For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward:Deuteronomy 10:17 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: God is supreme over everything and everyone—far greater and more powerful than any other so-called gods. He is awe-inspiring and fair: He does not show favoritism or accept bribes. - Big idea: God’s greatness is matched by his justice and impartiality—he rules above all and treats people fairly, no matter who they are. - Key points: - God is supreme—“God of gods, Lord of lords” signals his ultimate authority. - His greatness includes moral character: He is mighty and awe-inspiring. - He demands and demonstrates impartial justice—no partiality, no bribery. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Deuteronomy is Moses’ final set of speeches to Israel before they enter the Promised Land. Chapter 10 reminds the people of who God is and how they should live in relationship to him. - Story timeline: Spoken by Moses during the wilderness period, shortly before the Israelites cross the Jordan (late 2nd millennium BC). The immediate audience is the whole nation of Israel—former slaves preparing to live as a covenant community. - Surrounding passage: The verses around 10:17 highlight God’s character and what he asks of Israel. Just before (verses 12–16) Moses calls Israel to fear, love, and serve God with whole-hearted devotion and to remove idolatry. Immediately after (10:18–19) the text applies God’s character to social life: God defends the cause of the vulnerable (fatherless, widows, foreigners), and Israel is called to love the foreigner, because they were once foreigners in Egypt. ## Explanation - Quick take: Deuteronomy 10:17 says that God is above all other claimed deities and rulers, he inspires awe because of his power and holiness, and he is fair—he does not play favorites or accept bribes. - In Depth: - “God of gods, Lord of lords” uses language common in the ancient Near East to stress superiority. The point isn’t to admit other real gods but to affirm that if others are called gods, Yahweh is above them all. - The terms translated “great,” “mighty,” and “terrible” describe different aspects of God’s character: greatness (status and majesty), might (power to act), and awesomeness (a holiness that inspires reverence and even fear). The word sometimes translated “terrible” is better understood as “awesome” or “awe-inspiring”—it’s about reverent fear as much as dread. - The final phrase (“which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward”) shifts to ethical behavior: God judges impartially. He doesn’t accept bribes and doesn’t favor the powerful over the weak. That has clear implications for Israel’s justice system and communal life; God’s people are called to reflect that impartiality. ## Key Words - Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) — “God” (a title emphasizing divine power/authority). - Adon (אֲדֹנֵי / אֲדוֹן) — “Lord” (authority, master, ruler). - Nora / Nōrâ (נּוֹרָא) — “terrible” in older English; better read as “awe-inspiring” or “fearful” in the sense of holy reverence. - Panim (פָּנִים) — “faces” (used idiomatically for showing partiality or favoritism). - Sachad (שַׁחַד) — “bribe” (illicit payment to influence judgment). ## Background - In the ancient Near East, many cultures described their gods as having local or specialized power; nations often named gods for different roles. Biblical language like “God of gods” pushes back against that, claiming that Israel’s God is above any other claimants. - Judges in the ancient world could be swayed by wealth, rank, or bribes. Deuteronomy emphasizes a different model: a God who is just and demands justice, especially for the weak (widows, orphans, foreigners). - The verse fits into Deuteronomy’s broader theme: the covenant requires Israel to imitate God’s character in social and legal life. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - God’s supremacy is not only about power but about moral authority—he is majestic and just. - Divine impartiality models the kind of justice God expects from his people and leaders. - God’s holiness inspires awe and shapes how people should approach worship and public life. ## Application To Your Life - For leaders and managers: This verse calls you to fairness. Resist favoritism, make decisions transparently, and refuse corrupt shortcuts. - For workers: Serve with integrity regardless of who’s watching. Don’t compromise ethics for personal gain. - For parents: Teach children that true greatness is about character, not status or wealth—fairness and honesty matter. - For seekers: God’s greatness can be both comforting and humbling—he is powerful and righteous, and he won’t be bought or swayed by status. - For those facing injustice: This verse reassures that God stands against favoritism and corruption and cares for the vulnerable. - Reflection question(s): - Where do I tolerate partiality or unfair treatment because of