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Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminishought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 13:18
When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to dothat which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.

Joshua 1:7
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from itto the right hand orto the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

do not add to it or subtract from it.
This part of the verse warns against altering God's commands, highlighting the sufficiency and perfection of divine law. In the ancient Near Eastern context, altering a king's edict was seen as a serious offense, and this principle is applied to God's law. The prohibition against adding or subtracting is a safeguard against false teachings and human traditions that could lead people away from true worship. This theme is reiterated in other parts of Scripture, such asProverbs 30:6 andRevelation 22:18-19, emphasizing the integrity and completeness of God's Word. The warning serves as a reminder of the authority of Scripture and the need for careful interpretation and application.

“See that you do everything I command you” (Deuteronomy 12:32) calls God’s people to wholehearted, careful obedience. Moses has just finished detailing statutes about worship and idolatry, so the command reaches back to all that has been said and forward to all that will follow.

• Obedience is comprehensive. As Jesus affirmed, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). James echoes, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

• Obedience is careful. Israel is urged to “be careful to follow the statutes and ordinances” (Deuteronomy 12:1), mirroring how Noah built the ark “just as God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).

• Obedience delights God. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). When we do everything He commands, we demonstrate trust in His wisdom and goodness (Psalm 119:68).

“Do not add to it” warns against supplementing God’s word with human ideas, traditions, or extra rules that dilute or distort divine revelation.

• Moses already said, “You shall not add to the word I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2), forming bookends around the law.

• Proverbs repeats the caution: “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you” (Proverbs 30:6).

• Jesus rebuked leaders who “set aside the command of God to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).

• The New Testament closes the canon with the same warning: “If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book” (Revelation 22:18).

Adding communicates that God’s revelation is insufficient, undermining His authority and burdening believers with man-made requirements (Galatians 1:6-9).

“Or subtract from it” forbids trimming, ignoring, or selectively editing God’s commands.

• Jeremiah stood in the temple and declared “all the words” God had given him, “without omitting a word” (Jeremiah 26:2).

• Jesus insisted, “Not a single stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18), and warned that whoever “sets aside one of the least of these commandments” will be called least in the kingdom (Matthew 5:19).

• Paul modeled full proclamation: “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

Subtracting suggests portions of Scripture are outdated, embarrassing, or optional. Instead, “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Deuteronomy 12:32 urges total allegiance to God’s revealed word: obey every command, refuse to embellish it with human additions, and refuse to mute any part of it. Such reverence upholds God’s complete authority, preserves the purity of worship, and protects His people from error.

Parallel Commentaries ...