But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
- KJV But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
- NKJV But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
- NASB On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it.
- NLT No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
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
God's word is very near, in their mouth and heart, so they can obey it. The nearness of God's word makes obedience possible.
Overview
Moses concludes that the word is 'very near,' even in the heart, enabling obedience. This stresses both the accessibility of God's revelation and the heart's role in keeping it. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:8 as 'the word of faith we proclaim,' showing that the nearness of God's saving word is fully realized in the gospel of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 10:8–10But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
- Jer 12:2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
- John 5:46If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.
- Matt 7:21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Ezek 33:33So when it comes to pass—and surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
- Heb 2:1–3We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
- Luke 10:11–12‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
- Ezek 2:5And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
- Ezek 33:31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- Acts 28:23–28So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
- Acts 13:38–41Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
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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 30:14 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
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