Deuteronomy 4:6

4:6 So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding 1  to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, “Indeed, this great nation is a very wise 2  people.”

Deuteronomy 7:6

7:6 For you are a people holy 3  to the Lord your God. He 4  has chosen you to be his people, prized 5  above all others on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2

14:2 For you are a people holy 6  to the Lord your God. He 7  has chosen you to be his people, prized 8  above all others on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 32:43

32:43 Cry out, O nations, with his people,

for he will avenge his servants’ blood;

he will take vengeance against his enemies,

and make atonement for his land and people.

1 tn Heb “it is wisdom and understanding.”

2 tn Heb “wise and understanding.”

3 tn That is, “set apart.”

4 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.

5 tn Or “treasured” (so NIV, NRSV); NLT “his own special treasure.” The Hebrew term סְגֻלָּה (sÿgullah) describes Israel as God’s choice people, those whom he elected and who are most precious to him (cf. Exod 19:4-6; Deut 14:2; 26:18; 1 Chr 29:3; Ps 135:4; Eccl 2:8 Mal 3:17). See E. Carpenter, NIDOTTE 3:224.

6 tn Or “set apart.”

7 tn Heb “The Lord.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.

8 tn Or “treasured.” The Hebrew term סְגֻלָּה (sÿgullah) describes Israel as God’s choice people, those whom he elected and who are most precious to him (cf. Exod 19:4-6; Deut 14:2; 26:18; 1 Chr 29:3; Ps 135:4; Eccl 2:8 Mal 3:17). See E. Carpenter, NIDOTTE 3:224.

sn The Hebrew term translated “select” (and the whole verse) is reminiscent of the classic covenant text (Exod 19:4-6) which describes Israel’s entry into covenant relationship with the Lord. Israel must resist paganism and its trappings precisely because she is a holy people elected by the Lord from among the nations to be his instrument of world redemption (cf. Deut 7:6; 26:18; Ps 135:4; Mal 3:17; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9).