Deuteronomy 4:2 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Don't add anything to the words I'm commanding you, and don't take anything away from them, so that you can obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I'm giving you.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Moses is telling the Israelites not to change God's commands in any way - don't add to them or subtract from them, but follow them exactly as given.

📚 Historical Context

Moses spoke these words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. He was giving his final instructions and reminding them of God's laws before his death. This command came after the tragic incident at Baal-peor where many Israelites had been led astray by false worship.

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Luke 1:6

Both of them were genuinely good people in God's eyes — they followed all of God's commands and lived with integrity. There wasn't anything you could call them out on.

Mark 7:7

But their worship doesn't mean anything to me when they're teaching human rules like they're my commandments.

Amos 9:9

Listen up — I'm going to shake the people of Israel through all the nations, like when you shake grain through a sieve to separate the good from the bad. But here's the thing: not even the smallest piece of what's truly valuable will hit the ground and be lost.

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