Deuteronomy 10:17 Meaning: God's Supremacy and Impartiality
For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes.
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:
For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.
for Jehovah your God--He is God of the gods, and Lord of the lords; God, the great, the mighty, and the fearful; who accepteth not persons, nor taketh a bribe;
For Jehovah your God is the God ofgods, and the Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward;
Meaning in one sentence
Deuteronomy 10:17 declares God as Lord over all powers, who shows no favoritism. This truth calls us to humble obedience and justice toward others.
Context
Moses has been recounting Israel's rebellion at Horeb and the renewal of the covenant. Now he draws the people's attention to what God requires of them: to fear Him, walk in His ways, and love Him with their whole being. The verse in this passage is the foundation for that call. If Yahweh is the supreme God over every spiritual power, the Lord over all rulers, the great, mighty, and awesome One, then He is not to be trifled with. And if He shows no partiality and takes no bribes, Israel cannot count on their special status to excuse disobedience. The surrounding verses make it clear: because God is like this, His people must circumcise their hearts and care for the vulnerable, the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner.
Key Words
Two phrases capture the heart of this verse. First, "God of gods and Lord of lords" uses the Hebrew words elohim and adon in the plural to express the highest degree. It does not mean other gods really exist alongside Him. It means that anything anyone has ever called divine, any power in heaven or on earth, is utterly subject to Him. He is the source of all authority and the final word.
Second, "doesn’t respect persons" translates the Hebrew idiom "lifts up face." In ancient courts, a judge would literally lift the face of someone they favored, looking directly at them, showing preference. God does not do that. He does not give special treatment based on wealth or status. And "takes bribes" is just as concrete: a bribe was a gift handed under the table to sway a ruling. God cannot be bought. His justice is clear, straight, and unswayed by anything we might offer Him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have drawn different emphases from this verse. Reformed readers, following Calvin, see it as a reminder of God's awesome majesty, meant to inspire reverent fear and obedience. Wesley and Methodist writers stress God's impartial justice: He deals equally with all, regardless of their nation or background. Matthew Henry points out that God's impartiality does not contradict His special love for Israel, because election was an act of grace, not favoritism. The early church and many later Christians have connected these titles to Christ, who is called "Lord of lords" in Revelation.
A common misunderstanding
Some read "God of gods" as proof that the Bible acknowledges many real gods. In fact, it is a Hebrew superlative, like "king of kings", meaning God is supreme over every spiritual being or human authority. Others assume that because God does not "respect persons," He has no special relationship with Israel. Scripture shows otherwise; God freely chose Israel, but that choice was not a license for partiality in judgment. He treats all people with perfect justice while still pursuing His covenant purposes.
Living This Out
This verse asks two things of you this week. First, you can approach God with honesty. He is not swayed by your status or your best attempts to bargain. Come as you are. Second, you are called to treat others the same way. Do you give more weight to the opinions of the wealthy, or ignore the struggles of those who can give you nothing? The God who lifts up the lowly and loves the foreigner invites you to live with that same impartial love. Set down any bribe, any attempt to gain favor unjustly, and trust the Judge who sees clearly.
Main takeaway: God, who rules over all powers and judges without favoritism, calls us to serve Him with humble trust and to extend His justice to others.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is the strongest King ever. He is fair to everyone. He doesn't love rich people more than poor people. We can trust Him because He always does what is right.
For ages 9, 12
This verse says God is the Lord over all other lords and He doesn't show favoritism or take bribes. Even though God chose Israel to be His special people, He still judges everyone fairly. That means we can come to Him without pretending to be someone else. And it means we should treat our friends the same way, without playing favorites or trying to get something from them in return.
Questions People Ask
Does 'God of gods' mean there are actually other gods?
No, this is a Hebrew way of emphasizing God's absolute supremacy. It means He is above every being that anyone might call a god, whether false idols, spiritual powers, or human rulers. The same phrase is used for kings in the ancient world to show they are the highest ruler. So it affirms that Yahweh alone is God.
What does it mean that God does not 'respect persons'?
The phrase comes from a Hebrew idiom meaning to 'lift up someone's face', that is, to show them special favor based on their appearance or status. God does not judge by outward appearances. He treats the poor and the rich with the same standard of justice. This does not mean He has no special relationships; it means His judgments are never influenced by favoritism or social pressure.
Why does this verse mention bribes?
Bribes were a common way to pervert justice in ancient courts. By saying God does not take bribes, the verse declares that His judgment is absolutely incorruptible. He cannot be bought or swayed by any offer. This gives confidence that He will always do what is right, and it also warns us not to try to manipulate Him with offerings or promises.
How can God be impartial when He chose Israel as His special people?
This is the very tension the passage addresses. God's choice of Israel was not based on their merit or status; it was an act of love and covenant faithfulness to their fathers (verse 15). His impartiality means He judges all people fairly regardless of their background. Being chosen does not exempt Israel from accountability. So God's special love and His impartial justice coexist, He loves freely and judges justly.
For pastors & researchers
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