Deuteronomy 32 16

Deuteronomy 32:16 kjv

They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:16 nkjv

They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:16 niv

They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.

Deuteronomy 32:16 esv

They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:16 nlt

They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods;
they provoked his fury with detestable deeds.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:16 expresses God's righteous indignation and jealousy provoked by Israel's turn from Him to idolatry. It signifies that Israel angered God by worshiping other, false deities and engaging in abominable pagan practices, thus breaking their covenant and profaning His holy name. This verse, part of the Song of Moses, warns of the severe consequences of such apostasy, highlighting the exclusive nature of God's covenant with His people.

Deuteronomy 32 16 Context

Deuteronomy 32 is a profound prophetic song delivered by Moses to Israel just before his death and their entry into the Promised Land. Known as the "Song of Moses," it serves as a historical and theological summary, looking back at God's faithfulness and Israel's past failures, while primarily functioning as a prophetic warning about their future apostasy. The song outlines the blessings of obedience and the curses that will follow disobedience. Verse 16 specifically highlights the primary sin of future generations—idolatry. The context for the original audience, positioned on the threshold of Canaan, was one of constant exposure to the polytheistic, fertility-cultic religions of the surrounding peoples, making the warning against "strange gods" and "abominations" intensely relevant. This song acts as a covenant lawsuit, a divine indictment against a disobedient people, designed to call them to repentance and testify against them should they abandon the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32 16 Word analysis

• They provoked him to jealousy:

  • "Provoked": The Hebrew verb is ka'as (כעס), which means to vex, provoke, be angry, or cause grief. Here, it indicates active instigation on Israel's part.
  • "Him to jealousy": The Hebrew word for jealousy here is qanna' (קנא), rooted in God's essential nature as El Qanna (a jealous God). This is not human envy driven by insecurity, but divine zeal and holy indignation against anything that usurps His unique place or dishonors His covenant name. God's jealousy is righteous, stemming from His exclusive claim as the only true God and His deep love for His covenant people. It is a protective, zealous love that demands absolute loyalty, recognizing that worship of false gods is spiritual adultery.

• with strange gods:

  • "Strange gods": The Hebrew is elohim acherim (אלהים אחרים), literally "other gods." This phrase refers to the false deities of the Canaanites and surrounding nations, such as Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, etc. They are called "other" because they are foreign to Yahweh, the one true God of Israel, and are considered utterly powerless and non-existent compared to Him (Ps 96:5, 1 Cor 8:4-6). Worshiping them was a direct violation of the first and second commandments.

• with abominations provoked they him to anger:

  • "Abominations": The Hebrew word is to'evah (תועבה), which signifies something detestable, abhorrent, or morally disgusting to God. This term encompasses not only the idols themselves but also the specific immoral and corrupt practices associated with pagan worship, such as ritual prostitution, child sacrifice (e.g., to Molech), and various magical arts, which God strictly forbade (Lev 18; Deut 18:9-12). These practices were considered a defilement of the land and of Israel themselves.
  • "Provoked they him to anger": This repetition emphasizes the severe consequence of their actions. The word ka'as (כעס) is used again, here translating more directly as "anger" or "indignation." God's anger is His just and holy response to willful disobedience, betrayal, and rebellion against His character and covenant. It indicates a breaking of relationship and an invitation of divine judgment.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods": This phrase succinctly states the primary offense: Israel's deliberate decision to turn from the true God, who had redeemed them, to serve impotent idols. This act was seen as a profound betrayal of the covenant, equivalent to a wife's infidelity against her husband, hence provoking God's zealous and righteous "jealousy" for His unique place in their worship and allegiance.
  • "with abominations provoked they him to anger": This further elaborates on how they worshipped the "strange gods"—through detestable and morally corrupt practices. These "abominations" amplified the sin, pushing God's jealousy into active, righteous "anger." It highlights the comprehensive nature of their apostasy, involving both idolatrous objects and the associated immoral rituals.

Deuteronomy 32 16 Bonus section

• The structure of the Song of Moses (Deut 32) is often seen as a rib or "covenant lawsuit," where God acts as the plaintiff, Israel the defendant, and Moses the prosecuting attorney, presenting a historical overview of Israel's actions and the inevitable judgment. This verse is part of the indictment.
• The concept of God's "jealousy" directly counters the pagan deities who were often depicted as selfish, warring among themselves, and driven by base human passions. God's jealousy here is holy and protective of His covenant, ensuring Israel's well-being and His own glory, as the true source of all good.
• This verse prophesies not only that Israel would apostatize but how and why—by adopting the practices of the nations they were commanded to dispossess, proving that spiritual assimilation would lead to spiritual betrayal.
• The severity of the terms "jealousy" and "anger" underscores God's immense pain and righteous wrath when His beloved covenant people abandon Him for worthless alternatives. This reflects the deep, personal nature of His relationship with Israel, similar to a betrayed spouse.

Deuteronomy 32 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:16 encapsulates the core theological offense of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness: idolatry. The verse is a potent declaration within the prophetic Song of Moses, anticipating Israel's future failings despite God's previous redemptive acts and ongoing faithfulness. By worshipping "strange gods," they violated the very essence of their covenant with Yahweh, the one true God who brought them out of Egypt. This act of disloyalty ignited God's "jealousy," which is not a human emotion of envy, but His fierce, righteous zeal for His own honor and His exclusive claim on His people's devotion. It signals that He will tolerate no rivals. Furthermore, the engagement in "abominations"—the grotesque and morally repugnant rituals associated with pagan cults—deepened their sin and provoked His "anger." This anger is God's just response to grave offenses against His holiness and the betrayal of His love, ultimately leading to severe consequences foretold in the song. The verse, therefore, serves as a solemn reminder of the seriousness of spiritual defection and the uncompromising nature of God's demand for singular devotion. For instance, throughout the periods of the Judges and Kings, Israel repeatedly succumbed to the temptation of Canaanite Baal worship, leading to cycles of oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This cycle illustrates the ongoing fulfillment of Moses' prophecy, underscoring that turning to "other gods" in any form (be it literal idols or things that displace God in our hearts, like materialism or self-worship, as cautioned in Col 3:5) still provokes divine jealousy and displeasure.