Deuteronomy 32 19

Deuteronomy 32:19 kjv

And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

Deuteronomy 32:19 nkjv

"And when the LORD saw it, He spurned them, Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters.

Deuteronomy 32:19 niv

The LORD saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters.

Deuteronomy 32:19 esv

"The LORD saw it and spurned them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.

Deuteronomy 32:19 nlt

"The LORD saw this and drew back,
provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 19 Meaning

God observed the widespread moral and spiritual corruption among the Israelites, marked by their profound spiritual betrayal and idolatry. His immediate reaction was deep disgust and absolute rejection of their actions, stemming specifically from the outrageous rebellion and disrespect displayed by those who were uniquely His chosen and beloved "sons" and "daughters," a relationship that intensified the gravity of their sin.

Deuteronomy 32 19 Context

Deuteronomy 32, known as the Song of Moses, serves as a profound divine testament and a prophetic warning to the nation of Israel on the threshold of entering the Promised Land. Composed at God's direct command, its primary purpose was to function as a lasting witness against the Israelites (Dt 31:19-21, 30), consistently reminding them of God's steadfast faithfulness even amidst their foreseen future unfaithfulness. The preceding verses (Dt 32:15-18) depict Israel's dramatic spiritual decline: despite experiencing immense prosperity and divine favor ("Jeshurun grew fat and kicked"), they turned away from the Lord, slighted the Rock of their salvation, angered Him with foreign gods, and engaged in demonic sacrifices. Verse 19 precisely details God's visceral reaction to this profound spiritual betrayal. It marks the pivot where divine care transitions to righteous abhorrence due to their egregious betrayal, especially coming from His own covenant children. This intense divine displeasure sets the stage for the severe judgments and disciplinary actions detailed throughout the remainder of the Song, which looks forward to centuries of Israel's cycles of apostasy and divine retribution, operating as a solemn judicial indictment within the framework of their covenant with the Holy God.

Deuteronomy 32 19 Word analysis

• And when the LORD (YHWH) saw (וַיַּרְא - vayyar'):

  • The LORD (YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's sacred, covenantal name. Its use here underscores that the rebellion was against the very God who intimately entered into covenant with Israel, personally delivered them, and lovingly sustained them. This makes the betrayal supremely personal.
  • saw (vayyar'): Derived from the Hebrew root ra'ah, meaning to see, perceive, understand, or know. In divine context, it denotes not a mere casual glance but an omniscient and comprehensive apprehension of their deepest spiritual state and their abhorrent actions. God's "seeing" is active discernment, invariably leading to a deliberate divine response, be it blessing or judgment.

• He spurned them (וַיִּנְאַץ - vayyin'aṣ):

  • spurned (vayyin'aṣ): This is from the Hebrew verb na'aṣ (נָאַץ), which carries a potent meaning of despising, abhorring, treating with contempt, or showing utter disrespect. It expresses a profound emotional and moral reaction from God – not indifference, but a holy revulsion and intense disgust. This word highlights the extremity of God's rejection of their actions and their idolatrous disposition, born out of His absolute holiness and righteous anger against spiritual prostitution.

• Because of the provocation (מִכַּעַס - mikka'as):

  • provocation (mikka'as): From the noun ka'as (כַּעַס), which denotes vexation, grief, anger, or strong displeasure. It directly specifies the root cause of God's intense abhorrence. Israel's idolatry, ingratitude, and spiritual harlotry were not just minor offenses; they actively and repeatedly angered and grieved the Lord, causing intense divine displeasure that culminated in this declarative "spurning."

• of His sons and His daughters (בָּנָיו וּבְנֹתָיו - banav uv'notav):

  • His sons and His daughters: This vital phrase explicitly frames Israel's identity as God's beloved offspring within the covenant (cf. Ex 4:22, Dt 14:1). The rebellion coming from those so intimately related to Him, those who had been lovingly raised and uniquely privileged, intensified the betrayal and profound ingratitude. This parental imagery heightens the heinousness of their spiritual adultery. Furthermore, it subtly carries a polemic against contemporary paganism, where deities were often associated with "sons" and "daughters" (e.g., Baal's offspring). God's actual "children" (Israel) were behaving like the supposed "children" of false gods, adopting their detestable practices and defying their true Divine Parent.

Deuteronomy 32 19 Bonus section

• The Song of Moses itself is presented as an enduring "witness" (Dt 31:19, 21), meant to serve as undeniable evidence against Israel's future disobedience and to vindicate God's justice even when judgment fell upon His chosen people.
• In biblical understanding, God's "seeing" is almost invariably linked to subsequent divine action or judgment. It signifies that God is not a detached observer but an actively engaged moral governor who perceives injustice and rebellion and responds righteously.
• The emphasis on "His sons and His daughters" underscores the distinctiveness of Israel's election among the nations. Their unique identity as God's special, called-out children amplified the egregious nature of their spiritual treachery against the God who had redeemed and nourished them.
• The language and structure of this passage, within the broader Song, bear striking resemblances to the legal and rhetorical patterns of Ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties. The "provocation" of the vassal (Israel) inevitably triggered the righteous wrath and punitive measures of the suzerain (YHWH) according to the terms of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 32 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:19 concisely encapsulates God's righteous reaction to Israel's profound apostasy within the Song of Moses. The verse is significant for revealing both God's holy character and the gravity of the covenant. God, in His omniscience ("The LORD saw"), possessed a complete and unclouded understanding of their widespread spiritual defilement and idolatrous betrayal (as detailed in verses 15-18). His response, "He spurned them," conveys not a mild disappointment, but a deep, divine revulsion and active repudiation of their unfaithful actions, driven by His absolute holiness. The crucial element that compounds the heinousness of their sin is that it came "from His sons and His daughters." This familial language profoundly emphasizes the intimate covenantal relationship God had established with Israel as His own chosen and cherished offspring. Their rebellion, therefore, constituted a severe act of filial disrespect, profound ingratitude, and ultimate spiritual infidelity against their loving Divine Parent. This verse vividly illustrates that while God's patience is immense, His divine holiness demands a decisive and severe response to deliberate, persistent covenant unfaithfulness, especially from those uniquely called and blessed as His own.

• Example: Consider a parent who has lovingly provided everything for their child, only for the child to defiantly align themselves with a sworn enemy, deeply grieving and enraging the parent's heart.