Deuteronomy 4:27
New International Version
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

New Living Translation
For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive.

English Standard Version
And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

King James Bible
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

New King James Version
And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.

NASB 1995
“The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.

NASB 1977
“And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the LORD shall drive you.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will remain few in number among the nations where Yahweh drives you.

Amplified Bible
The LORD will scatter and disperse you among the peoples (pagan nations), and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be reduced to a few survivors among the nations where the LORD your God will drive you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be reduced to a few survivors among the nations where the LORD your God will drive you.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah will scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither Jehovah shall lead you away.

Contemporary English Version
Only a few of you will survive, and the LORD will force you to leave the land and will scatter you among the nations.

English Revised Version
And the LORD shall scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither the LORD shall lead you away.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD will scatter you among the people of the world, and only a few of you will be left among the nations where the LORD will force you to live.

Good News Translation
The LORD will scatter you among other nations, where only a few of you will survive.

International Standard Version
Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among the nations, and you'll be fewer in number in the nations where the LORD your God will drive you.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

NET Bible
Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples and there will be very few of you among the nations where the LORD will drive you.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the LORD will drive you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

World English Bible
Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Yahweh will lead you away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and YHWH has scattered you among the peoples, and you have been left few in number among the nations to where YHWH leads you,

Young's Literal Translation
and Jehovah hath scattered you among the peoples, and ye have been left few in number among the nations, whither Jehovah leadeth you,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah scattered you among the peoples, and ye remained men of number among the nations where Jehovah will lead you there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And scatter you among all nations, and you shall remain a few among the nations, to which the Lord shall lead you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he will scatter you among all the nations, and few of you will remain among those nations, to which the Lord will lead you.

New American Bible
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and there shall remain but a handful of you among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD will scatter you among the peoples; only a few of you will be left among the nations where the LORD will lead you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the nations where the LORD your God shall scatter you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH shall scatter you among the nations and you shall be left few in number among the nations when LORD JEHOVAH your God will scatter you there.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD shall scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither the LORD shall lead you away.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord shall scatter you among all nations, and ye shall be left few in number among all the nations, among which the Lord shall bring you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning Against Idolatry
26I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.…

Cross References
Leviticus 26:33
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

Jeremiah 9:16
I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”

Ezekiel 12:15
And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

Nehemiah 1:8-9
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, / but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 25:21
There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

2 Chronicles 7:19-20
But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.

Psalm 44:11
You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.

Isaiah 11:12
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Ezekiel 20:23
However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.

Ezekiel 22:15
I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the lands; I will purge your uncleanness.

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Acts 2:5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the heathen, where the LORD shall lead you.

Deuteronomy 28:62-64
And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God…

Nehemiah 1:3,8,9
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire…

Ezekiel 12:15
And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.

Jump to Previous
Band Drive Drives Heathen Kept Lead Nations Peoples Scatter Scattered Small Survive Wandering Whither
Jump to Next
Band Drive Drives Heathen Kept Lead Nations Peoples Scatter Scattered Small Survive Wandering Whither
Deuteronomy 4
1. An exhortation to obedience
41. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44. Recapitulation














The LORD will scatter you among the peoples
This phrase begins with "The LORD," which in Hebrew is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and faithfulness. The use of "scatter" (Hebrew: "puwts") conveys a forceful dispersion, often used in contexts of judgment. Historically, this scattering refers to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where the Israelites were removed from their land due to disobedience. The phrase "among the peoples" indicates a dispersion among various nations, highlighting the loss of a unified identity and the challenges of maintaining faith in foreign lands. This scattering serves as both a consequence of disobedience and a call to repentance, reminding the Israelites of their dependence on God.

and only a few of you will survive
The word "only" underscores the severity of the judgment, indicating that the survival will be minimal. "A few" (Hebrew: "mĕ'at") suggests a remnant, a concept frequently seen in the prophetic literature, where God preserves a small group for the sake of His promises. This remnant theology is crucial in understanding God's mercy amidst judgment. The term "survive" (Hebrew: "sha'ar") implies not just physical survival but also spiritual endurance. This survival is not merely by chance but by divine providence, ensuring that God's covenant promises remain intact through a faithful few.

among the nations to which the LORD will drive you
The phrase "among the nations" reiterates the dispersion theme, emphasizing the widespread nature of the exile. The word "drive" (Hebrew: "nahag") suggests a forceful leading or compelling, indicating that this is an act of divine judgment. The historical context here is the exile periods, where the Israelites were taken to various foreign lands, such as Babylon and Assyria. This dispersion serves as a backdrop for the eventual return and restoration, a theme that runs throughout the prophetic books. The phrase underscores God's control over history, using even foreign nations to accomplish His purposes. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience but also of the hope for eventual restoration and return to the covenant relationship with God.

(27) And the Lord shall scatter you.--Our familiarity with this fact in history must not blind us to its force when uttered as a prophecy. The fact that the Jews were taken captive for idolatry, and dispersed for the rejection of JESUS, is a remarkable proof that the real reason why they were brought into Canaan, and kept there, was to be witnesses for Jehovah.

Verse 27. - Few in number; literally, men of number, i.e. that may be counted; few as compared with the heathen among whom they should be dispersed (Genesis 34:30). Shall lead you. The verb here (נִהֵג, Piel of נָהַג) is frequently used in the sense of conducting gently and kindly (Isaiah 49:10; Isaiah 63:14; Psalm 48:14; Psalm 78:52); but it also means to drive, to carry off, to convey forcibly (Exodus 14:25; Genesis 31:26; Exodus 10:13; Psalm 78:26); the connection shows that it is in the latter sense it is to be taken here. Dispersed among the heathen, they, who had dishonored God by making an image to represent him, should be compelled to do service to mere dead idols, the work of men's hands, which not only could not hear or see, as God can, but also could not-perform even such animal functions as eating and smelling (Psalm 115:4-7; Jeremiah 10:3-9). These idols are called "gods" by Moses, because they were so counted by those who worshipped them; elsewhere he stigmatizes them as "abominations," things to be loathed and abhorred (שִׁקּוּצִים, Deuteronomy 27:15; Deuteronomy 29:17). As had been their sin, so should be their punishment; as they had dishonored God, so should they be themselves dishonored; as they had worshipped by an image him who is spirit and without form, they should be made to sink down to an utterly materialized worship, that of mere idols, the work of men's hands; as they had apostatized from the one holy and true God, they should be degraded to become the servants of abominations, objects of loathing and abhorrence (Jeremiah 16:13; Acts 7:42). God, however, would not utterly cast them off: if, in their misery and degradation, they should repent and turn again to him and seek him sincerely and earnestly, they should find him; for he is a merciful God, and mindful of the covenant which he swam unto their fathers (cf. Leviticus 26:39, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will scatter
וְהֵפִ֧יץ (wə·hê·p̄îṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

you among the peoples,
בָּעַמִּ֑ים (bā·‘am·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and only a few of you
מְתֵ֣י (mə·ṯê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4962: An adult, a man

will survive
וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ (wə·niš·’ar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

among the nations
בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם (bag·gō·w·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

to which
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will drive you.
יְנַהֵ֧ג (yə·na·hêḡ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5090: To drive forth, lead, carry away, to proceed, to sigh


Links
Deuteronomy 4:27 NIV
Deuteronomy 4:27 NLT
Deuteronomy 4:27 ESV
Deuteronomy 4:27 NASB
Deuteronomy 4:27 KJV

Deuteronomy 4:27 BibleApps.com
Deuteronomy 4:27 Biblia Paralela
Deuteronomy 4:27 Chinese Bible
Deuteronomy 4:27 French Bible
Deuteronomy 4:27 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:27 Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 4:26
Top of Page
Top of Page