power, money, or influence? - How can I reflect God’s impartial justice in one specific decision this week? - Short prayer: Lord, you are supreme and just—give me the courage to act fairly and the humility to honor your awe-inspiring holiness. ## Translation Comparison - King James Version (KJV): “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:” - New International Version (NIV): “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” - English Standard Version (ESV): “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribe.” - New Living Translation (NLT): “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” - Why differences matter: Variations come from how translators handle words like “terrible” (older English) versus “awesome” (modern English) and “merely shows no partiality” vs “regardeth not persons.” The key terms—God’s supremacy and his refusal to accept bribes—are consistent, but modern translations aim to convey the sense of reverent awe rather than scary brutality. ## FAQs - Q: When the Bible calls God “God of gods,” does that mean other gods are real? - Short answer: No—this phrase is a way of saying God is supreme. In the ancient Near East, many cultures assumed multiple divine beings or powerful spiritual forces. Deuteronomy’s language uses that cultural vocabulary to say: even if others call other beings “gods,” Yahweh is above them all. The phrase emphasizes status and authority, not agreement that other deities have equal reality or right. Later biblical teaching (e.g., Isaiah 45:5; Exodus 20:3) insists there is one true God who alone deserves worship, and calls like this underline both his superiority and his right to demand faithful living from his people. - Q: Why does the verse describe God as “terrible”? Does that mean God is mean or frightening? - Short answer: “Terrible” in older English can be misleading. The Hebrew word conveys an aspect of God that inspires awe and reverent fear—his holiness and power—rather than mean-spirited cruelty. Think of it as “awesome” in the sense that God’s greatness commands reverence. This reverent fear is coupled with justice: God is both awe-inspiring and morally good—he doesn’t favor the powerful or accept bribes. The verse balances God’s majesty with his fairness, a combination that invites respectful trust rather than dread alone. ## Cross References - Deuteronomy 4:39 — “Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else.” (Affirms God’s uniqueness and supremacy.) - Psalm 95:3 — “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Praises God’s supremacy over other deities.) - Exodus 34:6–7 — “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Shows God’s character—mercy and justice—balanced with holiness.) - James 2:1, 8–9 — “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (Echoes the ethical demand: do not show favoritism.) - Psalm 82:1–4 — God judges among gods and defends the needy (connects divine judgment and concern for the weak). ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators read Deut. 10:17 as a compact statement of God’s sovereignty and moral character. It uses strong royal language to declare Yahweh’s supremacy over any claimants and then immediately ties that supremacy to justice—God’s greatness is not arbitrary power but authoritative goodness. Ancient context shows this phrasing interacting with polytheistic language to assert monotheistic claims. Ethically, the verse supports Deuteronomy’s repeated calls for impartial justice, especially for those without power. - Group study bullets: - Read the verse aloud and ask: which word or phrase strikes you most—“God of gods,” “mighty,” or “shows no partiality”? Why? - Role-play: imagine a court case where a bribe is offered. How should leaders act to model God’s impartiality? - Compare Deut. 10:17 with James 2: How does the New Testament pick up this theme? - Practical challenge: identify one decision this week where you might be tempted to favor someone; commit to one action that demonstrates impartiality. ## Related verses (to compare and contrast - and why) - Deuteronomy 4:39 — Why: Emphasizes the same theme of God’s uniqueness and ultimate authority over all things. - Psalm 89:6–8 — Why: Celebrates God’s majesty and justice, giving poetic insight into divine rule that complements Deut. 10:17’s legal and ethical focus. - James 2:1–9 — Why: Provides a New Testament application of the command against partiality—showing how God’s character informs Christian ethics about favoritism and justice. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to explore this verse interactively. Suggested prompts: - “Explain how Deuteronomy 10:17 would affect how Israel ran its courts and treated the poor.” - “Compare Deuteronomy 10:17 with Psalm 95 and James 2—how do they together shape an ethic of impartiality?” - “Help me create a short sermon or talk (7–10 minutes) on ‘God’s greatness and justice’ using Deut. 10:17 as the central verse.”
