Deuteronomy 32 36

Deuteronomy 32:36 kjv

For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Deuteronomy 32:36 nkjv

"For the LORD will judge His people And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, bond or free.

Deuteronomy 32:36 niv

The LORD will vindicate his people and relent concerning his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

Deuteronomy 32:36 esv

For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free.

Deuteronomy 32:36 nlt

"Indeed, the LORD will give justice to his people,
and he will change his mind about his servants,
when he sees their strength is gone
and no one is left, slave or free.

Deuteronomy 32 verses

Deuteronomy 32 36 Meaning

Deuteronomy 32:36 conveys God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereignty, promising that He will intervene to defend His people and show them mercy, especially when they reach a state of complete helplessness and utter despair, having no strength or hope left from human sources. This divine action stems from His covenantal character, not their merit, indicating a turning point in the Song of Moses where divine judgment gives way to eventual restoration and compassion.

Deuteronomy 32 36 Context

Deuteronomy 32:36 is part of the "Song of Moses," delivered by Moses shortly before his death. This prophetic song (Deut 32:1-43) reviews Israel's past, present, and future. It begins with praise for God's perfect character (vv. 1-4) and then outlines Israel's future apostasy (vv. 5-18), resulting in divine judgment and a period of suffering and defeat at the hands of other nations (vv. 19-35). Verse 36 marks a critical turning point within this section. After detailing the severity of God's wrath and Israel's desperate state, it introduces God's compassionate nature. Though God disciplines Israel for their sin, His ultimate purpose is not annihilation. This verse anticipates a moment when Israel's despair is absolute, prompting God's restorative intervention, which then leads to His judgment of their oppressors and final deliverance.

Deuteronomy 32 36 Word analysis

• For the Lord (כִּֽי־יָדִ֨ין יְהוָה֙, kî yādîn YHWH):

  • Lord (YHWH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing His faithfulness and unique relationship with His people. His character is the basis for His action.

• will vindicate (יָדִ֨ין, yādîn):

  • Rooted in "judgment" or "to judge." It means to plead a cause, defend, deliver justice, or govern. Here, it implies not merely judicial judgment (though that is implied for the oppressors in later verses) but also acting on behalf of, and bringing justice to, His people by rescuing them and righting their wrongs.
  • Significance: God acts as judge for His people, establishing their righteousness and upholding their rights. It's a salvific judgment.

• his people (עַמּ֔וֹ, ‘ammô):

  • Highlights the special, exclusive relationship between YHWH and Israel, chosen and set apart. Despite their sin and rejection of Him, they remain "His people."

• and have compassion (וְעַל־עֲבָדָ֖יו יִתְנֶחָֽם, v^e‘al ‘ăvāḏāyw yitnêḥām):

  • have compassion (יִתְנֶחָם, yitneḥām): This verb often means to "relent," "grieve," "console oneself," or "be comforted." In divine contexts, it conveys God's profound regret over human suffering, leading Him to alter a course of judgment (e.g., Ex 32:14; Psa 106:45). It implies a change in disposition towards mercy and a strong emotional response leading to action. It's anthropopathic language, describing God's turning from anger to pity.
  • Significance: This demonstrates God's character is not rigidly punitive but filled with love and mercy. His "repentance" is a perfect, intentional turning toward grace.

• on his servants (עַל־עֲבָדָ֖יו, ‘al ‘ăvāḏāyw):

  • Refers to Israel in a different relational term, emphasizing their duty to Him, yet also implying His protective care over them. The shift from "people" to "servants" deepens the bond, even in their lowly state.

• when he sees (כִּֽי־יִרְאֶ֗ה, kî yir’eh):

  • God's knowledge is not passive observation but an active perception that elicits a response. It signifies divine attentiveness to the conditions of His people.

• that their strength is gone (אָזְלַת יָ֛ד וְאֶ֖פֶס, ’āzlath yādh v^e’ep̄es):

  • strength is gone (אָזְלַת יָ֛ד, ’āzlath yādh): Literally, "the hand is gone" or "power is at an end." "Hand" (יָד, yad) represents strength, power, and capability (e.g., Gen 31:29 "power of my hand"). This signifies a total depletion of human power and resources.
  • is gone (וְאֶ֖פֶס, v^e’ep̄es): Implies "nothing," "non-existent," or "zero." This intensifies the state of utter destitution.
  • Significance: This complete lack of strength and means is often the prerequisite for divine intervention. It humbles humanity and highlights God's sole sufficiency.

• none remaining, bond or free (עָצ֖וּר וְעָזֽוּב, ‘āṣûr v^e‘āzûḇ):

  • Bond (עָצ֖וּר, ‘āṣûr): Literally, "imprisoned," "held in check," or "shut up." Refers to someone in a secure place or someone restricted, perhaps implying those still nominally "free" but utterly defenseless, or those actually captive. It denotes an inability to help themselves or be helped.
  • Free (וְעָזֽוּב, v^e‘āzûḇ): Literally, "left," "abandoned," or "forsaken." Implies those outside of confinement, exposed and utterly vulnerable, without support or protection.
  • Significance: This phrase is a merism, meaning "no one at all," encompassing all people, irrespective of status, rank, or situation—all are utterly lost and without remedy. It underscores the complete and pervasive nature of Israel's weakness and the universal extent of their distress, highlighting the need for God's sole intervention. This phrase also appears in 2 Ki 14:26, referring to a similar national crisis.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants": This clause reveals God's dual response: righteous judgment (vindication for His people) and tender mercy (compassion). It is a promise of restoration through divine action, rooted in His covenant and character, not human merit.
  • "when he sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free": This describes the specific, dire condition that triggers God's intervention. It emphasizes the complete and universal depletion of human strength, resources, and self-help among Israel. This extremity highlights God as the only remaining hope, stepping in when all human efforts utterly fail. This moment of weakness becomes the very condition for God's perfect power to be displayed.

Deuteronomy 32 36 Bonus section

The "Song of Moses" is structured in a legal-poetic form, acting as a "heaven and earth" witness (Deut 32:1) against Israel's future unfaithfulness. Verse 36 confirms that God's judgment is corrective, not purely destructive. It contains an anthropomorphic expression ("have compassion/relent"), describing God changing His course of action due to His love for His people, even as His eternal character remains immutable. This demonstrates His responsiveness to His creation's distress. This principle – that divine power is made manifest in human weakness – echoes throughout biblical narrative, from Israel's Exodus when enslaved in Egypt, to their return from Babylonian exile, and supremely in the New Covenant through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Church, in its own times of distress and powerlessness, finds hope and assurance in this enduring promise, relying not on its strength but on the Lord's vindication and compassion.

Deuteronomy 32 36 Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:36 serves as a pivotal point within the Song of Moses, marking the transition from prophecy of judgment to promise of restoration. It highlights the divine characteristic of ultimate compassion, stating that God's patience, though strained by Israel's apostasy, will not result in their utter annihilation. Instead, when His people reach the absolute nadir of their suffering – deprived of all strength, resources, and any remaining capacity for self-salvation – the Lord, out of His sovereign and merciful nature, will intervene. His vindication is not only a judgment against their oppressors but also a re-establishment of His covenant people. This verse reveals that God often acts when human power is exhausted, underscoring that His salvation is purely by grace, demonstrated precisely when humanity has nothing left to offer. It's a testament to His unchangeable faithfulness to His covenant promises.