Deuteronomy 4:13
New International Version
He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.

New Living Translation
He proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments—which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets.

English Standard Version
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Berean Standard Bible
He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

Berean Literal Bible
And He declared to you⁺ His covenant, which He commanded you⁺ to perform—the Ten Words. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

King James Bible
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

New King James Version
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

New American Standard Bible
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

NASB 1995
“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

NASB 1977
“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Legacy Standard Bible
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to do, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Amplified Bible
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to follow, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Berean Annotated Bible
He declared to you⁺ His covenant, which He commanded you⁺ to follow—the Ten Commandments \the Ten Words/ that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

Christian Standard Bible
He declared his covenant to you. He commanded you to follow the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He declared His covenant to you. He commanded you to follow the Ten Commandments, which He wrote on two stone tablets.

American Standard Version
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said he was making an agreement with you, and he told you that your part of the agreement is to obey the Ten Commandments. Then the LORD wrote these Commandments on two flat stones.

English Revised Version
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD told you about the terms of his promise, the ten commandments, which he commanded you to do. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets.

Good News Translation
He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you--you must obey the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

International Standard Version
He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to observe—the Ten Commandments that he wrote on two stone tablets.

NET Bible
And he revealed to you the covenant he has commanded you to keep, the ten commandments, writing them on two stone tablets.

New Heart English Bible
He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

World English Bible
He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He declares His covenant to you, which He has commanded you to do, the Ten Commandments, and He writes them on two tablets of stone.

Berean Literal Bible
And He declared to you⁺ His covenant, which He commanded you⁺ to perform—the Ten Words. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Young's Literal Translation
and He declareth to you His covenant, which He hath commanded you to do, the Ten Matters, and He writeth them upon two tables of stone.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will announce to you his covenant which he commanded you to do, the ten words; and he will write them upon two tables of stones.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shewed you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, and the ten words that he wrote in two tables of stone.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he revealed his covenant to you, which he instructed you to carry out, and the ten words which he wrote on two tablets of stone.

New American Bible
He proclaimed to you his covenant, which he commanded you to keep: the ten words, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

New Revised Standard Version
He declared to you his covenant, which he charged you to observe, that is, the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two stone tablets.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tablets of stone.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he showed his covenant and commanded you to do ten sayings, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the ten words; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he announced to you his covenant, which he commanded you to keep, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
An Exhortation to Obedience
12And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow— the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone. 14At that time the LORD commanded me to teach you the statutes and ordinances you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.…

Cross References
He declared to you His covenant

Exodus 24:7-8
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” / So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Deuteronomy 5:2-3
The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. / He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today.

Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
which He commanded you to follow—

Deuteronomy 5:32-33
So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. / You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Joshua 1:7-8
Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. / This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Leviticus 18:4-5
You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God. / Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.
the Ten Commandments

Exodus 34:28
So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:1-17
And God spoke all these words: / “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. / You shall have no other gods before Me. …

Deuteronomy 5:22
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

Exodus 31:18
When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Deuteronomy 10:1-2
At that time the LORD said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. / And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you are to place them in the ark.”

Exodus 24:12
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Deuteronomy 5:6-21
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. / You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. …

Deuteronomy 9:9-11
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water. / Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, inscribed by the finger of God with the exact words that the LORD spoke to you out of the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. / And at the end of forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 10:4
And the LORD wrote on the tablets what had been written previously, the Ten Commandments that He had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly. The LORD gave them to me,

1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.


Treasury of Scripture

And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.

And he

Deuteronomy 5:1-21
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them…

Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Exodus 24:17,18
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel…

ten

Deuteronomy 10:4
And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

Exodus 34:28
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

he wrote

Deuteronomy 9:9-11
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: …

Deuteronomy 10:1-5
At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood…

Exodus 24:12
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

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Deuteronomy 4
1. An exhortation to obedience
41. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44. Recapitulation












He declared to you His covenant
This phrase emphasizes the divine initiative in establishing a covenant with Israel. A covenant in biblical terms is a solemn agreement between God and His people, often involving promises and obligations. This particular covenant is rooted in the events at Mount Sinai, where God revealed His laws to Moses. The covenant signifies a binding relationship, underscoring God's commitment to Israel and their responsibility to obey Him. This covenant is foundational, setting the stage for the entire narrative of the Old Testament and pointing towards the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

which He commanded you to follow
The commandments were not mere suggestions but divine mandates. The use of "commanded" highlights the authority of God and the expectation of obedience from the Israelites. This reflects the theocratic nature of Israel's society, where God's law was the supreme law. The commandments were intended to guide the moral, social, and spiritual life of the people, ensuring they lived in a way that was pleasing to God and distinct from surrounding nations (Leviticus 18:3-5).

the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a summary of God's moral law. They are divided into two sections: the first four commandments focus on the relationship between God and man, while the last six address interpersonal relationships. These commandments are central to Jewish and Christian ethics and have influenced legal systems worldwide. They are reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus affirms their enduring significance (Matthew 5:17-19).

that He wrote on two tablets of stone
The writing on stone tablets signifies permanence and divine authorship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, important documents were often inscribed on stone to ensure their durability. The use of stone tablets also underscores the seriousness and unchanging nature of God's law. According to Exodus 31:18, these tablets were inscribed by the "finger of God," indicating direct divine involvement. The tablets were placed in the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence and the centrality of His law in the life of Israel (Exodus 25:16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai and communicated them to the people.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God who were delivered from Egypt and were given the Law to follow as part of their covenant with God.

