The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:3 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:3

KJV: Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

YLT: 'Your eyes are seeing that which Jehovah hath done in Baal-Peor, for every man who hath gone after Baal-Peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed him from thy midst;

Darby: Your eyes have seen what Jehovah did because of Baal-Peor; for all the men that followed Baal-Peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed them from among you;

ASV: Your eyes have seen what Jehovah did because of Baal-peor; for all the men that followed Baal-peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed them from the midst of thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Your eyes  have seen  what the LORD  did  because of Baalpeor:  for all the men  that followed  Baalpeor,  the LORD  thy God  hath destroyed  them from among  you. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:3 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 4:3 mean?

Your eyes have seen - what did Yahweh at Baal Peor for all the men who that followed - in Baal of Peor has destroyed your God from among you
עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הָֽרֹאֹ֔ת אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה בְּבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר כִּ֣י כָל־ הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָלַךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י בַֽעַל־ פְּע֔וֹר הִשְׁמִיד֛וֹ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ

עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙  Your  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הָֽרֹאֹ֔ת  have  seen 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֵ֛ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
בְּבַ֣עַל  at  Baal  Peor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
כָל־  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  that 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הָלַךְ֙  followed 
Parse: Preposition
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אַחֲרֵ֣י  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
פְּע֔וֹר  Baal  of  Peor 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בַּעַל פְּעֹור  
Sense: the deity worshipped at Peor with probable licentious rites.
הִשְׁמִיד֛וֹ  has  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ  from  among  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.