The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:13 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:13

KJV: And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

YLT: and He declareth to you His covenant, which He hath commanded you to do, the Ten Matters, and He writeth them upon two tables of stone.

Darby: And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, the ten words; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.

ASV: And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he declared  unto you his covenant,  which he commanded  you to perform,  [even] ten  commandments;  and he wrote  them upon two  tables  of stone. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 - "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 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 4:13 mean?

So He declared to you - His covenant which He commanded you to perform Ten the Commandments and He wrote them on two tablets of stone
וַיַּגֵּ֨ד לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־ בְּרִית֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֑ים וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם עַל־ שְׁנֵ֖י לֻח֥וֹת אֲבָנִֽים

וַיַּגֵּ֨ד  So  He  declared 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לָכֶ֜ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּרִית֗וֹ  His  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
צִוָּ֤ה  He  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת  to  perform 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת  Ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
הַדְּבָרִ֑ים  the  Commandments 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם  and  He  wrote  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
שְׁנֵ֖י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
לֻח֥וֹת  tablets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לוּחַ  
Sense: board, slab, tablet, plank.
אֲבָנִֽים  of  stone 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).