What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whatever thing I command you, that you shall observe to do. You shall not add to it, nor take away from it.
- BSB See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
- NKJV “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
- NASB “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take anything away from it.
- NLT “So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel must do exactly what God commands, neither adding to it nor subtracting from it. God's word is the complete and authoritative standard for worship.
Overview
This concluding command guards the integrity of God's revelation, forbidding both addition and subtraction. Human supplements and omissions alike corrupt true worship and obedience. The principle echoes through Scripture to its final pages and underscores the sufficiency of God's word, fully and finally given in Christ and the apostolic witness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 4:2Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
- Rev 22:18–19For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
- Josh 1:7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
- Prov 30:6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
- Deut 13:18When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
- Matt 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 12:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.