Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

Deuteronomy 32

World English Bible

WEB

1Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. 3For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Ascribe greatness to our God! 4The Rock: his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A God of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he. 5They have dealt corruptly with him. They are not his children, because of their defect. They are a perverse and crooked generation. 6Is this the way you repay Yahweh, foolish and unwise people? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you and established you. 7Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you. 8When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the children of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. 9For Yahweh’s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. 11As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. 12Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him. 13He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock; 14butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine. 15But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. 16They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations. 17They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread. 18Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth. 19Yahweh saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 20He said, “I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end will be; for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness. 21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire. 23“I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them. 24They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, with the venom of vipers that glide in the dust. 25Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man. 26I said that I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men; 27were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted; Yahweh has not done all this.’” 28For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them. 29Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! 30How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and Yahweh had delivered them up? 31For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves concede. 32For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poison grapes. Their clusters are bitter. 33Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps. 34“Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures? 35Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides, for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.” 36For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large. 37He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, 38which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection. 39“See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. 40For I lift up my hand to heaven and declare, as I live forever, 41if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me. 42I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the leaders of the enemy.” 43Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his adversaries, and will make atonement for his land and for his people. 44Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel. 46He said to them, “Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you today, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. 47For it is no vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land, where you go over the Jordan to possess it.” 48Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying, 49“Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is across from Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession. 50Die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people; 51because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t uphold my holiness among the children of Israel. 52For you shall see the land from a distance; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Deuteronomy Chapter 32 presents a powerful song of Moses, which serves as a poignant reminder of God's faithfulness and Israel's tendency to stray from Him. The chapter begins with Moses calling upon heaven and earth as witnesses to the words he is about to proclaim. He extols the greatness of God, describing Him as the Rock, whose works are perfect and just. This imagery emphasizes God's unchanging nature and His righteousness, contrasting sharply with the unfaithfulness of the Israelites, who are referred to as a “perverse and crooked generation” (#Israel). The song serves as both a celebration of God's attributes and a lament over Israel's rebellion against Him.

As the song progresses, Moses recounts the history of Israel, highlighting how God has cared for and protected His people, yet they have repeatedly turned to idolatry and sin. He warns them of the consequences of their actions, stating that God will hide His face from them as a result of their unfaithfulness. The chapter culminates in a declaration of God's ultimate justice, where He promises to avenge His people and bring judgment upon their enemies. This serves as a reminder that while God is merciful, He is also just and will not overlook sin. The chapter concludes with Moses being instructed to write this song down and teach it to the Israelites, ensuring that future generations remember the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of turning away from Him.

