Deuteronomy 30:14 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 30:14 Commentary: The Word Near Enough to Do
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This verse declares God's word is near, in mouth and heart, yet raises the question of how obedience is possible. Explore its meaning and Paul's use in Romans.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God’s command is not hidden or inaccessible; it is revealed and placed within the community’s grasp, spoken and pondered, so that obedience is possible.
- Key words: Qarov (near), place, time, or relationship; peh (mouth), organ of speech; levav (heart), inner self, will, understanding.
- Main debate: Whether the verse teaches that obedience is inherently possible (Matthew Henry, Wesley) or that its nearness exposes human inability, pointing to faith (Keil, Barnes).
- Theological theme: The accessibility of divine revelation and the relationship between law and gospel.
- Best use: To show that God’s will is clear and to create longing for the grace that enables true obedience.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
KJV King James Version 1769
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
For very near unto thee is the word, in thy mouth, and in thy heart--to do it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For the word is very near to thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayst do it.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque muy cerca de ti está la palabra, en tu boca y en tu corazón, para que la cumplas.
Porque muito próxima de ti está a palavra, em tua boca e em teu coração, para que a cumpras.
C’ est une chose, au contraire, qui est tout près de toi, dans ta bouche et dans ton cœur, afin que tu la mettes en pratique.
Denn es ist das Wort gar nahe bei dir, in deinem Munde und in deinem Herzen, daß du es tust.
Want dit woord is zeer nabij u, in uw mond, en in uw hart, om dat te doen.
Invece questa parola è molto vicina a te; è nella tua bocca e nel tuo cuore, perché tu la metta in pratica.
Ale bardzo blisko ciebie jest to słowo, w uściech twoich i w sercu twojem, abyś je czynił.
но весьма близко к тебе слово сие: оно в устах твоих и в сердце твоем, чтобы исполнять его.
這話 卻 離你 甚 近，就在你口中，在你心裡，使你可以遵行。
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 30:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Deuteronomy 30:14 asserts the accessibility of God's commandment. The word is not hidden or far off; it is placed in the mouth and heart. Matthew Henry calls it 'plain and easy,' written in the common language and level to the meanest capacity. Keil and Delitzsch note that the law was preached by word of mouth, becoming a subject of conversation and reflection. Barnes emphasises that ignorance of the law cannot be pleaded, the demands are clear. Yet nearly all observe a tension: the law that is near is still impossible for the natural man to fulfill. Keil and Delitzsch state that sin so estranged the human heart that keeping the law became impossible, so the verse finds its full realization in the preaching of the gospel. Barnes adds that the seeming ease of the commandment, together with its real impossibility, qualifies the law as a 'schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.' The consensus holds that the word is genuinely near and knowable, but the capacity to obey it fully requires something beyond the law itself.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Law-accessibility view: Reads the verse as teaching that the law is clear, understandable, and doable; supported by Matthew Henry and Wesley who emphasise the plainness of the command.
- Law-as-schoolmaster view: Holds that the nearness exposes human inability, driving people to faith; supported by Barnes and Keil who see the verse pointing beyond itself to the gospel.
- Gospel-reinterpretation view: Argues that Paul in Romans 10 re-reads the verse as referring to the word of faith, not the law; supported by Denney in the Cambridge Bible who says Paul is putting his own thought into a free reproduction.
