Keraia
Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:24

Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan · Deuteronomy 3:23–29
Read Deuteronomy 3

Translations

Modern
“O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can perform such works and mighty acts as Yours?
Traditional
O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
Literal
“O Lord YHWH, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand. For what god is in the heavens or on the earth who does works as Your works and as Your mighty deeds?
Latin
Domine Deus, tu cœpisti ostendere servo tuo magnitudinem tuam, manumque fortissimam: neque enim est alius deus vel in cælo, vel in terra, qui possit facere opera tua, et comparari fortitudini tuæ.

Original

Hebrew
English
“O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can perform such works and mighty acts as Yours?

Notes

Deuteronomy 3:24

For what god: Moses was not suggesting that other gods truly exist. He was affirming that only the Lord is God.

This question declares the uniqueness of the Lord. It states that no one and nothing else, whether real or imagined, can rival him.

The statement emphasizes that the Lord alone has supreme power and authority.

Deuteronomy 1:6–4:40

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Parallels

Numbers 27:12–17

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Tribe of Dan

Topics

God: Power of Moses: Not Permitted to Enter Canaan, but Views the Land from Atop Mount Pisgah Power of God: Incomparable Prayer: Moses Asked to be Permitted to Cross the Jordan River Prayer: Pleas offered In Prayer: when Moses Prayed to See Canaan, the Promised Land The Power of God: Incomparable