Deuteronomy 32: The Song of Moses, and Yahweh sends Moses up Mount Nebo
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Moses speaks a song to all Israel. It praises Yahweh as the Rock whose work is perfect, tells how he found Israel in the wilderness and cared for them, and how Israel grew fat and turned to other gods. In the song Yahweh says he will hide his face and punish them, but he holds back from wiping them out so that their enemies will not boast, and in the end he will judge his people, have compassion on his servants, and take vengeance on his enemies. Then Yahweh tells Moses to go up Mount Nebo, see the land of Canaan, and die there, because of what happened at the waters of Meribah.
Who is speaking?
Moses speaks the song in verses 1 to 43. Inside the song he gives words of God (verses 20 to 27, 34 and 35, and 37 to 42), but they are part of Moses' song, so they are not in gold. The narrator speaks in verses 44 and 45, and Moses speaks to the people again in verses 46 and 47. God's own words are in 4 of the 52 verses: Yahweh speaks to Moses in verses 49 to 52. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
In plain English: Listen, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
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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.
In plain English: My teaching will fall like rain. My words will come down like dew, like gentle rain on young grass, like showers on the plants.
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3For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Ascribe greatness to our God!
In plain English: For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh. Tell of the greatness of our God!
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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.
In plain English: The Rock: his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a faithful God who does no wrong. He is just and upright.
The Hebrew word: "Rock" is tsur, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge".
How it is translated: This Bible says "rock" in all 8 verses of Deuteronomy that use tsur. Seven of them are in this song (verses 4, 13, 15, 18, 30, 31 and 37). In verse 13 it is a real rock. In verses 4, 15, 18, 30 and 31 it is a name for God, and in verses 31 and 37 it is used for other gods.
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5They have dealt corruptly with him. They are not his children, because of their defect. They are a perverse and crooked generation.
In plain English: They have acted corruptly toward him. They are not his children, because of their fault (or: their blemish). They are a twisted and crooked generation. (The Hebrew of this verse is hard; see the note.)
The Hebrew words: The first half of this verse is short and hard in Hebrew. Word for word it reads: "it acted corruptly to him, not his children, their blemish". The word for "blemish" (mum) is the word used for a flaw that makes an animal unfit to offer to Yahweh, as in .
Good to know: This Bible reads it as "They are not his children, because of their defect." The text is unclear, and these words can be divided and joined in different ways. The old Greek translation has "spotted children".
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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.
In plain English: Is this how you repay Yahweh, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your father, who bought you (or: created you)? He made you and set you firmly in place.
The Hebrew word: "Bought" is qanah, which the dictionary gives as "to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase".
What changes: Read as "bought you", Yahweh is the father who acquired his people for himself. Read as "created you", he is the father who made them. The next words, "He has made you and established you", fit both.
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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.
In plain English: Remember the days of long ago. Think about the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain it to you.
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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.
In plain English: When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up the human race (literally: the sons of man), he set the borders of the peoples by the number of the children of Israel (or: the sons of God; see the note).
The Hebrew words: "The Most High" is Elyon, which the dictionary gives as "lofty", and "as title, the Supreme". "The children of Israel" is bene Yisrael, "the sons of Israel".
Good to know: This Bible follows the Hebrew text, which says the borders were set "according to the number of the children of Israel". The old Greek translation (the Septuagint) says "according to the number of the angels of God". Some readers take the verse as "the sons of God", a reading close to the old Greek.
What changes: Read as "the children of Israel", the nations' borders are set to match the number of Israel's people. Read as "the sons of God", they are set to match the number of heavenly beings, and then says that Yahweh kept Israel as his own portion. Readers differ on which reading is older and on how to understand it.
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9For Yahweh’s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
In plain English: For Yahweh's portion is his people. Jacob is the share he measured out as his own.
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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.
In plain English: He found him in a desert land, in a howling waste of wilderness. He surrounded him, he cared for him (or: he taught him), and he guarded him like the pupil of his eye.
The Hebrew words: "Found" is matsa, which the dictionary gives as "to attain, i.e. find or acquire". "Cared for" is bin, "to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e. understand". "The apple of his eye" is ishon, which the dictionary gives as "the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball".
What changes: Read as "he found him", Yahweh came upon Israel in the desert. The old Greek translation says instead "He maintained him in the wilderness": he provided for him there. Read as "he cared for him", Yahweh watched over Israel. Read as "he taught him" (the old Greek has "instructed him"), he gave Israel understanding.
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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.
In plain English: Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, he spread out his wings, took them up, and carried them on his feathers.
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12Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.
In plain English: Yahweh alone led him. No foreign god was with him.
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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;
In plain English: He made him ride on the heights of the earth. He ate the crops of the field. He fed him with honey from the rock and oil from the hard flint rock,
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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.
In plain English: with butter (or: curds) from the herd and milk from the flock, with the fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest wheat (literally: the fat of the kidneys of wheat). You drank wine, the blood of the grape.
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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.
In plain English: But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked. You grew fat, you grew thick, you grew sleek. He abandoned God who made him and treated the Rock of his salvation with contempt.
Good to know: Jeshurun is a name for Israel. The dictionary gives it as "a symbolic name for Israel". It is in only 4 verses of the Bible: here, , , and .
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16They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.
In plain English: They made him jealous with strange gods. They made him angry with disgusting things.
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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.
