Deuteronomy 1 34

Deuteronomy 1:34 kjv

And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

Deuteronomy 1:34 nkjv

"And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying,

Deuteronomy 1:34 niv

When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore:

Deuteronomy 1:34 esv

"And the LORD heard your words and was angered, and he swore,

Deuteronomy 1:34 nlt

"When the LORD heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore,

Deuteronomy 1 verses

Deuteronomy 1 34 Meaning

This verse declares the immediate, personal, and decisive reaction of the Lord to the words and actions of the Israelites. Upon hearing their rebellious grumbling and disbelief at the report of the spies, God's righteous anger was kindled. His subsequent sworn declaration initiated the severe judgment of the wilderness wandering, preventing that generation from entering the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 1 34 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 1 serves as the opening of Moses’ farewell discourse to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, before they enter Canaan. Moses is recounting the significant events of their wilderness journey, particularly emphasizing God’s faithfulness and the Israelites’ repeated failures. This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of the spy incident at Kadesh Barnea, as described more fully in Numbers 13 and 14. After receiving an overwhelmingly positive report on the land, coupled with the giants, the people succumbed to fear and refused to enter. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt, and proposed appointing a new leader to return there. This immediate context reveals their profound lack of faith, rebellion against divine command, and their testing of God’s patience, which culminated in the Lord’s strong reaction outlined in this verse.

Deuteronomy 1 34 Word Analysis

• And the Lord: The use of "the Lord" (Hebrew: YHWH, יְהוָ֞ה) emphasizes God’s covenant name, highlighting His personal, active, and sovereign involvement with His people. Despite being in covenant relationship, Israel's actions invoked His just judgment.
• heard: (Hebrew: shama`, שָׁמַ֪ע). More than just audibly perceiving, shama` implies to listen intently, heed, understand, and often, to respond. God not only heard their spoken complaints but fully apprehended their underlying unbelief and rebellion, demonstrating His omniscience and awareness of their inner disposition.
• the voice of your words: This specific phrasing underlines that it was their vocalized grumbling, their open declarations of distrust and desire to return to Egypt, that God responded to. Their words were direct evidence of their rebellious hearts.
• and was wroth: (Hebrew: charah, וַיִּחַר־אַ֖ף). Charah denotes a burning, fierce anger, often depicted as a flared nostril (hence "fierce nose/anger"). This signifies God's righteous indignation and intense displeasure at their unbelief, ingratitude, and rejection of His good plan. It's not a volatile human emotion but a holy response to sin and rebellion.
• and sware, saying: (Hebrew: shava`, וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע). To "swear" an oath makes God’s declaration irrevocably binding and certain. It signifies a divine decree from which He will not retract. This oath seals the judgment, indicating its divine authority and unchangeable nature, ensuring the consequences would inevitably follow.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the Lord heard the voice of your words": This highlights God’s attentive sovereignty. No word, especially words of doubt or rebellion spoken by His people, goes unheard or unaddressed. It underscores the profound responsibility that comes with being in a covenant relationship, where every action and word holds significance before the Holy God.
• "and was wroth, and sware, saying": This phrase describes the divine consequence. God's immediate and intense anger (His holy wrath against sin) is immediately followed by an unchangeable oath. This signifies that God's judgment is not arbitrary or impulsive, but a measured, certain, and divinely sanctioned response to specific acts of disobedience and unbelief, binding Himself to its execution.

Deuteronomy 1 34 Bonus Section

The immutable oath of God, expressed by "and sware," points to the unchangeable nature of His decrees. While God sometimes repented of calamity due to intercession (e.g., Exo 32:14), here the judgment against the generation of unbelievers was absolute. This illustrates the difference between conditional threats of punishment that allow for repentance, and an ultimate, decisive decree born of persistent rebellion and contempt for His holiness. This divine act solidified the principle that faithlessness has severe, indeed eternal, consequences.

Deuteronomy 1 34 Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:34 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey: God's severe response to their widespread unbelief. This verse portrays God as acutely aware of His people’s grumbling, deeply angered by their lack of faith despite His constant provision, and resolute in His judgment. It reveals that the Lord's character includes holy wrath against rebellion and that His sworn declarations are immutable. This historical event serves as a foundational lesson throughout Scripture, emphasizing the dire consequences of disobedience stemming from an unbelieving heart, urging generations to take heed and obey God’s voice. It stresses that hearing God’s word is insufficient; it must be accompanied by faith and obedience.