Deuteronomy 4:9

Authorized King James Version

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Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Original Language Analysis

רַ֡ק H7535
רַ֡ק
Strong's: H7535
Word #: 1 of 23
properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
וּשְׁמֹ֨ר Only take heed H8104
וּשְׁמֹ֨ר Only take heed
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 2 of 23
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
לְךָ֩ H0
לְךָ֩
Strong's: H0
Word #: 3 of 23
וּשְׁמֹ֨ר Only take heed H8104
וּשְׁמֹ֨ר Only take heed
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 4 of 23
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
נַפְשְׁךָ֜ thy soul H5315
נַפְשְׁךָ֜ thy soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 5 of 23
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מְאֹ֗ד diligently H3966
מְאֹ֗ד diligently
Strong's: H3966
Word #: 6 of 23
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
פֶּן H6435
פֶּן
Strong's: H6435
Word #: 7 of 23
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח lest thou forget H7911
תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח lest thou forget
Strong's: H7911
Word #: 8 of 23
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 9 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַדְּבָרִ֜ים the things H1697
הַדְּבָרִ֜ים the things
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 10 of 23
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
רָא֣וּ have seen H7200
רָא֣וּ have seen
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 12 of 23
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
עֵינֶ֗יךָ which thine eyes H5869
עֵינֶ֗יךָ which thine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 13 of 23
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וּפֶן H6435
וּפֶן
Strong's: H6435
Word #: 14 of 23
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יָס֙וּרוּ֙ and lest they depart H5493
יָס֙וּרוּ֙ and lest they depart
Strong's: H5493
Word #: 15 of 23
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ from thy heart H3824
מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ from thy heart
Strong's: H3824
Word #: 16 of 23
the heart (as the most interior organ)
כֹּ֖ל H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יְמֵ֣י all the days H3117
יְמֵ֣י all the days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 18 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
חַיֶּ֑יךָ of thy life H2416
חַיֶּ֑יךָ of thy life
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 19 of 23
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וְהֽוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם but teach H3045
וְהֽוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם but teach
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 20 of 23
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons H1121
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 21 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons H1121
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 22 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons H1121
בָנֶֽיךָ׃ and thy sons
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 23 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

Cross References

Deuteronomy 6:7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.Deuteronomy 11:19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.Genesis 18:19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.Deuteronomy 32:46And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.Ephesians 6:4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.Deuteronomy 29:29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.Proverbs 23:26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.Revelation 3:3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.Proverbs 1:8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:Psalms 71:18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Analysis & Commentary

The double command 'take heed...keep thy soul diligently' employs intensive Hebrew construction ('shamar...shamar me'od') demanding utmost vigilance. The warning against forgetting God's mighty acts addresses the human tendency toward spiritual amnesia. The command to 'teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons' establishes transgenerational covenant responsibility. This verse articulates the Reformed principle of covenant succession—believers must intentionally disciple their children and grandchildren. Forgetting God's works leads to covenant unfaithfulness; remembrance sustains faith across generations. Scripture functions as covenant memory, preserving redemptive history.

Historical Context

Moses addresses the second generation who personally witnessed or heard testimony of miraculous deliverance from Egypt, Red Sea crossing, Sinai revelation, wilderness provision (manna, quail, water), and recent victories over Sihon and Og. The danger was that future generations, enjoying Canaan's prosperity, would forget the God who delivered their ancestors. This command established the pattern of fathers teaching children redemptive history (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Psalm 78:1-8).

Questions for Reflection

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