4:31 a merciful God. This description may allude to the name of God given in Ex. 34:6 (“the Lord, a God merciful”). The theme of God’s love for His people is highlighted in Deuteronomy (7:7–9, 13; 10:15, 18; 23:5; 33:3), anticipating the more complete revelation of God’s love in the New Testament (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4, 5; 1 John 3:1).

the covenant with your fathers. See 1:8.