Deuteronomy 4:6

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.”

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• Job 28:28 : 28 And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
• Prov 1:7 : 7 Introduction to the Theme of the Book Fearing the LORD is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.
• Ps 19:7 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the LORD are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.
• Ps 111:10 : 10 To obey the LORD is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.
• Dan 5:11-16 : 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have insight, discernment, and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners. 12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.” 13 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel,“Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message. 16 However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.”
• 2 Tim 3:15 : 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
• Jas 3:13 : 13 True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
• Zech 8:20-23 : 20 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘It will someday come to pass that people– residents of many cities– will come. 21 The inhabitants of one will go to another and say,“Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and to ask his favor. 23 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of– indeed, grab– the robe of one Jew and say,“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”
• Mal 3:12 : 12 “All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
• Deut 30:19-20 : 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! 20 I also call on you to love the LORD your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the LORD promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
• 1 Kgs 4:34 : 34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.
• 1 Kgs 10:6-9 : 6 She said to the king,“The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! 7 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! Your wisdom and wealth surpass what was reported to me. 8 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! 9 May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on the throne of Israel! Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he made you king so you could make just and right decisions.”
• Ps 119:98-99 : 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules. 100 I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts.
• Prov 14:8 : 8 The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
• Jer 8:9 : 9 Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the LORD’s message, what wisdom do they really have?
• Dan 1:20 : 20 In every matter of wisdom and insight the king asked them about, he found them to be ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire empire.
• Dan 4:9 : 9 saying,“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation!