Deuteronomy 4:32 Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?

Bible > Deuteronomy > Chapter 4 > Verse 32

◄ Deuteronomy 4:32 ►

New International Version
Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

New Living Translation
“Now search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now, and search from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything as great as this ever been seen or heard before?

English Standard Version
“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.

Berean Standard Bible
Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?

King James Bible
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

New King James Version
“For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.

New American Standard Bible
“Indeed, ask now about the earlier days that were before your time, since the day that God created mankind on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

NASB 1995
“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

NASB 1977
“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

Legacy Standard Bible
“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

Amplified Bible
“Indeed, ask now about the days that are past, [those days] which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

Christian Standard Bible
“Indeed, ask about the earlier days that preceded you, from the day God created mankind on the earth and from one end of the heavens to the other: Has anything like this great event ever happened, or has anything like it been heard of?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, ask about the earlier days that preceded you, from the day God created man on the earth and from one end of the heavens to the other: Has anything like this great event ever happened, or has anything like it been heard of?

American Standard Version
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

English Revised Version
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Search the distant past, long before your time. Start from the very day God created people on earth. Search from one end of heaven to the other. Has anything as great as this ever happened before, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

Good News Translation
"Search the past, the time before you were born, all the way back to the time when God created human beings on the earth. Search the entire earth. Has anything as great as this ever happened before? Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?

International Standard Version
"Indeed, ask from one end of the heavens to the other about days of old, before your time, when God created mankind on the earth. Did we ever have anything as great as this, or ever hear of anything like it?

Majority Standard Bible
Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?

NET Bible
Indeed, ask about the distant past, starting from the day God created humankind on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether there has ever been such a great thing as this, or even a rumor of it.

New Heart English Bible
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created humankind on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as this great thing is, or has been heard like it?

Webster's Bible Translation
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven to the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

World English Bible
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it?

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For ask now of the former days which have been before you, from the day that God created man on the earth, and from the [one] end of the heavens even to the [other] end of the heavens, whether there has been as this great thing, or [if anything] has been heard like it.

Young's Literal Translation
For, ask, I pray thee, at the former days which have been before thee, from the day that God prepared man on the earth, and from the one end of the heavens even unto the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been as this great thing -- or hath been heard like it?

Smith's Literal Translation
For ask now to the former days which were before thee from the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the end of the heavens to the end of the heavens, Has there been as this great word, or was heard like it?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ask of the days of old, that have been before thy time from the day that God created man upon the earth, from one end of heaven to the other end thereof, if ever there was done the like thing, or it hath been known at any time,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Inquire concerning the days of antiquity, which were before you, from the day when God created man upon the earth, from one end of heaven to another, if anything similar has ever occurred, or whether any such thing has ever been known,

New American Bible
Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created humankind upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of?

New Revised Standard Version
For ask now about former ages, long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other: has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of?

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For ask now about the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other whether there has been any such thing as this great thing is, or has been heard like it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But ask about the first days that have been before you, from the day that God created man on the Earth, from the ends of Heaven and unto the ends of Heaven, if there was the likes of this great matter, or there was anything heard like it?

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For ask now of the days past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ask of the former days which were before thee, from the day when God created man upon the earth, and beginning at the one end of heaven to the other end of heaven, if there has happened any thing like to this great event, if such a thing has been heard:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The LORD Alone is God
32Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported? 33Has a people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 45:12
It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.

Jeremiah 32:17
“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ...

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Isaiah 40:21-22
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth? / He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ...

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Acts 17:24-26
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. / From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,

Psalm 89:11-12
The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded. / North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Treasury of Scripture

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven to the other, whether there has been any such thing as this great thing is, or has been heard like it?

ask now

Job 8:8
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

Psalm 44:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Joel 1:2
Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

from the one

Deuteronomy 30:4
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

Matthew 24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:27
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

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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

Berean Study Bible

Indeed, ask now
The phrase "Indeed, ask now" serves as an imperative, urging the Israelites to actively seek understanding and reflection. The Hebrew root for "ask" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which implies a deep inquiry or request for knowledge. This call to inquiry is not merely rhetorical but a divine invitation to explore the history and acts of God. It emphasizes the importance of remembering and learning from the past, a theme prevalent throughout Deuteronomy.

about the former days
"About the former days" refers to the historical events that have shaped the identity and faith of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "former" is "רִאשׁוֹן" (ri'shon), meaning first or preceding. This phrase encourages the audience to consider the foundational events of their faith, such as the creation, the patriarchs, and the Exodus. It underscores the continuity of God's work throughout history and the importance of historical consciousness in understanding God's ongoing relationship with His people.

