Deuteronomy 4:31

Verse

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.

American Standard Version (1901)

for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Bible in Basic English

Because the Lord your God is a God of mercy, he will not take away his help from you or let destruction overtake you, or be false to the agreement which he made by an oath with your fathers.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Because the Lord thy God is a merciful God: he will not leave thee, nor altogether destroy thee, nor forget the covenant, by which he swore to thy fathers.

Free Bible Version

The Lord your God is a merciful God. He won't abandon you or destroy you or forget the agreement he made with your forefathers, confirmed by a solemn promise.

Geneva Bible 1599

(For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the couenant of thy fathers, which hee sware vnto them.

King James (Authorized) Version

(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

One Unity Resource Bible

For Adonai your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· of your fathers which he swore to them.

Translation for Translators

Yahweh is a God who acts mercifully. If you continue to obey him, he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the agreement that he solemnly made with your ancestors.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

For Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that he swore to them.

Noah Webster Bible

(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which he swore to them.

World English Bible

For Yahweh your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.

Young's Literal Translation

for a merciful God [is] Jehovah thy God; He doth not fail thee, nor destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which He hath sworn to them.

Context

A Warning against Idolatry

³⁰When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.³¹For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.

Summary

In Deuteronomy 4:31, Moses reassures the Israelites of God's faithfulness and compassion, even in times of disobedience. Despite their shortcomings, God promises not to abandon His people but to remain steadfast in His love for them. This verse serves as a reminder of God's enduring grace and mercy, encouraging repentance and a return to Him. It reflects the unchanging nature of God's character, emphasizing His commitment to His covenant with His chosen ones.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

For the Lord thy God is a merciful God,.... In Christ, in whom he has proclaimed his name as such, of which Moses had a comfortable view, Exo 34:6 and therefore could attest it from his own knowledge and experience: he will not forsake thee; though in a strange country, but bring them from thence into their own land again, and favour them with his gracious presence in his house and ordinances: neither destroy thee; from being a people; and in a very wonderful manner are they preserved among the nations of the earth to this day: nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which he sware unto them; that a Saviour should come and turn away ungodliness from them, and take away their sins; see Rom 11:26.