Deuteronomy 32:28 kjv
For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
Deuteronomy 32:28 nkjv
"For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them.
Deuteronomy 32:28 niv
They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.
Deuteronomy 32:28 esv
"For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.
Deuteronomy 32:28 nlt
"But Israel is a senseless nation;
the people are foolish, without understanding.
Deuteronomy 32 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."... | Foolishness is a spiritual state. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Lack of wisdom stems from not fearing God. |
| Prov 9:10 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. | True understanding starts with reverence. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever. | God's counsel prevails over human folly. |
| Isa 1:3 | Israel does not know, my people do not consider. | Israel's failure to recognize God. |
| Isa 5:13 | Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge... | Consequence of spiritual ignorance. |
| Isa 28:9-10 | Whom will he teach knowledge...? For it is precept upon precept, line upon line... | God's gradual revelation to a dull people. |
| Isa 29:13-14 | And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their discerning men shall be hidden. | Human wisdom failing against God's plan. |
| Isa 44:25 | Who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish. | God discredits human wisdom. |
| Jer 4:22 | "For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding..." | God's strong indictment of Israel's folly. |
| Jer 8:9 | The wise men are put to shame; they are dismayed and caught; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them? | Rejection of God's Word negates wisdom. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge... | Spiritual destruction due to rejecting truth. |
| Job 28:28 | Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. | Wisdom linked to piety and moral living. |
| Ps 119:99 | I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. | Understanding gained from God's word. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Self-deception without true counsel. |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. | God's ultimate sovereignty over human plans. |
| Ezek 22:25-26 | ...they have taught me no truth... priests have violated my law... | Leaders failed in providing proper counsel. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. | General human folly in rejecting God. |
| Eph 4:18-19 | They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them... | Spiritual separation due to willful ignorance. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. | Encouragement to seek divine wisdom. |
| 2 Tim 3:15 | ...the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. | Scripture as source of saving wisdom. |
| Col 2:3 | In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Wisdom found fully in Christ. |
Deuteronomy 32 verses
Deuteronomy 32 28 Meaning
Deuteronomy 32:28 declares God's lament over Israel, describing them as a people utterly devoid of wise deliberation and spiritual discernment. This deficiency signifies their profound and deliberate failure to heed divine instruction, which subsequently leads them to make ruinous choices and experience the covenant curses. It speaks to a willful spiritual blindness and an internal emptiness where God's wisdom should reside.
Deuteronomy 32 28 Context
Deuteronomy 32:28 is part of "The Song of Moses," a prophetic poem delivered by Moses just before his death and Israel's entry into the Promised Land. This song (Dt 32:1-43) serves as a witness against Israel, foretelling their future apostasy, God's consequent judgment, and ultimate restoration. Chapters 28-31 describe the blessings and curses dependent on Israel's obedience or disobedience to the covenant. The song, in particular, acts as a divine covenant lawsuit or "rib" (Hebrew for legal case), laying out God's faithfulness (vv. 1-14) versus Israel's unfaithfulness (vv. 15-18). Verse 28 is God's poignant lament and explanation for the severity of the coming judgment, specifically for the plagues and dispersal mentioned earlier in the chapter (e.g., v. 24-25). It attributes their downfall not to a lack of power in God, but to Israel's internal spiritual decay—their persistent refusal to grasp and obey divine wisdom and instruction, even after generations of receiving it.
Deuteronomy 32 28 Word analysis
- For (כִּי - ki): Functions as an explanatory conjunction, providing the reason or cause for God's impending judgment on Israel mentioned in previous verses. It signals the theological basis for the severe divine action.
- they are (Implicit in the Hebrew, referring to Israel): While a chosen people, God observes their spiritual condition with the detached yet sorrowful gaze of a judge assessing the very nation He established.
- a nation (גוֹי - goy): Typically refers to Gentile nations in contrast to Israel, the am (עַם) or covenant people. Its use here for Israel is highly significant. It implies that Israel, through its faithlessness and folly, has sunk to the spiritual level of the godless nations around them, or it uses goy in a generic sense for a people-group, emphasizing their spiritual bankruptcy as a collective entity rather than their distinctiveness as God's chosen people.
