Deuteronomy 4 · Verse 9

Deuteronomy 4:9

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
Deuteronomy 4:9, King James Version

Deuteronomy 4:9 in other translations

BSBOnly be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
WEBOnly be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children—
ASVOnly take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children’s children;
YLT‘Only, take heed to thyself, and watch thy soul exceedingly, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they turn aside from thy heart, all days of thy life; and thou hast made them known to thy sons, and to thy sons' sons.
DARBYOnly take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen (and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but thou shalt make them known to thy sons and to thy sons' sons),
BBEOnly take care, and keep watch on your soul, for fear that the things which your eyes have seen go from your memory and from your heart all the days of your life; but let the knowledge of them be given to your children and to your children's children;
WebsterOnly take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou shouldst forget the things which thy eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them to thy sons, and thy sons' sons:

What does Deuteronomy 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 4:7-9

7-9. what nation is there so great--Here he represents their privileges and their duty in such significant and comprehensive terms, as were peculiarly calculated to arrest their attention and engage their interest. The former, their national advantages, are described (De 4:7, 8), and they were twofold: 1. God's readiness to hear and aid them at all times; and 2. the excellence of that religion in which they were…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 4:7-9 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Only take heed to thyself - Be circumspect and watchful. Keep thy soul diligently - Be mindful of thy eternal interests. Whatever becomes of the body, take care of the soul. Lest thou forget - God does his work that they may be had in everlasting remembrance; and he that forgets them, forgets his own mercies. Besides, if a man forget the work of God on his soul, he loses that work. Lest they depart from thy heart - It is not sufficient to lay up Divine things in the memory, they must be laid up in the heart. Thy word have I hidden in my heart, says David, that I might not sin against thee. The life of God in the soul of man can alone preserve the soul to life everlasting; and this grace must be retained all the days of our life. When Adam fell, his condition was not meliorated by the reflection that he had been once in paradise; nor does it avail Satan now that he was once an angel of light. Those who let the grace of God depart from their hearts, lose that grace; and those who lose the grace, fall from the grace; and as some have fallen and risen no more, so may others; therefore, take heed to thyself, etc. Were it impossible for men finally to fall from the grace of God, exhortations of this kind had never been given, because they would have been unnecessary, and God never does an unnecessary thing. But teach them thy sons - If a man know the worth of his own soul, he will feel the importance of the salvation of the souls of his family. Those who neglect family religion, neglect personal religion; if more attention were paid to the former, even among those called religious people, we should soon have a better state of civil society. On family religion God lays much stress; and no head of a family can neglect it without endangering the final salvation of his own soul. See the note at the conclusion of Gen 18:32 (note), Gen 19:38 (note), and Deu 6:7 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:1-23

The power and love of God to Israel are here made the ground and reason of a number of cautions and serious warnings; and although there is much reference to their national covenant, yet all may be applied to those who live under the gospel. What are laws made for but to be observed and obeyed? Our obedience as individuals cannot merit salvation; but it is the only evidence that we are partakers of the gift of God…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 4:1-23 →

Deuteronomy 4:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רַ֡קrakonlyH7535
הִשָּׁ֣מֶרhi.Sha.mertake heedH8104
לְךָ֩le.Khato yourself
וּשְׁמֹ֨רu.she.Morand guardH8104
נַפְשְׁךָ֜naf.she.Khaself yourH5315
מְאֹ֗דme.'OdexceedinglyH3966
פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
תִּשְׁכַּ֨חtish.Kachyou should forgetH7911
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַדְּבָרִ֜יםha.de.va.Rimthe thingsH1697
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
רָא֣וּra.'Uthey have seenH7200
עֵינֶ֗יךָ'ei.Nei.khaeyes yourH5869
וּפֶן\־u.fen-and lestH6435
יָס֙וּרוּ֙ya.Su.ruthey should departH5493
מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔mi.le.Va.ve.khafrom heart yourH3824
כֹּ֖לkolallH3605
יְמֵ֣יye.Mei[the] days ofH3117
חַיֶּ֑יךָchai.Yei.khalife yourH2416
וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֥םve.ho.da'.Tamand you will make known themH3045
לְבָנֶ֖יךָle.va.Nei.khato children yourH1121
וְלִבְנֵ֥יve.liv.Neiand to [the] children ofH1121
בָנֶֽיךָ\׃va.Nei.khachildren yourH1121

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 4:9

  • Deuteronomy 6:7

    And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  • Deuteronomy 11:19

    And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  • Psalms 78:3-8

    Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: …

  • Genesis 18:19

    For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

  • Deuteronomy 32:46

    And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

  • Ephesians 6:4

    And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

  • Deuteronomy 29:29

    The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

  • Exodus 13:8-9

    And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

  • Proverbs 4:20-23

    My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

  • Proverbs 4:1-13

    Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. …

  • Proverbs 23:26

    My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

  • Revelation 3:3

    Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
keep thy soul.
15,23; Pr 3:1,3; 4:20-23; Lu 8:18; Heb 2:3; Jas 2:22
lest they.
Jos 1:18; Ps 119:11; Pr 3:1-3,21; 4:4; 7:1; Heb 2:1; Re 3:3
teach them.
6:7; 11:19; 29:29; 31:19; Ge 18:19; Ex 13:8,9,14-16; Jos 4:6,7,21
Ps 34:11-16; 71:18; 78:3-8; Pr 1:8; 4:1-13; 23:26; Isa 38:19
Eph 6:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 4:8

    And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

  • Deuteronomy 4:9

    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

  • Deuteronomy 4:10

    Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Read all of Deuteronomy 4

Deuteronomy 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto, guárdate, y guarda tu alma con diligencia, que no te olvides de las cosas que tus ojos han visto, ni se aparten de tu corazón todos los días de tu vida: y enseñarlas has á tus hijos, y á los hijos de tus hijos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Seulement, prends garde à toi et garde soigneusement ton âme, de peur que tu n’oublies les choses que tes yeux ont vues (et afin que, tous les jours de ta vie, elles ne s’éloignent pas de ton cœur, mais que tu les fasses connaître à tes fils et aux fils de tes fils),
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nur hüte dich und hüte deine Seele sehr, daß du die Dinge nicht vergessest, die deine Augen gesehen haben, und daß sie nicht aus deinem Herzen weichen alle Tage deines Lebens! und tue sie kund deinen Kindern und deinen Kindeskindern. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Custodi igitur temetipsum, et animam tuam sollicite. Ne obliviscaris verborum, quæ viderunt oculi tui, et ne excidant de corde tuo cunctis diebus vitæ tuæ. Docebis ea filios ac nepotes tuos,