What is clear: All Christians agree that God's word has been revealed and is not hidden or inaccessible; the verse affirms the nearness of divine revelation to God's people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The accessibility of God's command | All traditions agree the verse teaches that God's word has been made plain and is not hidden or distant. | Some traditions read 'nearness' as natural intelligibility (the law is clear and doable), while others see it as a revelation that exposes humanity's need for grace. |
| Human ability to obey | Christians agree that the verse calls for obedience and that God holds people accountable for what He has revealed. | Traditions differ on whether the verse implies unaided human ability to keep the law (Wesley, Matthew Henry) or whether it presupposes a heart circumcised by God and ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Keil, Barnes). |
| Paul's use of the passage in Romans 10 | All traditions accept that Paul reuses Deuteronomy 30:14 in Romans 10 to speak of the righteousness that comes by faith. | Some see Paul as applying the original sense of law-accessibility to the gospel (the word is still near, now Christ). Others view him as reinterpreting the text against its original meaning, reading faith into a law passage (Denney). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Moses speaks these words in his final address to Israel, recorded in Deuteronomy 29, 30. The nation stands on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness. The covenant is being renewed, with blessings and curses set before the people. Verses 11, 14 belong to a section that begins with the possibility of repentance after exile (30:1, 10). God promises to circumcise the hearts of His people, enabling them to love Him fully. In this context, Moses insists that the commandment is not 'hidden' or 'far off.' The Hebrew word for 'hidden' (pala) means 'too wonderful' or 'too difficult', the law is not beyond human grasp. Two rhetorical questions illustrate the point: no one needs to ascend to heaven or cross the sea to retrieve the law; it has already been given. The Jerusalem Targum paraphrases verse 13 with a reference to Jonah descending into the depths, showing that later Jewish tradition understood these words as ruling out any need for extraordinary effort to obtain God's will. The phrase 'very near' (qarov m'od) echoes Deuteronomy 4:7, where God Himself is described as 'near' when His people call on Him. Nearness to the word mirrors nearness to God. The mouth and heart phrase recalls Deuteronomy 6:6 and 11:18, the law is to be on the heart and spoken of constantly. The word has been made available through public proclamation and memorised recitation. Yet the verse ends with the purpose clause: 'that you may do it.' The nearness is not an end in itself; it serves obedience. In the covenant context, the possibility of doing the law is presented as real, though later biblical history shows Israel's repeated failure to uphold it. This sets the stage for the New Testament's reinterpretation through faith.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Deuteronomy 30:14. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the verse appears in the same form in the Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Targumic paraphrases show interpretive expansions (e.g., the reference to Jonah in the Jerusalem Targum) but do not reflect textual variants.
Reception History
This verse has been received primarily through its New Testament echo. Paul’s quotation in Romans 10:6, 8 shaped the early church’s understanding, as fathers like Origen and Augustine saw the nearness of the word fulfilled in the incarnation and preached word. In medieval exegesis, the verse was often read as showing the clarity of the moral law and the availability of grace. The Reformation highlighted the contrast between law and faith: Luther used it to argue that God’s word is not a distant demand but a near promise; Calvin linked it to the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit. In the Wesleyan tradition, the verse underscores the universality of God’s offer of salvation and the possibility of holy living. Modern scholarship tends to focus on the original covenant context and Paul’s creative reinterpretation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The word is near, not distant or obscure. God has not hidden His will in heaven or beyond the sea. Through Scripture, preaching, and the witness of the community, His command is accessible. You don’t need a special revelation or a mystical journey; what He requires is already before you.
- The word is in your mouth and heart, known and internalised. The law was recited, taught, and meditated upon. It shaped the language and convictions of Israel. Today, the word is planted through hearing, reading, and conversation. It becomes part of who you are.
- That you may do it, nearness leads to action. The purpose of God’s revelation is obedience. But how can we obey what we cannot keep? This verse forces us to confront the gap between knowing and doing, driving us to the grace that makes obedience possible.
Five-point outline
- The setting: covenant renewal and the possibility of repentance (30:1, 10).
- The assertion: the commandment is not too hard or far off (30:11).
- The illustrations: heaven and sea show that no quest is needed (30:12, 13).
- The reality: the word is near, in mouth and heart (30:14).
- The outcome: the call to choose life, which ultimately points to Christ.
Illustration hooks
- The feeling of wanting a clear sign from God when the Bible is sitting open on your desk, already filled with what He has said. This verse challenges the idea that we need more information; we need to act on what we have.
- A parent teaching a child to tie their shoes: the instruction is repeated, demonstrated, and finally the child does it themselves. The word is near, but the doing takes practice and help.
