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Deuteronomy 4:26

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you. This solemn form of adjuration has been common in special circumstances among all people. It is used here figuratively, or as in other parts of Scripture where inanimate objects are called up as witnesses (Deuteronomy 32:1; Isaiah 1:2).

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See also Deuteronomy 4:26 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Deuteronomy 4:26. _I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU_] A most solemn method of adjuration, in use among all nations in the world. So Virgil, AEn., lib. xii., ver. 176, c. Tum pius...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Compare with these verses Leviticus 26:33, and Deuteronomy 28:64 ff....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. HEARKEN, O ISRAEL! CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Obedience demanded (Deuteronomy 4:1)_ 2. The covenant to be observed (Deuteronomy 4:9) 3. Take heed unto yourselves lest ye forget (Deuteronomy 4:15

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SECOND PART OF MOSES-' FIRST ADDRESS. This contains exhortations to obedience from motives of self-interest and of gratitude to Yahweh, and forms an apparent logical unity with Deuteronomy 1:6 to Deut...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    I CALL. Figure of speech _Deasis._ App-6. Compare Deuteronomy 31:28. HEAVEN AND EARTH. the heavens and the earth (always plural and with Hebrew particle. _eth_, except Genesis 2:1. See note on Deutero...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I call heaven and earth to witness against you_ So Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 31:28. Berth. points out that the older style is _earth and heaven_. In controversy between God and Israel nature is...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Threat of Exile with Promise of Grace on Repentance If, with the slackness of increasing years, Israel give way to idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:25) Moses testifies that they shall perish from the land (De...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 26. _I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU_— These expressions, says Calmet, are lively and animated. Moses again addresses the heaven and the earth, in the sacred song which he delive...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    I MUST NOT GO OVER THE JORDAN (Deuteronomy 4:22)See under Deuteronomy 1:37. c. PUNISHMENT FOR IDOLATRY: BANISHMENT FROM THE LAND (Deuteronomy 4:25-28) 25 When thou shalt beget children, and children'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATIONS TO OBEDIENCE This chapter contains the practical part of the discourse. Having briefly rehearsed the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness up to the present point, Moses closes...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FIRST DISCOURSE (DEUTERONOMY 1:14 TO DEUTERONOMY 4:43) The long sojourn in the wilderness is now drawing to a close. The Israelites are encamped in the Plains of Moab within sight of the Promised Land...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DEUTERONOMY: GOD’S LAW OF LOVE LOVE AND OBEY THE *LORD YOUR GOD DEUTERONOMY _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 4 V1 ‘Therefore, everyone in *Israel, listen to the rules and the laws that I will teach to you...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הַעִידֹתִי֩ בָכֶ֨ם הַ יֹּ֜ום אֶת ־הַ שָּׁמַ֣י

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    MOSES' FAREWELL SPEECHES Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 27:1; Deuteronomy 28:1; Deuteronomy 29:1;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JEHOVAH “A JEALOUS GOD” Deuteronomy 4:15 How often Moses repeats, “ _take heed._ ” We must watch as well as pray and keep our souls diligently. We must specially beware of idols-that is, any visible...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    On the ground of this survey Moser exhorted the people to be obedient, His appeal was based on the greatness of their God and the perfection of His law. Their whole existence as a nation centered arou...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I (r) call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, bu...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    And earth, or all their rational inhabitants. (St. Jerome and St. Basil in Isa. i. 2.) Moses conjures the Israelites, by all that is most sacred, to continue faithful. He speaks with the greatest earn...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe the vast earnestness of the Sacred Preacher in the arguments he adopts to interest the feelings of the people; and how he dwells, again and again, upon the same very powerful motives to induce...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In examining Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, we have found what may be called an abstract typical system. That is, we see in them a number of institutions laid down by Jehovah, the pattern of which wa...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS_ ‘When ye … shall corrupt yourselves.… Ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land.’ Deuteronomy 4:25 Over and over again in Scripture we are taught, and for the most p...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1, 2, 3, AND 4. Let us examine a little more closely these Chapter s, which shew the pains the Spirit took, to set before the eyes of the people all the moti...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU THIS DAY,.... Should they be guilty of such a sin, since they were so strongly and publicly cautioned against it; and even the heaven and the earth were...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 An Exhortation to obedience. 41 Moses appointeth the three Cities of refuge on that side Iordan. 1 NOWE therefore hearken, O Israel, vnto the Statutes, and vnto the Iudgments which I teach you, fo...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Appeal Supported by a Reference to God's Kindness...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I call heaven and earth, as living, sensible creatures, TO WITNESS AGAINST YOU THIS DAY THAT YE SHALL SOON UTTERLY PERISH FROM OFF THE LAND WHEREUNTO YE GO OVER JORDAN TO POSSESS IT; YE SHALL NOT PROL...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    MOSES INSISTS ON OBEDIENCE (vs.1-14) Because God had already blessed Israel and intended to bless them more greatly still. Moses urges them to "listen to the statutes and judgments" he is teaching th...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    24-40 Moses urged the greatness, glory, and goodness of God. Did we consider what a God he is with whom we have to do, we should surely make conscience of our duty to him, and not dare to sin against...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HEAVEN AND EARTH; either, 1. Figuratively, i.e. God, and angels, and men. Or rather, 2. Properly; it being usual in Scripture to call in the senseless creatures as witnesses in such cases, as Deutero...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    Now therefore hearken O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgements which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Deuteronomy 4:26 call H5749 heaven H8064 earth H776 witness H5749 (H8689) day H3117 soon H4118 utterly H6 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WHAT THEIR FATE WILL BE IF THEY TURN AWAY FROM HIM TO GRAVEN IMAGES (DEUTERONOMY 4:25). This fate had already been portrayed by what had happened to their fathers who were driven from the land (Deuter...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The new generations taught the lessons of Sinai. Cities of refuge designated. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: The review of God's providences concerning us should quicken us and engage...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Deuteronomy 4:2. _Ye shall not add unto the word._ This would be to debase revelation, and treat the divine law as a defective production of man, that needed additions and retrenchments. Solon, the At...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land._ MOSES’ DISCOURSE 1. In general it is...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.—From the mention of what God had done for Israel, Moses passes to the obedience of the law. They were under deep obligation to keep it, and in doing so, consisted their wisdom, greatne...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION DEUTERONOMY 4:25-5 Moses enforces the warning against idolatry, by predicting the evil that should come upon the nation through the apostasy of those who should in after times turn from Je...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    NOW therefore (Deuteronomy 4:1) Moses is now making application. NOW therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and to the judgments, which I teach you, to do them, that you may live, and go in a...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Deuteronomy 29:28; Deuteronomy 30:18; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 31:28;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    PARTING WORDS Deuteronomy 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS It is, perhaps, strange to some that we speak of the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy as "Parting words," yet the whole Book of Deuteronomy centers in t...

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