Deuteronomy 29 26

Deuteronomy 29:26 kjv

For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:

Deuteronomy 29:26 nkjv

for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them.

Deuteronomy 29:26 niv

They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them.

Deuteronomy 29:26 esv

and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them.

Deuteronomy 29:26 nlt

Instead, they turned away to serve and worship gods they had not known before, gods that were not from the LORD.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 26 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:26 describes a severe consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness: they abandon the Lord, their only rightful God, to serve and worship false deities. These 'gods' are emphatically declared as unknown to them in truth or legitimate being, and specifically, they are gods that the Lord Himself had never sanctioned or 'allotted' to them or any people for worship. This act of spiritual treason provoked divine wrath, leading to the curses outlined in the covenant.

Deuteronomy 29 26 Context

This verse is part of Moses' third discourse in Deuteronomy, delivered on the plains of Moab before Israel enters Canaan. Chapter 29 marks the renewal of the Mosaic Covenant with the generation preparing to cross the Jordan, reiterating the terms, blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. Verses 22-28 specifically describe the desolation of the land that will result from covenant breaking, especially idolatry, and how future generations and foreign nations will inquire about the cause of such devastation. Verse 26 pinpoint the exact transgression—the serving of 'other gods'—as the catalyst for this widespread destruction and divine wrath. The historical context is the stark choice presented to Israel between allegiance to YHWH, who delivered them from Egypt and made them His unique people, and the polytheistic idolatry prevalent among the Canaanite nations they were about to encounter and displace.

Deuteronomy 29 26 Word analysis

• And they went: Implies a willful, deliberate action of turning away from YHWH, rather than a mere lapse. It suggests a path taken, a consistent choice.
• and served (וַיַּעַבְדוּ, wayya‘avdu): From the root ‘avad (עָבַד), meaning "to serve," "to work," "to worship." This word emphasizes devoted and laborious service, highlighting the depth of their commitment to these false deities. It parallels the dedicated service Israel was commanded to render to YHWH.
• other gods (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, elohim acherim):
  • אֱלֹהִים (elohim): While also used for the one true God, here in conjunction with acherim, it denotes false, pagan deities, entities that are not YHWH.
  • אֲחֵרִים (acherim): Means "other" or "foreign." It distinguishes these deities from YHWH, stressing their alien nature and illegitimacy in relation to Israel's covenant with the one true God. This choice implicitly rejects YHWH.
• and worshiped them (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ לָהֶם, wayyish·tachavu lahem): From the root shachah (שָׁחָה), meaning "to bow down," "to prostrate oneself," implying homage, adoration, and submission. This denotes formal acts of cultic reverence given to idols, the very act strictly forbidden by the first commandment.
• gods whom they had not known (אֱלֹהִים לֹא יְדָעוּם, elohim lo yada'um):
  • לֹא יְדָעוּם (lo yada'um): "Had not known them." The Hebrew root yada' (יָדַע) refers to a deep, intimate, experiential knowing, not just intellectual acquaintance. It signifies that these 'gods' held no rightful place in Israel's history, their covenant experience, or their understanding of reality. They are not true, legitimate deities recognized or revealed by YHWH. This is a polemic against the supposed power or existence of these pagan gods. They were unknown to Israel's authentic revelation.
• and whom He had not allotted to them (וְלֹא חָלַק לָהֶם, v'lo chalaq lahem):
  • לֹא חָלַק לָהֶם (lo chalaq lahem): "He had not allotted to them." The verb chalaq (חָלַק) means "to divide," "apportion," or "assign." This is a profound statement emphasizing God's sovereignty. It underlines that YHWH, as the Creator and sustainer of all, had never given or assigned these entities to be worshiped by Israel or, in fact, by any nation for proper worship. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 clarifies that while God did establish the boundaries of the nations, He specifically chose Israel as His exclusive inheritance. The "other gods" were thus unauthorized, illegitimate, and antithetical to God's divine plan for humanity's worship.

Deuteronomy 29 26 Bonus section

The phrase "whom He had not allotted to them" carries significant theological weight, refuting any notion of a polytheistic divine council where other gods might exist legitimately in assigned domains, or that YHWH permitted the worship of subordinate deities. It explicitly states that Israel’s Creator never endorsed or distributed any false god for worship to His people or indeed to any part of His creation in a legitimate sense. This specific wording serves as a powerful theological polemic against the polytheistic worldview prevalent in the Ancient Near East, where gods were often associated with specific lands or peoples and might be 'allotted' power. In direct contrast, YHWH is portrayed as the sole sovereign and dispenser of all authority, reserving exclusive worship for Himself. This rejection of false gods as "not allotted" underscores YHWH's unparalleled oneness and singularity.

Deuteronomy 29 26 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:26 profoundly encapsulates Israel's cardinal sin against the Mosaic Covenant: apostasy through idolatry. This verse declares that their choice to "serve" and "worship" other gods was a deliberate, total dedication of allegiance away from YHWH. The description of these gods as "not known" implies they were outside of YHWH's true revelation and covenantal history with Israel, making their worship fundamentally illegitimate. Crucially, the phrase "whom He had not allotted to them" reinforces God's exclusive claim on Israel's worship, emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation and His deliberate, unique relationship with His people. It condemns not only the adoption of pagan practices but also the very concept that these foreign deities held any rightful domain or legitimate power, asserting them as utterly unauthorized by the supreme Creator. This profound rebellion justly invokes the covenant curses, leading to desolation and scattering, fulfilling God's promised consequences for forsaking Him.