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?
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?
- BSB 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?
- 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 nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
- 2 Sam 7:23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
- Ps 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
- Jas 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
- Ps 73:28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
- Isa 55:6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
- Ps 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Ps 148:14He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
- Isa 43:4Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
- Eph 2:12–22That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
- Deut 5:26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
- Num 23:21He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
- Num 23:9For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
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.