The Meaning of Deuteronomy 10:4 Explained

Deuteronomy 10:4

KJV: And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

YLT: 'And He writeth on the tables, according to the first writing, the Ten Matters, which Jehovah hath spoken unto you in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, in the day of the assembly, and Jehovah giveth them unto me,

Darby: And he wrote on the tables, as the first writing, the ten words which Jehovah spoke unto you on the mountain, from the midst of the fire, on the day of the assembly, and Jehovah gave them unto me.

ASV: And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Jehovah spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Jehovah gave them unto me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he wrote  on the tables,  according to the first  writing,  the ten  commandments,  which the LORD  spake  unto you in the mount  out of the midst  of the fire  in the day  of the assembly:  and the LORD  gave  them unto me. 

What does Deuteronomy 10:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 10:1-22 - What The Lord Requires Of Us
The second writing of the Law reminds us of the work wrought in us by the Holy Spirit. When first we hear the Law, we are condemned; but when we have repented and believed, God writes it on the fleshly tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10. Together with this deepening love and delight in God's Law, we enter into the spiritual equivalent of Levi's calling, standing to minister, and blessing in God's name.
Every word of the magnificent parable from Deuteronomy 10:12 deserves careful pondering. Let us learn what God requires and then ask Him to create such things in us. As Augustine puts it: "Give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt." But we must be willing to enter into the inner significance of the initial Jewish rite, which; is also taught in baptism, Romans 2:26-29; Colossians 2:11-12. The separation of Calvary's Cross leads to the filling of Pentecost! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 10

1  God's mercy in restoring the two tablets
6  in continuing the priesthood
8  in separating the tribe of Levi
10  in hearkening unto Moses' plea for his people
12  An exhortation to obedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 10:4 mean?

And He wrote on the tablets according to the writing first - Ten the Commandments which had spoken Yahweh to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and gave them to me
וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב עַֽל־ הַלֻּחֹ֜ת כַּמִּכְתָּ֣ב הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן אֵ֚ת עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֲלֵיכֶ֥ם בָּהָ֛ר מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵ֖שׁ בְּי֣וֹם הַקָּהָ֑ל וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם אֵלָֽי

וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב  And  He  wrote 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
הַלֻּחֹ֜ת  the  tablets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לוּחַ  
Sense: board, slab, tablet, plank.
כַּמִּכְתָּ֣ב  according  to  the  writing 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִכְתָּב  
Sense: writing, thing written.
הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן  first 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת  Ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
הַדְּבָרִ֔ים  the  Commandments 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
דִּבֶּר֩  had  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יְהוָ֨ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲלֵיכֶ֥ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בָּהָ֛ר  in  the  mountain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
מִתּ֥וֹךְ  from  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
הָאֵ֖שׁ  of  the  fire 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
בְּי֣וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַקָּהָ֑ל  of  the  assembly 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם  and  gave  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֵלָֽי  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).