Deuteronomy 32 20

Deuteronomy 32:20 kjv

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Deuteronomy 32:20 nkjv

And He said: 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.

Deuteronomy 32:20 niv

"I will hide my face from them," he said, "and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.

Deuteronomy 32:20 esv

And he said, 'I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 32:20 nlt

He said, 'I will abandon them;
then see what becomes of them.
For they are a twisted generation,
children without integrity.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 20 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:20 declares God's righteous judgment against His covenant people, Israel, outlining His resolve to withdraw His visible favor and presence from them due to their deep-seated corruption and pervasive lack of faithfulness. He foresees their trajectory of spiritual departure and declares His intention to observe the consequences that will unfold, for they are truly a generation characterized by crookedness and devoid of fidelity towards Him.

Deuteronomy 32 20 Context

Deuteronomy 32 is known as the Song of Moses. This song serves as a prophetic testament delivered by Moses to Israel just before his death and their entry into the Promised Land. It is a powerful, extended poetic prophecy recounting God's faithfulness to Israel despite their repeated unfaithfulness. The song highlights God's attributes as the rock, the just and righteous God, and creator, contrasting His steadfast character with Israel's depravity and idolatry. Verses 15-19 describe Israel's apostasy, their abandonment of God for false idols, provoking Him to jealousy. Verse 20 directly follows this depiction of spiritual rebellion, expressing God's internal decree concerning His response to their moral and spiritual degradation. It portrays a covenant God, seeing the depth of their rebellion, deciding upon a period of judicial withdrawal and observation of their self-inflicted judgment. This song was to be learned and sung by Israel as a witness against them, to remind them of their covenant obligations and the consequences of disobedience. The historical context is a transition from wilderness wandering to settling in Canaan, where the temptations of surrounding polytheistic cultures would pose a significant threat to Israel's exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 32 20 Word analysis

• And He said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A common Hebrew introductory phrase signifying a declarative statement, here revealing God's internal resolve and decree concerning His future actions toward Israel.
• I will hide (אַסְתִּירָה - 'astira): From the root סָתַר (satar), meaning "to hide," "to conceal." This is a strong active verb, emphasizing God's deliberate act of withdrawal, not merely a passive disappearance. It indicates a removal of divine favor, blessing, protection, and evident presence.
• My face (פָּנַי - panay): Represents God's presence, attention, favor, and direct involvement. When God "hides His face," it means He withdraws His active benevolent engagement and protective care, leading to distress, vulnerability, and abandonment for those from whom His face is hidden.
• from them (מֵהֶם - mehem): Specifically refers to Israel, the covenant people who have proven unfaithful.
• I will see (אֶרְאֶה - 'er'eh): From the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to observe." This is not an indication of God lacking foreknowledge, but rather His intention to let events unfold according to Israel's chosen path of rebellion, observing the inevitable consequences as a demonstration of their deserved judgment and His justice.
• what their end will be (מָה אַחֲרִיתָם - mah acharit'am): Refers to their latter end, ultimate destiny, or the consequences that will unfold as a result of their apostasy. It implies a divinely permitted deterioration, allowing the natural, tragic culmination of their unfaithfulness to manifest.

• for they are a perverse generation (כִּי דּוֹר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת הוּא - ki dor tahpukhot hu):
  • Perverse (תַּהְפֻּכוֹת - tahpukhot): From the root הָפַךְ (haphak), meaning "to turn over," "to overturn," "to distort," "to subvert." The plural form "perversities" or "distortions" suggests deep-seated, habitual, and manifold perversion. It implies moral corruption, spiritual deviance, and a fundamental distortion of right relationships with God and truth. They have turned away from God and turned things upside down.
  • Generation (דּוֹר - dor): Not just a chronological age group but a collective identity defined by its character and actions, often negative in such biblical contexts (e.g., "stiff-necked generation").
• children in whom is no faithfulness (בָּנִים לֹא־אֵמֻן בָּם - banim lo-'emun bam):
  • Children (בָּנִים - banim): Implies a familial or covenantal relationship ("sons of Israel"), which makes their lack of faithfulness all the more tragic and reproachable. As covenant children, they were expected to reflect the Father's character and remain loyal.
  • no faithfulness (לֹא־אֵמֻן - lo-'emun): From אֱמוּנָה ('emunah), signifying loyalty, fidelity, trustworthiness, stability, and reliability. This is a foundational covenant virtue. Its absence ("no faithfulness") indicates a complete and utter spiritual breakdown at the core of their being and their relationship with God. Their spiritual integrity is compromised. It highlights a critical breach of the covenant, as loyalty to Yahweh was its bedrock.

Deuteronomy 32 20 Bonus section

• The phrase "hiding His face" (Hebrew: hester panim) carries significant theological weight throughout the Old Testament, denoting a state of divine withdrawal from humanity, particularly from the covenant people. It is a severe form of judgment, more agonizing than overt punishment for those who cherish God's presence.
• The "perverse generation" echoes characteristics described of those who provoked God in the wilderness (e.g., Ps 78). This suggests a cyclical pattern of rebellion that Moses prophesies will continue into the Promised Land.
• The prophetic nature of this verse highlights God's omniscience and foreknowledge, affirming that His actions are never reactive surprises but sovereign responses within His divine plan for justice and redemption.

Deuteronomy 32 20 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:20 captures a pivotal moment of divine revelation within the Song of Moses. God's declaration, "I will hide My face from them," is a pronouncement of judgment rooted in His holy character. It is not an arbitrary act, but a direct consequence of Israel's spiritual adultery and widespread corruption, symbolized by their "perverse" nature and complete absence of "faithfulness." God’s withdrawal of His presence and favor signifies the removal of His protective hand and sustaining grace, leaving Israel exposed to the full, bitter fruit of their rebellious choices. The statement "I will see what their end will be" underlines God's sovereignty; He knows the outcome of unfaithfulness and will allow their self-destructive path to play out, serving as both a punitive consequence and a pedagogical lesson for future generations. This verse teaches that God's presence and blessings are contingent on faithfulness and covenant obedience, and that profound, pervasive sin will inevitably lead to a season of divine hiddenness and the experiencing of severe consequences.