But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
- BSB But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey 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 saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
- Jer 12:2Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
- John 5:46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
- Matt 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Ezek 33:33And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
- Heb 2:1–3Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
- Luke 10:11–12Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
- Ezek 2:5And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
- Ezek 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- Acts 13:26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
- Acts 28:23–28And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
- Acts 13:38–41Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
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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 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
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.