long before your time
This phrase highlights the vastness of history and the enduring nature of God's actions. It reminds the Israelites that God's deeds transcend their immediate experience and are part of a larger, divine narrative. The emphasis on "long before" serves to humble the audience, reminding them of their place within God's eternal plan and the wisdom that comes from acknowledging the past.

from the day God created man on the earth
This phrase anchors the discussion in the creation narrative, pointing back to Genesis. The Hebrew word for "created" is "בָּרָא" (bara), which is used exclusively for divine creation, signifying God's unique power and authority. By referencing the creation of man, the verse connects the Israelites' account to the very beginning of humanity, emphasizing that their history is part of God's grand design for all of creation.

ask from one end of the heavens to the other
This expression uses hyperbolic language to convey the vastness of the inquiry. The "heavens" symbolize the entirety of creation, suggesting that the scope of God's actions is universal. The phrase encourages a comprehensive search for understanding, implying that the evidence of God's greatness is evident throughout the entire cosmos. It reflects the biblical theme of God's omnipresence and omnipotence.

Has anything as great as this ever happened
This rhetorical question highlights the unparalleled nature of God's actions in history. The Hebrew word for "great" is "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), which denotes magnitude and significance. The verse challenges the audience to recognize the uniqueness of God's interventions, particularly in the context of the covenant and the deliverance of Israel. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the extraordinary nature of His relationship with His people.

or has anything like it ever been heard?
The concluding phrase reinforces the uniqueness of God's deeds by appealing to the collective memory and testimony of humanity. The act of "hearing" in Hebrew, "שָׁמַע" (shama), often implies obedience and understanding. This question not only highlights the singularity of God's actions but also calls the audience to listen, remember, and respond to the divine narrative. It serves as an invitation to witness and testify to God's unparalleled works throughout history.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(32) For ask now . . . whether there hath been any such thing.-The same argument is afterwards employed by St. Paul (Romans 11:29) for the restoration of Israel: "for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance," i.e., irrevocable. He did not go and take Him a nation out of the midst of another nation in order to abandon them at last. He never did so much in the way of personal and visible interposition for any people; and He will not forsake the work of His own hands. Moses had proved the truth of what he says here in many scenes of sin and peril averted by his own intercession. (See especially Numbers 14:11-21, and comp. 1Samuel 12:22.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 32-40. - Still more to enforce his warning against apostasy, and urge to obedience and faithful adherence to the service of Jehovah, Moses appeals to what they had already experienced of God's grace in the choosing of them to be his people, in his speaking to them to instruct them, and in the miracles which he had wrought for their deliverance and guidance; grace such as had never been showed before to any nation, or heard of since the creation of the world, and by which those who had experienced it were laid under the deepest obligations of gratitude and duty, to love and serve him by whom it had been showed. With this appeal he closes his first address. Verse 32. - For. This connects the statement that fellows with that which precedes as its cause; it is because Jehovah is a merciful God, that the unparalleled grace showed to Israel had been displayed. The days that are past, etc., i.e. inquire from the earliest time of man's abode on the earth. From the one side of heaven unto the other; search the records of all times and places, whether any so great a thing has ever happened or been heard of.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Indeed,
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

ask
שְׁאַל־ (šə·’al-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

now
נָא֩ (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

from one end
וּלְמִקְצֵ֥ה (ū·lə·miq·ṣêh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7097: End, extremity

of the heavens
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

[the other]
קְצֵ֣ה (qə·ṣêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7097: End, extremity

about the days
לְיָמִ֨ים (lə·yā·mîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

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

long
רִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים (ri·šō·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

preceded
הָי֣וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

you,
לְפָנֶ֗יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

from
לְמִן־ (lə·min-)
Preposition-l
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the day
הַיּוֹם֙ (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

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

God
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

created
בָּרָ֨א (bā·rā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1254: To create, to cut down, select, feed

man
אָדָם֙ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

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

earth:
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Has anything as
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

great
הַגָּדוֹל֙ (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

as this
כַּדָּבָ֤ר (kad·dā·ḇār)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

ever happened
הֲנִֽהְיָ֗ה (hă·nih·yāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

or
א֖וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

been reported?
הֲנִשְׁמַ֥ע (hă·niš·ma‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

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OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that (Deut. De Du)