Deuteronomy 10:21 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 10:21 mean?

Deuteronomy 10:21 says that God is the one Israel should praise and trust, because He has done great and awe-inspiring things for them—things they themselves have witnessed. The verse highlights God’s unique role as the source of Israel’s honor and the one responsible for their remarkable experiences.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. He reminds them that their God is not distant or abstract, but the very one who has acted powerfully on their behalf. The focus is on remembering God’s mighty deeds, which the people have personally seen, as a reason for their loyalty and worship.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 10:21

• praise (תְּהִלָּה, tehillah): This word means praise or song of praise. Calling God “your praise” means He is the reason for their celebration and honor, not just the object of their worship.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is the common Hebrew word for God, emphasizing His power and authority. Here, it underscores that the God who did these things is their own God, not a distant or foreign deity.
• great (גָּדוֹל, gadol): This word means great or large, stressing the impressive scale of what God has done for Israel.
• things (יָרֵא, yare’): This word often means “fear” or “awe,” so “terrible things” here refers to deeds that inspire awe or reverence, not just fear in a negative sense.

Why Deuteronomy 10:21 matters

• Deuteronomy 10:21 clarifies that Israel’s identity and honor come directly from God’s actions, not from their own achievements or status.
• The verse connects the people’s present trust in God to their own memories of His past deeds, grounding faith in lived experience rather than abstract belief.
• This verse also ties into the larger theme of Deuteronomy, where Moses repeatedly urges the people to remember God’s faithfulness as they face new challenges.