Deuteronomy 4:22 meaning

Moses, addressing the Israelites in the plains of Moab, had a critical purpose: to remind them of their covenant with God and the consequences tied to their obedience or disobedience. Just prior to entering the Promised Land, he warned them about the dangers of forsaking the Lord and turning to idolatry. In this context, the verse serves as a solemn reminder of the personal ramifications of straying from God’s commandments, especially as Moses reflects on his own disqualification from entering the land due to disobedience.

The implications are profoundly relevant; he emphasizes that losing sight of God leads not only to personal failure but also to national consequences. The exhortation underscores a perpetuating theme in Deuteronomy: obedience to God's law brings blessings, while disobedience incurs serious penalties, as noted throughout the chapter. This theme resonates in broader discussions of spiritual integrity and the effects of communal and individual faithfulness to God, evident in the passage's call for vigilance in remembering God's laws and upholding His covenant.

In the NASB95, it reads as follows: The Lord was angry with me on your account and swore that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 4:22).