Deuteronomy 32 27

Deuteronomy 32:27 kjv

Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.

Deuteronomy 32:27 nkjv

Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should misunderstand, Lest they should say, "Our hand is high; And it is not the LORD who has done all this." '

Deuteronomy 32:27 niv

but I dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest the adversary misunderstand and say, 'Our hand has triumphed; the LORD has not done all this.'?"

Deuteronomy 32:27 esv

had I not feared provocation by the enemy, lest their adversaries should misunderstand, lest they should say, "Our hand is triumphant, it was not the LORD who did all this."'

Deuteronomy 32:27 nlt

But I feared the taunt of Israel's enemy,
who might misunderstand and say,
"Our own power has triumphed!
The LORD had nothing to do with this!"'

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 27 Meaning

This verse explains God's reasoning for not utterly destroying Israel, despite their repeated provocations and unfaithfulness. The primary motivation for His restraint is not concern for Israel's suffering itself, but His holy concern for His own divine reputation and glory among the pagan nations. He feared that if Israel were completely annihilated, their enemies would falsely attribute Israel's downfall to their own might, to the impotence of Yahweh, or to the triumph of their own idols, rather than recognizing it as a just judgment from the sovereign God of Israel. It emphasizes that God's actions, even in judgment, are always anchored in the vindication of His holy name and sovereign power.

Deuteronomy 32 27 Context

Deuteronomy 32 is known as "The Song of Moses," a lengthy poetic composition delivered by Moses just before his death, immediately prior to Israel's entry into the Promised Land. This song serves as a powerful prophecy and testimony against Israel's future apostasy and subsequent divine judgment, while also foretelling ultimate restoration. God speaks through Moses, warning the nation about their certain rebellion against Him (vv. 15-18), which would provoke His anger and lead to devastating consequences (vv. 19-25). Verse 26, immediately preceding our verse, speaks of God's consideration of utterly wiping them out: "I would have said, 'I will cut them off; I will make their memory cease from among men.'" Deuteronomy 32:27 then reveals the sole reason God refrains from this total annihilation—not out of pity for Israel, but out of concern for His own divine honor among the Gentile nations who would misinterpret His actions, attribute Israel's demise to their own strength or their idols, and blaspheme His name.

Deuteronomy 32 27 Word analysis

• Were it not that I feared (לֽוּלֵ֣ינ כַּ֠עַס אֹויֵ֣ב אָג֑וּר - Lulei kha’as 'oyev 'agur):
• Lulei (לוּלֵי): "Were it not that," "If not for," a conditional negative.
• ka'as (כַּּ֠עַס): "provocation," "anger," "vexation." Here, it refers to the enemies' infuriating arrogance or their cause for pride.
• 'oyev (אֹויֵ֣ב): "enemy." Refers to Israel's adversaries, typically pagan nations hostile to God and His people.
• 'agur (אָג֑וּר): From the root גּוּר (gur), meaning "to sojourn," "to dread," "to fear," "to assemble." In this context, it implies a divine reverence or concern for His own glory, a dread of something happening that would dishonor Him, rather than a human fear of weakness. It's a strategic holy concern for His reputation.
• Lest their adversaries (פֶּן יְנַכְּר֖וּ צָרֵ֑ימֹו - Pen y'nakkeru tsareimo):
• Pen (פֶּן): "Lest," "for fear that," indicating purpose or apprehension.
• y'nakkeru (יְנַכְּר֖וּ): From the root נָכַר (nakar), "to recognize," "to perceive," "to make strange," "to act strangely," "to misunderstand." Here, it signifies to misrepresent, misinterpret, treat as foreign or alien, or to claim as their own work with false pride. They would distort the divine truth.
• tsareimo (צָרֵ֑ימֹו): "their adversaries," "their oppressors," "their foes." Another term for the hostile nations.
• Lest they should say (פֶּן יֹאמְר֖וּ - Pen yomru):
• Pen (פֶּן): "Lest," again indicating the dreaded outcome.
• yomru (יֹאמְר֖וּ): "they should say," or "they might say." Direct speech that expresses their false boasting.
• Our hand is high (יָדֵ֣ינוּ רָמָ֔ה - Yadeinu ramah):
• Yadeinu (יָדֵ֣ינוּ): "Our hand," representing their strength, power, or agency.
• ramah (רָמָ֔ה): From the root רוּם (rum), "to be high," "to be exalted," "to be lifted up." This phrase means "our hand is mighty," "we have achieved greatness," "we have triumphed," signifying their self-proclaimed power and success independent of God. It's a boast of human supremacy over divine intervention.
• and the LORD hath not done all this (וְלֹ֥א יְהוָ֖ה פָּעַ֥ל כָּל־זֹֽאת - Velo YHWH pa'al kol-zot):
• Velo (וְלֹ֥א): "And not," a direct negation.
• YHWH (יְהוָ֖ה): The sacred, covenant name of God, emphasizing His unique sovereignty and power.
• pa'al (פָּעַ֥ל): "hath done," "hath worked," "hath accomplished," "hath performed." This verb refers to active doing or making.
• kol-zot (כָּל־זֹֽאת): "all this," referring to the calamity that would befall Israel.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy": God's holy reluctance to allow circumstances that would give His enemies an occasion for arrogant, God-dishonoring boasting. This "fear" is not weakness but an attribute of His perfect concern for His own glory and truth being upheld among the nations.
• "Lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely / Lest they should say": Highlights the profound spiritual danger of pagans misinterpreting divine action. They would alienate or distort the true nature of what transpired, thereby attributing it to their false deities or their own strength. This shows God's profound desire to be accurately understood and acknowledged.
• "Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this": This phrase directly represents the essence of the enemies' potential blasphemous boast. It's a polemic against the prevalent pagan view that a nation's prosperity or a rival's downfall was due to the superior power of their gods or their own military prowess. This denies Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and role in human affairs, directly challenging His unique identity as the only true God.

Deuteronomy 32 27 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a profound theological truth about divine judgment: it is always administered within the parameters of God's overarching purpose to glorify Himself. This is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament (e.g., in the Exodus story, God hardening Pharaoh's heart to display His power; in Ezekiel, God acting for the sake of His holy name). It establishes a significant boundary for God's actions, where His holiness and identity take precedence even over deserved punishment for His people. This perspective serves as a counterpoint to anthropocentric views of divine justice, demonstrating that God's ultimate end is always the recognition and honor of His own being and truth by all of creation, even hostile nations. It challenges the human tendency to claim credit or misinterpret suffering, grounding all events firmly in the hands of the Almighty.

Deuteronomy 32 27 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:27 unveils a crucial aspect of God's character: His supreme commitment to His own name and glory. While Israel's unfaithfulness merited complete destruction, God's mercy here is not primarily for Israel's sake, but for the sake of His reputation among the surrounding nations. He foresaw that if Israel were utterly obliterated, the pagan peoples would view it not as Yahweh's righteous judgment, but as a victory of their false gods over Him, or simply as the superior strength of their own armies. This verse reveals God's divine wisdom, choosing a measured judgment that humbles Israel without allowing the world to misunderstand the source of Israel's calamity. It underscores that God's plan ultimately serves His own glory, ensuring that all know that He alone is sovereign and acts in justice and power. It also demonstrates God's restraint, His patience in judgment, and His refusal to let His mighty hand be confused with human might or idol worship.