For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
Parallel translations
- WEB For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?
- KJV For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
- NKJV “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?
- NASB For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?
- NLT For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?
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
No other nation has a god so near as the LORD is when Israel calls. It celebrates God's unique nearness to His people.
Overview
Moses marvels that Israel enjoys a God who draws near and answers prayer, unlike the distant idols of the nations. This nearness is a gift of covenant grace, not Israel's achievement. It foreshadows the fullest nearness of God in Christ, Immanuel, God with us.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 145:18The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- 2 Sam 7:23And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.
- Ps 34:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
- Jas 4:8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ps 73:28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
- Isa 55:6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- Ps 46:1For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Ps 148:14He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
- Isa 43:4Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.
- Eph 2:12–22remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
- Deut 5:26For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?
- Num 23:21He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.
- Num 23:9For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 4:7 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.