The Meaning of Deuteronomy 3:24 Explained

Deuteronomy 3:24

KJV: O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

YLT: Lord Jehovah, Thou -- Thou hast begun to shew Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for who is a God in the heavens or in earth who doth according to Thy works, and according to Thy might?

Darby: Lord Jehovah, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy powerful hand; for what God is in the heavens or in the earth that can do like to thy works, and like to thy might?

ASV: O Lord Jehovah, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy mighty acts?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O Lord  GOD,  thou hast begun  to shew  thy servant  thy greatness,  and thy mighty  hand:  for what God  [is there] in heaven  or in earth,  that can do  according to thy works,  and according to thy might? 

What does Deuteronomy 3:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 3:23-29 - "take Heed To Thyself"
Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children while they went to succor their brethren. But God's commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.
Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God's wondrous works, Deuteronomy 3:24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God's self-revelation.
Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the divine decision. Compare Deuteronomy 3:23-25 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Do not pray against God's will, but with it, 1 John 5:14. When God says No, there are always tender compensations, such as this Pisgah-vision.
Israel's tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God's will, in statutes, including the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 3

1  The conquest of Og, king of Bashan
11  This size of his bed
12  The distribution of his lands to the two tribes and half
23  Moses prays to enter into the land
26  He is permitted to see it

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 3:24 mean?

Lord GOD You have begun to show - Your servant Your greatness and Your hand mighty for who [is a] god in heaven or on earth who can do [anything] like Your works and Your mighty [deeds]
אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה אַתָּ֤ה הַֽחִלּ֙וֹתָ֙ לְהַרְא֣וֹת אֶֽת־ עַבְדְּךָ֔ גָּדְלְךָ֔ וְאֶת־ יָדְךָ֖ הַחֲזָקָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִי־ אֵל֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם וּבָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה כְמַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ ؟ וְכִגְבוּרֹתֶֽךָ

אֲדֹנָ֣י  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֗ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
הַֽחִלּ֙וֹתָ֙  have  begun 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
לְהַרְא֣וֹת  to  show 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עַבְדְּךָ֔  Your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
גָּדְלְךָ֔  Your  greatness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גֹּדֶל  
Sense: greatness.
יָדְךָ֖  Your  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הַחֲזָקָ֑ה  mighty 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חָזָק  
Sense: strong, stout, mighty.
אֵל֙  [is  a]  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם  in  heaven 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וּבָאָ֔רֶץ  or  on  earth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה  can  do  [anything] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כְמַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ  like  Your  works 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
؟ וְכִגְבוּרֹתֶֽךָ  and  Your  mighty  [deeds] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.