- void of (אֹבַד - 'ōḇaḏ): From the root אָבַד ('āvaḏ), meaning "to perish, destroy, go astray, lose." Here, in a participle form, it denotes "perished," "lost," or "utterly lacking/devoid." It's not merely that they lack something, but that their capacity for it has been destroyed or has perished within them. It conveys an internal emptiness or desolation where wisdom should be.
- counsel (עֵצוֹת - ‘ēṣōt): Plural of עֵצָה (‘ēṣāh), meaning "counsel, advice, plan, purpose." In the context of biblical wisdom, it often refers to prudent, well-thought-out, and particularly divine counsel that leads to life and avoids danger. Its absence signifies a fundamental inability to make sound, God-honoring decisions or to grasp wise plans.
- neither is there (וְאֵין - wə’êyn): A strong negation ("and there is not"). It emphatically states the absolute absence of the following quality.
- any understanding (תְּבוּנָה - təḇunāh): A key biblical wisdom term, related to בִּין (bîn), "to discern, understand." It denotes insight, discernment, intelligence, and skill—particularly the capacity to grasp connections, make distinctions, and perceive truth, especially divine truth. Its lack signifies spiritual obtuseness or an inability to process spiritual realities given to them.
- in them (בָּהֶם - bāhem): Indicates an intrinsic lack or deficiency. The problem isn't external (lack of access to counsel/understanding), but internal (they simply do not possess it).
Words-group by Words-group Analysis:
- "For they are a nation void of counsel": This phrase highlights Israel's corporate spiritual bankruptcy. The term goy underscores that their behavior has rendered them no better than nations without covenant revelation. Their "voidness" or "perished state" regarding "counsel" signifies a deep-seated spiritual pathology where sound, godly wisdom is entirely absent, preventing them from making life-preserving choices.
- "neither is there any understanding in them": This parallel clause reinforces the first, deepening the accusation. "Understanding" (təḇunāh) speaks to the internal faculty of discernment. The absence of təḇunāh suggests that Israel lacked the spiritual capacity to grasp divine truth, to comprehend the implications of their actions, or to recognize God's faithfulness despite having His law and His presence among them. This indicates a willful, entrenched spiritual dullness. The pairing of "counsel" (external guidance/plan) and "understanding" (internal grasp/discernment) paints a complete picture of their spiritual incompetence and ultimate blame for their downfall.
Deuteronomy 32 28 Bonus section
The Song of Moses functions as a crucial piece of didactic prophecy. God explicitly gives this song to Israel, instructing them to teach it to their children (Dt 31:19, 30), so that when these consequences do come to pass, Israel cannot claim ignorance. The lament in verse 28, therefore, isn't just a pronouncement of judgment; it's a statement meant to resonate for generations, reminding them that their plight was a direct result of their self-inflicted spiritual condition, contrasting sharply with God’s unwavering faithfulness described in the song's opening. This highlights the concept of moral culpability despite God's clear revelation and continuous warning.
Deuteronomy 32 28 Commentary
Deuteronomy 32:28 offers a profoundly sobering divine assessment of Israel's spiritual state. It reveals that the severe judgments about to befall them were not arbitrary, but were the inevitable outcome of their profound and systemic spiritual deficiency. God labels Israel as "a nation void of counsel" and lacking "understanding," articulating His grief over their stubborn rebellion. This isn't about intellectual inability, but rather a willful moral and spiritual blindness. Israel had received God's comprehensive law and guidance (counsel), yet they failed to internalize it, resulting in a deep-seated inability to discern truth or apply wisdom. Their understanding was darkened not because truth was unavailable, but because they repeatedly chose to ignore, pervert, or reject it. This verse serves as a universal caution against assuming spiritual competence without a continuous, humble reliance on divine wisdom. Without God's counsel and internal understanding of His ways, individuals and communities are prone to self-destruction. The true source of wisdom, both for guidance and discernment, lies solely with God and His Word, culminating in Christ (Col 2:3).