- A GPS that gives turn-by-turn directions but the driver still ignores them. The directions are clear, but the will to follow them is the real issue.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God’s word is so near, why do I still struggle to obey it?
- Does this verse mean I can keep the law on my own, or do I need grace?
- How does Paul’s use of this verse in Romans 10 change the way I read it?
Leading a Discussion
Moses insists that God’s commandment is not out of reach. The word is in your mouth and heart, spoken, known, internalised. Yet the next chapters show Israel failing to obey. This tension between the nearness of the word and the difficulty of doing it is where Paul finds a door to the gospel. Use these questions to explore what the passage says about God’s revelation and our response.
Discussion questions
- Read Deuteronomy 30:11, 14. What does Moses mean by saying the commandment is not ‘hidden’ or ‘far off’?
- Why do you think Moses uses the image of going up to heaven or across the sea? What does that tell you about human nature?
- In verse 14, the word is in ‘your mouth’ and ‘your heart.’ How does that connect to earlier commands in Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 and 11:18?
- The verse ends with ‘that you may do it.’ Does this assume obedience is easy, or does it point to something deeper?
- Paul quotes this passage in Romans 10:6, 8 and applies it to faith in Christ. How does his interpretation shift the focus from law to gospel?
- In what ways do we sometimes treat God’s word as if it were far off, distant, mysterious, or unattainable?
- What would it look like for you this week to have God’s word in your mouth and heart in a way that leads to action?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Jeremiah 12:2 | You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart. |
| Ezekiel 2:5 | They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them. |
| Ezekiel 33:31 | They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain. |
| Ezekiel 33:33 | “When this comes to pass—behold, it comes—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” |
| Matthew 7:21 | “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. |
| Luke 10:11 | ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ |
| Luke 10:12 | I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. |
| John 5:46 | For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads "the word" as the apostolic gospel of salvation. He takes "in thy mouth" to mean the redemption promises the prophets gave, which every Jew already knew, and "in thy heart" as the inward power to believe for righteousness. He points out that Paul applies these same phrases the same way.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the law's seeming ease and yet its real impossibility for the natural person. He notes that the law's true simplicity and accessibility are only found through faith, which qualifies the law to lead us to Christ. Love alone stands as the essential source of obedience.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator stresses that Moses does not call the law easy but rather near, familiar, and carried in the heart and mouth. This intimate nearness provides its own inward impulse to obey. With local altars gone, the law becomes the portable presence of God, touching every part of daily life.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note points out that Gods word is not distant or inaccessible; it is placed in the very mouth and heart of the hearer. The emphasis falls on action: the word is given specifically for the purpose of doing it, not merely knowing or speaking it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill traces how the word becomes “nigh” through three stages: faithful preaching, the Spirit’s inward application, and the believer’s experienced power and comfort. This nearness then produces open confession with the mouth and heartfelt belief, which together enable cheerful obedience to God’s commands.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that Moses insists the law is not hidden or unreachable—it has been preached and written so that it sits in the people's mouth and heart. Yet sin makes true obedience impossible, so this nearness of the law finds its full realization only through the gospel of grace and the righteousness that comes by faith, as Paul applies the passage in Romans 10.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the national restoration promised here cannot be a literal return of ethnic Israel to the land of Canaan, because the true fulfillment is spiritual: the people of God become the New Testament Church, and the land becomes the earth under the new covenant. He sees Paul in Romans 10 as the true interpreter, showing that the near word is the word of faith in Christ.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that God's commandment is not hidden or beyond reach. No one must ascend to heaven or cross the sea to find it, as philosophers once traveled for wisdom. The law is already near, written in the people's own language and placed in their hearts, making it accessible to everyone, not only the learned or wealthy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that having the law "in thy mouth" means knowing it so well you speak of it often, and "in thy heart" means understanding and believing it in your mind. His key point is that while the law is already plain and easy, the gospel is even more so.