The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:15 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:15

KJV: Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

YLT: and ye have been very watchful of your souls, for ye have not seen any similitude in the day of Jehovah's speaking unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire,

Darby: And take great heed to your souls (for ye saw no form on the day that Jehovah spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire),

ASV: Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that Jehovah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.

Discover Deuteronomy 4:15

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Deuteronomy 4:15?

MEANING: What does Deuteronomy 4:15 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:15 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Deuteronomy 4:15?

What is the context of Deuteronomy 4:15?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day [that] the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

What does Deuteronomy 4:15 Mean?

Study Notes

saw no manner
Cf.

hath seen God

CF Genesis 32:20 ; Exodus 24:10 ; Exodus 33:18 ; Judges 6:22 ; Judges 13:22 ; Revelation 22:4 . The divine essence, God, veiled in angelic form, and especially as incarnate in Jesus Christ, has been seen of men.; Genesis 18:2 ; Genesis 18:22 ; John 14:8 ; John 14:9 .

declared Lit. led him forth, i.e. into full revelation. John 14:9 .

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:15-31 - Jehovah "a Jealous God"

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 thing which takes the place of the unseen and eternal, veiling it from our view. The soul must learn to lean on the everlasting arm.

How true that description of the iron furnace! The metaphor is derived from the process of smelting metal. We have had our Egypts, where by trials the real ore of character was disintegrated from its rocky matrix. But though God may remove us from outward affliction, He is Himself the furnace of purification, by His Spirit and Word, and in the secrets of our hearts, Deuteronomy 4:24. But His fire burns our bonds, while our heads are unsinged, Daniel 3:25.

If these words meet the eyes of any who are among the scattered and vanished ones, let them seek God again, and they shall certainly find Him; for He is merciful, He will not fail nor destroy, nor forget the olden Covenant, Deuteronomy 4:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

¹ An exhortation to obedience
⁴¹ Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
⁴⁴ Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:15 mean?

And take heed careful to yourselves for not you saw any form when spoke Yahweh to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire

וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹ֤א רְאִיתֶם֙ כָּל־ תְּמוּנָ֔ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם בְּחֹרֵ֖ב מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ

וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם	And take heed
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural Root: שָׁמַר Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מְאֹ֖ד	careful
Parse: Adverb Root: מְאֹד Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם	to yourselves
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural Root: נֶפֶשׁ Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
רְאִיתֶם֙	you saw
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural Root: רָאָה Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כָּל־	any
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
תְּמוּנָ֔ה	form
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: תְּמוּנָה Sense: form, image, likeness, representation, semblance.
דִּבֶּ֨ר	spoke
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: דָּבַר Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יְהוָ֧ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם	to you
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural Root: אֶל Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בְּחֹרֵ֖ב	at Horeb
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: חֹרֵב Sense: another name for Mount Sinai from which God gave the law to Moses and the Israelites.
מִתּ֥וֹךְ	out of the midst
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: תָּוֶךְ Sense: midst, middle.
הָאֵֽשׁ	of the fire
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular Root: אֵשׁ Sense: fire.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 4:15?

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Similar Scriptures for Deuteronomy 4:15

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