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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Deuteronomy 4:31 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/05_Deu_04_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 4:31 - Warning Against Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/deuteronomy/4-31.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/deuteronomy/4-31.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/">Deuteronomy</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 31</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-30.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:30">◄</a> Deuteronomy 4:31 <a href="/deuteronomy/4-32.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:32">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New International Version</a> For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. <a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors. <a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. <a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">King James Bible</a> (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. <a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New King James Version</a> (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For Yahweh your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/amp/deuteronomy/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For the LORD your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. <a href="/csb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them by oath, because the LORD your God is a compassionate God. <a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them by oath, because the LORD your God is a compassionate God.&#8221 <a href="/asv/deuteronomy/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/deuteronomy/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The LORD your God will have mercy--he won't destroy you or desert you. The LORD will remember his promise, and he will keep the agreement he made with your ancestors. <a href="/erv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> for the LORD 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. <a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you, destroy you, or forget the promise to your ancestors that he swore he would keep. <a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors. <a href="/isv/deuteronomy/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> For God is compassionate. The LORD your God won't fail you. He won't destroy you or forget the covenant that he confirmed with your ancestors." <a href="/msb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/net/deuteronomy/4.htm">NET Bible</a> (for he is a merciful God), he will not let you down or destroy you, for he cannot forget the covenant with your ancestors that he confirmed by oath to them. <a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> for the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them. <a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> (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. <a href="/web/deuteronomy/4.htm">World English Bible</a> 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. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> for your God YHWH [is] a merciful God—He does not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He has sworn to them. <a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 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. <a href="/slt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For Jehovah thy God a merciful God; he will not desert thee, and he will not destroy thee, and he will not forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware to them.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> 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. <a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you, nor will he entirely destroy you, nor will he forget the covenant, which he swore to your fathers. <a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Bible</a> Since the LORD, your God, is a merciful God, he will not abandon or destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them. <a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Because the LORD your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> (For the LORD your God is a merciful God), he will not destroy you, neither forsake you, nor forget the covenant which he swore to your fathers. <a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Because God is compassionate, LORD JEHOVAH your God will not destroy you, neither will He leave you, neither will he forget the covenant that He swore to your fathers.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> for the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He swore unto them. <a href="/sep/deuteronomy/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Because the Lord thy God is a God of pity: he will not forsake thee, nor destroy thee; he will not forget the covenant of thy fathers, which the Lord sware to them. <a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=1420" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Warning Against Idolatry</a> …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. 31<a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God</a> <a href="/hebrew/7349.htm" title="7349: ra·ḥūm (Adj-ms) -- Compassionate. From racham; compassionate.">is a merciful</a> <a href="/hebrew/410.htm" title="410: ’êl (N-ms) -- God, in pl. gods. Shortened from 'ayil; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty.">God;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">He will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7503.htm" title="7503: yar·pə·ḵā (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 2ms) -- Sink, relax. A primitive root; to slacken.">abandon you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7843.htm" title="7843: yaš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 2ms) -- Perhaps to go to ruin. A primitive root; to decay, i.e. ruin.">destroy you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7911.htm" title="7911: yiš·kaḥ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To forget. Or shakeach; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. To be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention.">forget</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1285.htm" title="1285: bə·rîṯ (N-fsc) -- A covenant. From barah (like bara'); a compact.">the covenant</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ă·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">with your fathers,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">which</a> <a href="/hebrew/7650.htm" title="7650: niš·ba‘ (V-Nifal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; propr. To be complete, but used only as a denominative from sheba'; to seven oneself, i.e. Swear.">He swore to them by oath.</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6-7</a> Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” <a href="/nehemiah/9-31.htm">Nehemiah 9:31</a> But in Your great compassion, You did not put an end to them; nor did You forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God. <a href="/psalms/103-8.htm">Psalm 103:8-10</a> The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. <a href="/isaiah/54-7.htm">Isaiah 54:7-8</a> “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. / In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. <a href="/lamentations/3-22.htm">Lamentations 3:22-23</a> Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! <a href="/joel/2-13.htm">Joel 2:13</a> So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. <a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Jonah 4:2</a> So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. <a href="/micah/7-18.htm">Micah 7:18-19</a> Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. <a href="/2_chronicles/30-9.htm">2 Chronicles 30:9</a> For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” <a href="/psalms/86-15.htm">Psalm 86:15</a> But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness. <a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Isaiah 55:7</a> Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. <a href="/jeremiah/31-20.htm">Jeremiah 31:20</a> Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. <a href="/romans/11-29.htm">Romans 11:29</a> For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. <a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm">2 Peter 3:9</a> The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. <a href="/hebrews/13-5.htm">Hebrews 13:5</a> Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>(For the LORD your God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.the Lord<a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6,7</a> And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, … <a href="/numbers/14-18.htm">Numbers 14:18</a> The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.<a href="/2_chronicles/30-9.htm">2 Chronicles 30:9</a> For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.forget<a href="/leviticus/26-42.htm">Leviticus 26:42,45</a> Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land… <a href="/psalms/105-8.htm">Psalm 105:8</a> He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.