Deuteronomy 32 14

Deuteronomy 32:14 kjv

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

Deuteronomy 32:14 nkjv

Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock, With fat of lambs; And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the choicest wheat; And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.

Deuteronomy 32:14 niv

with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.

Deuteronomy 32:14 esv

Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of Bashan and goats, with the very finest of the wheat ? and you drank foaming wine made from the blood of the grape.

Deuteronomy 32:14 nlt

He fed them yogurt from the herd
and milk from the flock,
together with the fat of lambs.
He gave them choice rams from Bashan, and goats,
together with the choicest wheat.
You drank the finest wine,
made from the juice of grapes.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 14 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:14 describes God's lavish and abundant provision for Israel, emphasizing the supreme quality and quantity of food and drink He bestowed upon them, first in the wilderness and later through the Promised Land's fertility. This imagery paints a picture of exceptional prosperity and luxury, far beyond mere subsistence, signifying divine favor, richness, and blessing in every aspect of their physical sustenance. It underscores that all their well-being flowed directly from the faithful care of Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 32 14 Context

Deuteronomy 32 is known as the Song of Moses, a powerful prophetic poem delivered by Moses just before his death. This song serves as both a hymn of praise to God's faithfulness and a dire warning about Israel's future rebellion and its consequences, concluding with a promise of eventual restoration. Verses 10-14 specifically recall God's tender and providential care for Israel, depicting Him as an eagle stirring its nest, leading, and nourishing His fledgling nation. Verse 14 culminates this section by detailing the opulent physical blessings Yahweh poured upon them. The historical context is the period leading up to Israel's entry into the Promised Land, following forty years of wandering in the wilderness, during which God miraculously sustained them. The luxurious imagery contrasts sharply with their past nomadic existence and highlights the bountiful inheritance God was providing. Culturally, these descriptions served as a direct challenge to the surrounding Canaanite fertility cults, especially Baal worship, by affirming Yahweh alone as the true source of all agricultural and pastoral abundance, including the "fat" of the land and the "blood of the grape."

Deuteronomy 32 14 Word analysis

• Curd of cows (חֶמְאַת בָּקָר, ḥemʾat bāqār): Refers to the thick, rich cream or curd from cattle, not just regular milk. It signifies a product of leisure and plenty, a luxurious and nourishing food item, suggesting abundant, well-fed livestock.
• and milk of sheep (וַחֲלֵב צֹאן, vaḥalev ṣōn): Emphasizes variety in pastoral wealth. Sheep's milk is typically richer in fat and solids than cow's milk, adding to the depiction of prime, fortifying sustenance.
• with fat of lambs (וְחֵלֶב כָּרִים, veḥélev kārîm): 'Fat' (חֵלֶב, ḥélev) in biblical culture often denotes the choicest, richest part, frequently set aside for divine offerings, symbolizing the best. Here, it refers to the consumption of rich, prime meat from fattened, choice lambs, indicating feasting and superior quality food.
• and rams of Bashan (וְאֵילִים בְּנֵי בָשָׁן, veʾêylîm bĕnê vāshān): Bashan was a highly fertile region known for its rich pastures and large, strong, prime livestock. "Rams of Bashan" signifies exceptionally robust, healthy, and high-quality animals, symbolizing peak animal husbandry and rich pasturage.
• and goats (וַעַתּוּדִים, vaʿattûdîm): Specifically he-goats, often leading the flock. Their inclusion completes the picture of a diverse and thriving pastoral economy, contributing to a comprehensive dietary wealth.
• with the fat of kidneys of wheat (עִם־חֵלֶב כִּלְיוֹת חִטָּה, ʿim-ḥélev kilyōt ḥiṭṭāh): Another instance of 'fat' (חֵלֶב), extending the concept of "the choicest part" to grains. "Kidneys of wheat" is an idiom for the plumpest, heaviest, most nutritious kernels of wheat, yielding the finest flour. It implies maximum yield and best quality grain, symbolic of an incredibly fertile land producing top-grade crops.
• and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape (וְדַם־עֵנָב תִּשְׁתֶּה חָמֶר, veḏam-ʿēnāḇ tišṯeh ḥāmer): "Blood of the grape" is a vivid poetic metaphor for rich, deeply colored, fermenting wine. The term 'pure' (חָמֶר, ḥāmer) implies strong, unmixed, or frothing wine, freshly pressed, signaling an abundant harvest of grapes and a continuous supply of choice vintage. It represents joy, celebration, and ultimate refreshment.

• Accumulation of Rich Foods: The extended list of "curd of cows," "milk of sheep," "fat of lambs," "rams of Bashan," "goats," and "fat of kidneys of wheat" presents a hyperbolical catalogue of abundant, high-quality, and varied foodstuffs. This conveys a picture of consistent, luxuriant feasting, symbolizing extreme divine blessing and a life of ease and prosperity that far exceeds basic sustenance.
• The Dominance of "Fat" (חֵלֶב): The triple repetition of "fat" (of lambs, of kidneys of wheat) emphasizes not merely sufficiency but lavishness. This highlights the superabundant provision of God—not just enough, but the absolute best and richest of everything, signaling ultimate well-being and delight. This "fatness" also indirectly alludes to the sacrificial system, where fat was offered to God, implying Israel receives a portion previously set apart for deity.
• "Blood of the Grape": This evocative metaphor vividly portrays rich, deep red wine. It signifies a land so fertile that its vineyards produce profusely, yielding wine of excellent quality and quantity, a source of joy and refreshment. It rounds out the picture of comprehensive provision encompassing both animal and agricultural produce.

Deuteronomy 32 14 Bonus section

The lavish descriptions in this verse serve as a polemical statement against the false deities, particularly the Canaanite fertility god Baal, whom many Israelites were tempted to worship for agricultural prosperity. Moses emphasizes that it is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who truly bestows "the fat of kidneys of wheat" and the "blood of the grape." The imagery here is incredibly tactile and sensuous, appealing to taste and sight to underscore the tangible blessings God provides, leaving no doubt about the immense physical benefits of their covenant relationship with Him. The phrase "kidneys of wheat" suggests an interior richness, hinting at the deep, fundamental prosperity granted by divine care. This abundant provision was meant to bring joy and well-being, but was also implicitly designed to be shared and to bring glory back to the Giver, Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 32 14 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:14 profoundly illustrates the extent of Yahweh's gracious provision for Israel, detailing a picture of exceptional material abundance and luxury. It serves as a stark reminder of God's character as a generous Provider, not merely meeting needs but lavishing His chosen people with the very best that a fertile land and thriving flocks could offer. This imagery of prime dairy, rich meats from choice animals (especially "rams of Bashan"), the finest grains, and abundant, quality wine showcases the integrated blessing across agricultural and pastoral domains. This verse sets the stage for the warnings against Israel's forgetfulness and apostasy; their rebellion would be inexcusable given such unparalleled divine benevolence. It functions as a powerful declaration that the source of all Israel's blessings was God alone, thereby confronting any notion of reliance on other deities or self-effort for their prosperity.