In summary, Deuteronomy 32 encapsulates the themes of God's sovereignty, justice, and the call for His people to remain faithful, making it a vital chapter for understanding the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It serves as a timeless reminder for all believers to reflect on their commitment to God and the importance of obedience in their walk of faith.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Genesis 10:32v8Genesis 10:32 summarizes the division of nations after the flood, which is echoed in Deuteronomy 32:8 where God is described as setting boundaries for the peoples.
  2. Genesis 50:19v35In Genesis 50:19, Joseph reassures his brothers that he is not in the place of God, reflecting the principle found in Deuteronomy 32:35 that vengeance belongs to God.
  3. Numbers 20:12v51Numbers 20:12 records God's judgment on Moses and Aaron for their unbelief and failure to uphold God's holiness, which is reiterated in Deuteronomy 32:51-52 as the reason Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land.
  4. Numbers 27:12-14v48Numbers 27:12-14 recounts God's command to Moses to view the Promised Land before his death, which is reiterated in Deuteronomy 32:48-52, emphasizing Moses' disobedience at Meribah as the reason he cannot enter.
  5. Judges 10:13-14v37Judges 10:13-14 shows God telling Israel to cry out to the gods they have chosen, echoing Deuteronomy 32:37-38 where God challenges Israel to seek help from the false gods they have worshipped.
  6. 1 Samuel 2:6v391 Samuel 2:6 speaks of the Lord's power over life and death, echoing Deuteronomy 32:39 where God declares His sovereignty over life and death.
  7. 2 Samuel 22:47v42 Samuel 22:47 praises God as the living rock, echoing Deuteronomy 32:4, which describes God as the Rock, whose work is perfect.
  8. Job 5:18v39Job 5:18 describes God as one who wounds and heals, a theme also found in Deuteronomy 32:39, where God declares His sovereignty over life and death, wounding and healing.
  9. Job 8:3v4Job 8:3 questions whether God perverts justice, which aligns with Deuteronomy 32:4, affirming that God's ways are just and perfect.
  10. Job 34:10v4Job 34:10 emphasizes that God does no wickedness and is just, which aligns with Deuteronomy 32:4, where God is described as a Rock whose works are perfect and all His ways are just.
  11. Psalms 17:8v10Psalm 17:8 asks God to keep the psalmist as the apple of His eye, a metaphor also used in Deuteronomy 32:10 to describe God's protective care over Israel.
  12. Psalms 18:31v4Both passages declare that there is no rock like God, emphasizing His uniqueness and reliability.
  13. Psalms 50:1v1Psalm 50:1 calls the earth to hear the Lord's proclamation, similar to Deuteronomy 32:1 where Moses calls heaven and earth to witness his words, emphasizing the authority and universality of God's message.
  14. Psalms 81:16v13Psalm 81:16 promises that God would feed His people with the finest of wheat and honey from the rock, reminiscent of Deuteronomy 32:13, where God is described as providing honey from the rock and oil from the flinty stone.
  15. Psalms 92:15v4Psalm 92:15 declares the Lord as upright and without unrighteousness, echoing Deuteronomy 32:4, which describes God as the Rock, whose works are perfect and just.
  16. Psalms 94:1v35Psalm 94:1 calls upon God as the God of vengeance, which echoes Deuteronomy 32:35 where God declares that vengeance belongs to Him, emphasizing His role as the ultimate judge.
  17. Psalms 111:7v4Psalm 111:7 declares the works of God's hands as truth and justice, paralleling Deuteronomy 32:4, which describes God as a God of truth and without injustice.
  18. Psalms 135:14v36Psalm 135:14 promises that the Lord will vindicate His people, reflecting the promise in Deuteronomy 32:36 of God's justice and compassion for His servants.
  19. Isaiah 1:2v1Isaiah 1:2 calls upon the heavens and earth to witness against Israel, echoing Deuteronomy 32:1 where Moses calls the same witnesses in his song, highlighting the covenantal relationship and the people's rebellion.
  20. Micah 1:2v1Micah 1:2 calls the earth to hear the Lord's indictment, similar to Deuteronomy 32:1 where Moses calls heaven and earth to witness against Israel.
  21. Zechariah 2:8v10Zechariah 2:8 refers to Israel as the 'apple of His eye,' a phrase also used in Deuteronomy 32:10 to describe God's protective care and affection for His people.
  22. Romans 12:19v35Romans 12:19 advises against seeking personal vengeance, quoting Deuteronomy 32:35 where God declares that vengeance is His responsibility.
  23. Romans 15:10v43Romans 15:10 cites Deuteronomy 32:43 to emphasize the rejoicing of the Gentiles with God's people, reinforcing the theme of unity and inclusion in the worship of God.
  24. Hebrews 1:6v43Hebrews 1:6 refers to the angels worshiping the Son, which aligns with the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 32:43, where angels are called to worship God, indicating the divine status of Christ.
  25. Hebrews 10:31v35Hebrews 10:31 states it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, which is reminiscent of Deuteronomy 32:35 where God declares vengeance and recompense.
  26. Revelation 15:3v3Revelation 15:3 also alludes to the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32, which praises God's justice and faithfulness, themes echoed in the heavenly song.
  27. Revelation 18:20v43Revelation 18:20 calls for rejoicing over Babylon's fall, aligning with Deuteronomy 32:43 where the heavens and God's people are called to rejoice over God's vengeance and justice.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.

Download the analysisDownload it with your notes and highlights