In plain English: They sacrificed to demons that are not God (or: not a god), to gods they had not known, to new gods that had come along recently, gods your fathers had not feared.
The Hebrew word: "Demons" is shed, which the dictionary gives as "a doemon (as malignant)". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and .
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18Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
In plain English: You forgot the Rock who fathered you. You forgot God who gave you birth.
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19Yahweh saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.
In plain English: Yahweh saw it and was filled with disgust (this Bible: abhorred), because his sons and his daughters had made him angry.
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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.
In plain English: He said, "I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end will be, for they are a very twisted generation, children who are not faithful.
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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.
In plain English: They have made me jealous with what is not God (or: not a god). They have made me angry with their empty idols (literally: their vanities). So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people. I will make them angry with a foolish nation.
Good to know: gives the second half of this verse as words of Moses: "First Moses says, 'I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation. I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.'"
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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.
In plain English: For a fire is lit by my anger. It burns down to the depths of Sheol (the world of the dead). It eats up the earth and its crops and sets fire to the foundations of the mountains.
The Hebrew word: "Sheol" is sheol, which the dictionary gives as "Hades or the world of the dead". This is the only verse in Deuteronomy that uses it.
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23“I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them.
In plain English: "I will pile troubles on them. I will use up my arrows on them.
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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.
In plain English: They will be wasted by hunger and eaten up by burning heat (or: fever) and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of wild animals against them, with the poison of snakes that crawl in the dust.
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25Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.
In plain English: Outside, the sword will take their children. Inside the rooms there will be terror. It will strike both young man and young woman, the baby at the breast and the gray-haired man.
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26I said that I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men;
In plain English: I said I would scatter them (or: blow them away) and wipe out their memory from among people,
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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.’”
In plain English: but I was afraid of how the enemy would provoke me, that their enemies would misunderstand and say, 'Our hand has won (literally: is raised high). Yahweh has not done all this.'"
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28For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them.
In plain English: For they are a nation without sense (literally: perishing of counsel). There is no understanding in them.
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29Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
In plain English: If only they were wise, so that they understood this and thought about what their end will be!
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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?
In plain English: How could one man chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them and Yahweh had handed them over?
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31For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves concede.
In plain English: For their rock is not like our Rock. Even our enemies judge it so (literally: and our enemies are judges).
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32For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poison grapes. Their clusters are bitter.
In plain English: For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of poison. Their clusters are bitter.
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33Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.
In plain English: Their wine is the poison of snakes, the deadly venom of cobras.
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34“Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures?
In plain English: "Is this not stored up with me, sealed up in my treasure houses?
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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.”
In plain English: Vengeance and repayment belong to me, at the time when their foot slips. For the day of their disaster is near, and what is coming to them hurries toward them."
Good to know: and quote "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay". also quotes "The Lord will judge his people" (). The old Greek translation of this verse reads "In the day of vengeance I will recompense".
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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.
In plain English: For Yahweh will judge (or: do justice for) his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their strength (literally: hand) is gone, and that no one is left, neither shut up nor set free.
The Hebrew words: "Shut up or left at large" is two opposite words: one the dictionary gives as "to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble", and the other as "to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc."
Good to know: The text does not explain the phrase, and readers differ on what the two words mean here.
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37He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
In plain English: He will say, "Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
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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.
In plain English: the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your shelter.
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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.
In plain English: "See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I put to death, and I bring to life. I wound, and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from my hand.
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40For I lift up my hand to heaven and declare, as I live forever,
In plain English: For I lift up my hand to heaven and say: as surely as I live forever,
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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.
In plain English: when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold of judgment, I will take vengeance on my enemies and pay back those who hate me.
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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.”
In plain English: I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword will eat flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the enemy's leaders."
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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.
In plain English: Rejoice, you nations, with his people (or: Praise his people, you nations), for he will avenge the blood of his servants. He will take vengeance on his enemies and will make atonement for his land and his people (or: for the land of his people).
The Hebrew words: The first words are literally "Shout for joy, nations, his people".
What changes: Read as "Rejoice, you nations, with his people", the nations join Israel in praise. Read as "Praise his people, you nations", the nations praise Israel. quotes "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."
Good to know: The old Greek translation has a longer verse that begins "Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him". has the words "Let all the angels of God worship him". The Hebrew text this Bible follows does not have them. At the end the Hebrew says "his land, his people", which can mean "his land and his people" or "the land of his people".
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44Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun.
In plain English: Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua (in Hebrew: Hoshea) the son of Nun.
Good to know: Here the Hebrew has the name Hoshea, and this Bible writes Joshua. In Moses gave Hoshea the son of Nun the name Joshua.
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45Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel.
In plain English: Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel.
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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.
In plain English: He said to them, "Take to heart all the words I am warning you with today, so that you will command your children to be careful to do all the words of this law.
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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.”
In plain English: For this is not an empty word for you. It is your life, and by this word you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
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48Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying,
In plain English: That same day Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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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.God speaks
In plain English: "Go up this mountain of Abarim, Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own.
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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;God speaks
In plain English: Die on the mountain you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,
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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.God speaks
In plain English: because you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy among the Israelites.
Good to know: Aaron died on Mount Hor in . At the waters of Meribah, Yahweh told Moses and Aaron that they would not bring the people into the land (), and names the place "the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin".
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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.”God speaks
In plain English: You will see the land from a distance, but you will not go into the land I am giving to the Israelites."
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