THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The phrase to be at the forefront and not at the rear suggests leadership rather than being in a subordinate position. This is further emphasized by the addition that you will be exalted and not held down.
Deuteronomy 28:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And the Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail: and thou shalt be always above, and not beneath: yet so if thou wilt hear the commandments of the Lord thy God which I command thee this day, and keep and do them,
וּנְתֽ͏ָנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֤ה לְרֹאשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א לְזָנָ֔ב וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ רַ֣ק לְמַ֔עְלָה וְלֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֖ה לְמָ֑טָּה כִּֽי־תִשְׁמַ֞ע אֶל־מִצְוֺ֣ת ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם לִשְׁמֹ֥ר וְלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
One Church Father comments on this verse
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Deut 28:1Now if thou wilt hear the voice of all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord thy God will make thee higher than all the nations that are on the earth.
- Deut 4:6And you shall observe, and fulfil them in practice. For this is your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding people, a great nation.
- Deut 4:9Keep thyself therefore, and thy soul carefully. Forget not the words that thy eyes have seen, and let them not go out of thy heart all the days of thy life. Thou shalt teach them to thy sons and to thy grandsons,
- Phil 1:27Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.
- Isa 9:14And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day.
- Isa 9:15The aged and honourable, he is the head: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
- Num 24:18And he shall possess Idumea: the inheritance of Seir shall come to their enemies, but Israel shall do manfully.
- Num 24:19Out of Jacob shall he come that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city.