What Does Deuteronomy 3:24 Mean in the King James?
O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
God’s greatness becomes visible in a hand at work, and the first glimpse already opens onto power no heaven or earth can match.
THE MEANING
The verse places you at a beginning: God’s greatness becomes visible through action, yet the reach of that action cannot be matched by any power in heaven or earth. What is disclosed is real, while its full measure still exceeds what you can take in.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Not seeing the whole does not mean nothing has been revealed; the verse says the showing has begun, and that first glimpse opens onto more than it can contain.
THE ROOT
לְהַרְאוֹת
lehar'ot
GROWS FROM
ראה
r-ʾ-h
See or perceive; in this form, cause to see, show.
“show” in this verse is lehar'ot. The word for showing grows from the word for seeing: what God reveals is something brought into view. The verse ties that opening of sight to the hand and its works, so greatness is encountered through what becomes visible.
ALSO GROWS
ro'eh: One who sees; a seer.
רֹאֶה
The same root names the one who perceives, linking the act of showing to the sight it opens.
mar'eh: Appearance; what is seen.
מַרְאֶה
This branch describes what comes into view, echoing the verse’s movement from hidden greatness to something shown.
גָּדְלְךָ
gādləkha
GROWS FROM
גדל
g-d-l
Grow, become great, increase.
The word carries greatness as something that grows or becomes great, rather than only as an abstract title. Paired with a hand and with works, that greatness becomes legible in action.
ALSO GROWS
gādōl: Great, large.
גָּדוֹל
This familiar adjective comes from the same seed as the greatness being shown.
migdal: Tower.
מִגְדָּל
A tower is a structure that rises high, carrying the root’s sense of becoming great or elevated.
הַחֲזָקָה
haḥazaqah
GROWS FROM
חזק
ḥ-z-q
Be strong, become firm, strengthen; hold fast.
The root behind “mighty” carries firmness and strength, giving the hand an active quality. This is strength that holds and acts, not merely a measure of power.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāzāq: Strong, firm.
חָזָק
This adjective shares the root of the mighty hand and makes its strength explicit.
ḥizzēq: Strengthen, make firm.
חִזֵּק
This verb shows the root’s active force: strength can be applied to make something firm.
THE PATTERN
God’s greatness becomes visible through works no rival can match.
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.THE THREAD
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.Both verses use ראה (ra’ah, see or show): here the showing has begun through greatness and the mighty hand; there the request is, “shew me.” The connected word כָּבוֹד (kavod, weight) opens the sight toward the weight of what is being revealed.
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