Deuteronomy 4:9

Authorized King James Version

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;

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

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Deuteronomy. The concept of life reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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