, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel, who is one of the captives of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and solve doubts. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with scarlet, have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
• 2 Tim 3:15 : 15 And that from childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
• Jas 3:13 : 13 Who is wise and endowed with knowledge among you? Let him show by good conduct his works with the meekness of wisdom.
• Zech 8:20-23 : 20 Thus says the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go quickly to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the garment of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
• Mal 3:12 : 12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts.
• Deut 30:19-20 : 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live: 20 That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cling to him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
• 1 Kgs 4:34 : 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
• 1 Kgs 10:6-9 : 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 7 However I did not believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it: and behold, the half was not told me: your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard. 8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.
• Ps 119:98-99 : 98 You, through Your commandments, have made me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.
• Prov 14:8 : 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
• Jer 8:9 : 9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
• Dan 1:20 : 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
• Dan 4:9 : 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.