<a href="/psalms/111-5.htm">Psalm 111:5,9</a> He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/32-15.htm">Abandon</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-23.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Compassionate</a> <a href="/numbers/30-14.htm">Confirmed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-23.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-15.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-3.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/numbers/34-18.htm">Help</a> <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Merciful</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-34.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-21.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/numbers/35-12.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-21.htm">Sware</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-21.htm">Swore</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-35.htm">Sworn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/10-6.htm">Abandon</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-2.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-31.htm">Compassionate</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/19-15.htm">Confirmed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-2.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-15.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-15.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-1.htm">Help</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-8.htm">Merciful</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-10.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-10.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-25.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-10.htm">Sware</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-10.htm">Swore</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-10.htm">Sworn</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 4</div>1. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-1.htm">An exhortation to obedience</a> 41. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan</a> 44. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-44.htm">Recapitulation</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This phrase emphasizes the character of God as merciful, a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The Hebrew word for "merciful" is "rachum," which conveys compassion and loving-kindness. This attribute of God is foundational to His interactions with Israel, as seen in <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6-7</a>, where God describes Himself as "compassionate and gracious." The mercy of God is also evident in the New Testament, where Jesus embodies divine mercy through His ministry and sacrifice (<a href="/luke/6-36.htm">Luke 6:36</a>).He will not abandon you or destroy you This assurance reflects God's faithfulness to His people despite their disobedience. Historically, Israel experienced periods of exile and hardship, yet God consistently promised restoration (<a href="/jeremiah/29-11.htm">Jeremiah 29:11-14</a>). The phrase echoes the covenantal promise found in <a href="/deuteronomy/31-6.htm">Deuteronomy 31:6</a>, where God assures Israel of His presence and support. This promise is fulfilled in the New Testament through the Holy Spirit, who is given to believers as a constant presence (<a href="/john/14-16.htm">John 14:16-17</a>).or forget the covenant with your fathers, The covenant refers to the agreements God made with the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—promising them land, descendants, and blessings (<a href="/genesis/12.htm">Genesis 12:1-3</a>). This covenant is central to Israel's identity and history. The phrase underscores God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His promises, as seen in <a href="/psalms/105-8.htm">Psalm 105:8-10</a>. The New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, bringing blessings to all nations (<a href="/galatians/3-14.htm">Galatians 3:14</a>).which He swore to them by oath. An oath in biblical times was a solemn promise, often invoking God as a witness. God's oath to the patriarchs is a guarantee of His faithfulness and reliability (<a href="/hebrews/6-13.htm">Hebrews 6:13-18</a>). This concept of divine oath is significant in understanding the certainty of God's promises. In the New Testament, the new covenant established through Jesus' death and resurrection is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises, offering eternal life to all who believe (<a href="/hebrews/9-15.htm">Hebrews 9:15</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a> The covenant-keeping God of Israel, characterized by mercy and faithfulness. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The chosen people of God, recipients of His covenant and promises. 3. <a href="/topical/c/covenant_with_the_fathers.htm">Covenant with the Fathers</a> Refers to the promises made by God to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 4. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The leader and prophet who delivered God's laws and reminders to the Israelites. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_promised_land.htm">The Promised Land</a> The land promised to the descendants of Abraham, a central element of God's covenant.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_unchanging_nature.htm">God's Unchanging Nature</a> God's character is consistent throughout Scripture. His mercy and faithfulness are as true today as they were for Israel. <a href="/topical/t/the_assurance_of_god's_presence.htm">The Assurance of God's Presence</a> Believers can find comfort in knowing that God will not abandon them, reflecting His promise to Israel. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_covenant.htm">The Importance of Covenant</a> Understanding the biblical covenants helps us grasp the depth of God's commitment to His people and His promises. <a href="/topical/m/mercy_as_a_divine_attribute.htm">Mercy as a Divine Attribute</a> God's mercy is a central aspect of His nature, inviting us to rely on His grace and forgiveness. <a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_trials.htm">Faithfulness in Trials</a> In times of difficulty, we can trust in God's faithfulness, knowing He will not forget His promises to us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 4</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'before_the_world'_mean.htm">Who loved us first?</a> <a href="/q/bible's_teachings_on_compassion.htm">What are the Bible's teachings on compassion?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_deut_5_2-3_with_ancestors.htm">Deuteronomy 5:2–3 says the covenant was made with the present generation, yet other passages imply it was made with their ancestors; how do we reconcile this? </a> <a href="/q/does_deut._15_11_contradict_no-poor_claim.htm">Deuteronomy 15:11 acknowledges the perpetual presence of poverty--does this contradict the earlier statement that there would be no poor?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 31. - Will not forsake thee; literally, will not let thee loose, will not lose hold of thee, will not cast thee off (cf. <a href="/romans/11-1.htm">Romans 11:1</a>, etc.). "Israel will return and find God, because he loses not hold of it" (Herxheimer). "The sinner will incline to seek God only when he apprehends him as gracious and ready to hear" (Calvin). <a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>For כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative [is] a merciful רַחוּם֙ (ra·ḥūm) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7349.htm">Strong's 7349: </a> Compassionate God; אֵ֤ל (’êl) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_410.htm">Strong's 410: </a> Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty He will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no abandon you יַרְפְּךָ֖ (yar·pə·ḵā) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7503.htm">Strong's 7503: </a> Sink, relax [or] וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no destroy you יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ (yaš·ḥî·ṯe·ḵā) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7843.htm">Strong's 7843: </a> Perhaps to go to ruin [or] וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no forget יִשְׁכַּח֙ (yiš·kaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7911.htm">Strong's 7911: </a> To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention the covenant בְּרִ֣ית (bə·rîṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1285.htm">Strong's 1285: </a> A covenant with your fathers, אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ (’ă·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father which אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that He swore to them by oath. נִשְׁבַּ֖ע (niš·ba‘) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7650.htm">Strong's 7650: </a> To seven oneself, swear <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">Deuteronomy 4:31 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-31.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:31 For Yahweh your God is a merciful (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>