Deuteronomy 1 27

Deuteronomy 1:27 kjv

And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

Deuteronomy 1:27 nkjv

and you complained in your tents, and said, 'Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

Deuteronomy 1:27 niv

You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us.

Deuteronomy 1:27 esv

And you murmured in your tents and said, 'Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

Deuteronomy 1:27 nlt

You complained in your tents and said, 'The LORD must hate us. That's why he has brought us here from Egypt ? to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered.

Deuteronomy 1 verses

Deuteronomy 1 27 Meaning

Deuteronomy 1:27 vividly portrays the deep-seated mistrust and rebellion of the Israelite generation at Kadesh Barnea. Despite witnessing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, they cynically accused God of bringing them out with malevolent intent—specifically, to allow them to be annihilated by the Amorites. This verse encapsulates their profound lack of faith, interpreting God's redemptive acts through a lens of fear and disbelief, falsely attributing hatred to the Lord who had loved and chosen them.

Deuteronomy 1 27 Context

Deuteronomy 1:27 is part of Moses' farewell address to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, before they cross into the Promised Land. He recounts the nation's history, particularly the critical events of the wilderness wandering, to impress upon them the importance of obedience and faith. This verse specifically describes the people's rebellious response to the report of the twelve spies sent into Canaan (Dt 1:19-25; cf. Num 13). After hearing the challenging description of the inhabitants (giants, fortified cities) but neglecting the promise of God's help, the generation of the Exodus succumbed to fear. Their grumbling here, "in your tents," signifies a pervasive, hidden discontent that quickly blossomed into outright rebellion and a rejection of God's covenant plan for their conquest and inheritance. It highlights the pivotal failure that resulted in their forty-year wilderness judgment.

Deuteronomy 1 27 Word analysis

• And ye murmured (וַתֵּרָגְנוּ - vat'terāgnû): Derived from the Hebrew root ragan, meaning "to murmur," "to grumble," often implying a deep-seated, covert complaint or discontent. It suggests a whispered or hidden rebellious thought that festers and then erupts into open rebellion, not a mere passing irritation but a serious act of defiance against God's authority.
• in your tents (בְּאָהֳלֵיכֶם - bə'aholêḵem): Refers to their living spaces, indicating that the complaining was pervasive and intimate, originating within their families and personal circles. It suggests a widespread and ingrained attitude, where discontent was fostered privately before manifesting publicly. It underscores the extent of their disaffection and distrust, infecting every household.
• and said (וַתֹּאמְרוּ - vat'tomerû): This simple phrase marks the transition from private murmuring to open declaration, demonstrating how inner discontent becomes expressed accusation.
• Because the Lord (מֵאַהֲבַת יְהוָה - mê'ahăvat Yᵊhováh): The Masoretic Text actually reads "Because the Lord loved you" (or from love of the LORD). However, ancient versions and the context strongly support the reading "hated us" (as reflected in Dt 1:27 KJV, ESV, NASB). If the original form was "from love of the LORD" but read as a question or sarcastically, it could convey the idea "Is it from love...?" implying "no, it must be hatred." Regardless of the subtle linguistic nuances, the intent of the people's statement, as presented by Moses, was a blasphemous accusation of divine hatred.
• hated us (שְׂנֵאָנוּ - śenê'anū): This is a profound and direct theological distortion. To accuse God, who demonstrated overwhelming love and mercy in their liberation from Egypt, of "hating" them, reveals an ultimate breakdown of trust and an astonishing blindness to His character. It mirrors the language often used for divine abandonment or disfavor, an extreme rejection of their covenant relationship with God.
• he hath brought us forth (הוֹצִיאָנוּ - hotzi'anu): Acknowledges the reality of the Exodus, the mighty act of deliverance by God. However, their interpretation twists this divine act of salvation into an instrument of destruction.
• out of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - mê'eretz mitzrayim): The very place from which God delivered them from oppressive slavery, yet they portray their liberation as a step towards annihilation. This inversion highlights their cynicism and ingratitude.
• to deliver us (לְתִתֵנוּ - ləṯitênū): This infinitive "to give us" or "to deliver us" frames God's purpose for the Exodus, in their eyes, as malevolent—not into a promised land, but into danger.
• into the hand of the Amorites (בְּיַד הָאֱמֹרִי - bəyaḏ ha'ěmōrî): The Amorites were one of the formidable peoples inhabiting Canaan. Their mention specifically highlights the human agents of the destruction they feared, overlooking the power of God to overcome them.
• to destroy us (לְהַשְׁמִידֵנוּ - ləhašmîḏênū): The ultimate, terrible purpose they falsely imputed to God. This phrase emphasizes their complete loss of perspective, believing God intended their utter annihilation rather than their blessed inheritance.

Deuteronomy 1 27 Bonus section

The profound accusation in Deut 1:27, that God "hated" His people and intended to destroy them, echoes throughout Israel's history whenever they faced difficult circumstances without leaning on divine promises. This mindset led them to prefer slavery in Egypt (Num 14:3) over the struggles of the wilderness and the fight for the Promised Land, completely missing the freedom and blessing God offered. It also sets up a stark contrast with Caleb and Joshua, who saw the very same land and formidable inhabitants but responded with faith (Num 14:6-9), understanding that God's power transcended human obstacles. This narrative functions as a strong cautionary tale for the new generation entering the land, urging them to trust God's character and promises above their own fears and negative assessments of circumstances.

Deuteronomy 1 27 Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:27 serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive power of unbelief and fear to distort perception, even in the face of overwhelming divine love and deliverance. The Israelites, who experienced the Exodus firsthand—the plagues, the Red Sea crossing, the manna, the pillar of cloud and fire—nonetheless succumbed to a dark, internal narrative that God intended to harm them. Their grumbling "in your tents" underscores how private discontent, nurtured by fear, metastasizes into widespread rebellion. The accusation that "the Lord hated us" is blasphemous, utterly contrary to God's character revealed throughout Scripture (Deut 7:7-8; Jer 31:3). It exposes a heart that could not fathom divine grace and mistook challenges on the path to blessing for an intentional act of destruction. This event, marking their pivotal failure to enter the land, stands as a perpetual warning against hardening one's heart, questioning God's intentions, and allowing fear to supersede faith in the journey of life. It reminds us that faith is not just believing that God exists, but believing who God is and trusting His benevolent purposes, even when circumstances seem daunting.