3. Mount Sinai
The mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, symbolizing His covenant with Israel.

4. God
The divine author of the covenant, who established the Ten Commandments as a moral and spiritual guide for His people.

5. The Ten Commandments
The core moral laws given by God, written on two tablets of stone, serving as the foundation of the covenant between God and Israel.
Teaching Points
The Covenant Relationship
The Ten Commandments are not just rules but a covenant, a binding agreement that establishes a relationship between God and His people.

Moral Foundation
The Ten Commandments serve as a moral foundation for believers, guiding ethical behavior and decision-making.

God's Unchanging Nature
The giving of the Ten Commandments reflects God's unchanging nature and His desire for holiness among His people.

The Role of the Law in Christian Life
While Christians are under grace, the moral principles of the Ten Commandments remain relevant and instructive for righteous living.

The Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus Christ fulfills the Law, and through Him, believers are empowered to live out the commandments in love and truth.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 4:13?

2. How does Deuteronomy 4:13 emphasize the importance of God's commandments in daily life?

3. What is the significance of God "declaring His covenant" in Deuteronomy 4:13?

4. How does Deuteronomy 4:13 connect to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20?

5. Why is it crucial to "keep the Ten Commandments" as stated in Deuteronomy 4:13?

6. How can we implement the teachings of Deuteronomy 4:13 in modern society?

7. What is the significance of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 4:13 for Christians today?

8. How does Deuteronomy 4:13 define the covenant between God and Israel?

9. Why were the Ten Commandments given on two stone tablets according to Deuteronomy 4:13?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 4?

11. Does the harsh response prescribed in Deuteronomy 13 conflict with the concept of free will versus strict divine command?

12. What does the Bible say about lawlessness?

13. What are the family idols mentioned in the Bible?

14. How can you inscribe mercy and truth in your heart?
What Does Deuteronomy 4:13 Mean
He declared to you

“He declared to you” (Deuteronomy 4:13) reminds us that the encounter at Sinai was a divine initiative, not human invention.

• Israel did not discover God; God deliberately revealed Himself (Deuteronomy 4:12; 5:4).

• The voice came “out of the fire,” underscoring awe and holiness (Exodus 19:18-19).

• God still takes the first step toward His people (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1-2).

Because revelation is God-given, it carries absolute authority.


His covenant

“His covenant” points to a binding, relational agreement forged by God Himself.

• At Horeb the LORD said, “I will be your God” (Exodus 19:5-6), echoing earlier covenants with Noah (Genesis 9) and Abraham (Genesis 17).

• Moses stresses, “The LORD our God made a covenant with us” (Deuteronomy 5:2-3); it was corporate, personal, and present.

• A covenant frames identity: Israel is God’s treasured possession, set apart for His purposes (Deuteronomy 7:6).

God’s covenant love remains unwavering even when His people falter (Deuteronomy 7:9).


which He commanded you to follow

Covenant demands obedience.

• “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and judgments I am teaching you to follow” (Deuteronomy 4:1).

• Obedience safeguards life and blessing (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

• Jesus mirrors this call: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

The LORD’s commands are not suggestions; they define the path of covenant faithfulness.


the Ten Commandments

“The Ten Commandments” are the heart of the moral law.

• Listed in Exodus 20:1-17 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

• First four outline love for God; last six, love for neighbor (cf. Matthew 22:37-40).

• They expose sin (Romans 3:20) and point to our need for grace, yet remain God’s unchanging standard (Romans 7:12).

Believers honor these commands not to earn salvation, but to express covenant loyalty.


that He wrote on two tablets of stone

Tablets of stone emphasize permanence and divine authorship.

• “Written by the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10).

• Stone contrasts with fleeting human traditions; God’s law is enduring (Psalm 119:89).

Jeremiah 31:33 foretells the same law written on hearts, fulfilled in the New Covenant through Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3).

The tablets anchor faith in an objective, unchanging moral order established by God Himself.


summary

Deuteronomy 4:13 affirms that the LORD personally revealed and ratified His covenant with Israel, grounded in the Ten Commandments—unchangeable words He Himself inscribed on stone. He speaks first, calls His people into relationship, commands obedient living, supplies a clear moral compass, and guarantees enduring authority for every generation.

(13) His covenant . . . ten commandments.--See on Deuteronomy 5.

He wrote them.--See on Deuteronomy 10:2.

Verse 13. - His covenant; God's gracious engagement with Israel for their good, and by which they were bound to observe all his commandments. God declared this at Sinai when he uttered the ten commandments (words, דְבָרִים), "the words of the covenant, the ten words" (Exodus 34:28), which he afterwards gave to Moses on two tables of stone, written with the finger of God (Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18). Besides these, there were other statutes and ordinances which Moses was commanded to teach the people, and which, with them, comprised the Law given at Sinai (see Exodus 21. and following chapters).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He declared
וַיַּגֵּ֨ד (way·yag·gêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

to you
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

His covenant,
בְּרִית֗וֹ (bə·rî·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

the Ten
עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת (‘ă·śe·reṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6235: Ten

Commandments
הַדְּבָרִ֑ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

He commanded
צִוָּ֤ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

you to follow,
לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

which He wrote
וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם (way·yiḵ·tə·ḇêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

two
שְׁנֵ֖י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

tablets
לֻח֥וֹת (lu·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3871: To glisten, a tablet, of stone, wood, metal

of stone.
אֲבָנִֽים׃ (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:13 He declared to you his covenant which (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 4:12
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