Deuteronomy 4:38
To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
Original Language Analysis
לְהוֹרִ֗ישׁ
To drive out
H3423
לְהוֹרִ֗ישׁ
To drive out
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
1 of 14
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
גּוֹיִ֛ם
nations
H1471
גּוֹיִ֛ם
nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
2 of 14
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
גְּדֹלִ֧ים
thee greater
H1419
גְּדֹלִ֧ים
thee greater
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
3 of 14
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וַֽעֲצֻמִ֛ים
and mightier
H6099
וַֽעֲצֻמִ֛ים
and mightier
Strong's:
H6099
Word #:
4 of 14
powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous
מִמְּךָ֖
H4480
מִמְּךָ֖
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
5 of 14
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ
from before
H6440
מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ
from before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 14
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
לַהֲבִֽיאֲךָ֗
than thou art to bring
H935
לַהֲבִֽיאֲךָ֗
than thou art to bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
7 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לָֽתֶת
thee in to give
H5414
לָֽתֶת
thee in to give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
8 of 14
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אַרְצָ֛ם
thee their land
H776
אַרְצָ֛ם
thee their land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
11 of 14
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
נַֽחֲלָ֖ה
for an inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָ֖ה
for an inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
12 of 14
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
Cross References
Deuteronomy 7:1When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;Deuteronomy 11:23Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
Historical Context
Moses explains God's purpose in bringing Israel to the edge of Canaan: to dispossess nations greater and mightier than they. The Canaanite city-states had superior military technology (iron chariots) and fortified cities, making God's promise to give Israel victory a matter requiring faith in divine intervention rather than military strength.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that your spiritual enemies are 'greater and mightier' than you drive you to depend on God's power rather than your own?
- What partial victories in your life serve as evidence that God will complete the work He has begun?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance...
Moses articulates the purpose clause of verse 37: God loved, chose, and delivered Israel lehorish (לְהוֹרִישׁ, 'to dispossess/drive out') nations and lahavi'akha (לַהֲבִיאֲךָ, 'to bring you in') and latet lekha (לָתֶת לְךָ, 'to give you') their land. Three infinitives of purpose reveal God's comprehensive plan: removal of enemies, entrance into blessing, and receipt of inheritance.
The nations are described as gedolim va'atsumim (גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים, 'greater and mightier') than Israel. This is not false modesty but military reality. The Canaanites possessed fortified cities, iron chariots, professional armies, and centuries of territorial establishment. By every human calculation, Israel should fail. Their success would therefore demonstrate divine power, not Israelite prowess.
The phrase kayom hazeh (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, 'as it is this day') points to already-accomplished conquest east of the Jordan. Sihon and Og—both mightier than Israel—have fallen. What God began He will complete. The partial fulfillment guarantees the whole. Christians live similarly between Christ's first and second comings—initial victory assuring final triumph.