Deuteronomy 32:51 kjv
Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:51 nkjv
because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:51 niv
This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 32:51 esv
because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:51 nlt
For both of you betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there.
Deuteronomy 32 51 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:8 | "Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water..." | God's command for Moses to speak to the rock. |
| Num 20:10-11 | "And Moses... smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly..." | Moses' disobedient act of striking the rock. |
| Num 20:12 | "Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land..." | God's immediate judgment and reason for exclusion. |
| Num 27:12-14 | "...gather thee unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered: For ye rebelled against My commandment in the desert of Zin..." | God reminds Moses of his impending death due to Meribah. |
| Dt 1:37 | "Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou shalt not go in thither." | Moses recalls the anger of God towards him because of the people's rebellion, but also implicating his own failure. |
| Dt 34:4 | "And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither." | Moses sees the land but cannot enter. |
| Ps 106:32-33 | "They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." | Echoes the sin at Meribah, highlighting Moses' hasty words. |
| Lev 10:3 | "And Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified." | Principle: God's holiness demanded from those serving Him, especially leaders. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "...them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." | Principle: Consequences of honoring or dishonoring God. |
| Isa 8:13 | "Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." | Principle: A call to treat God as holy and awesome. |
| Eze 20:41 | "I will be sanctified in you before the heathen." | Principle: God's honor is tied to His people's conduct before others. |
| Heb 3:7-19 | "Wherefore... harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness... so we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." | Connects Meribah with the theme of Israel's unbelief and exclusion from God's rest. |
| Heb 4:6-7 | "There remaineth therefore a rest... if they shall enter into My rest." | Expounds on the consequences of disobedience regarding God's rest. |
| 1 Cor 10:6-11 | "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted... Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted... Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured... Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples..." | Wilderness events as cautionary examples for New Testament believers. |
| Jas 3:1-2 | "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all." | Principle: Higher responsibility and stricter judgment for leaders. |
| Jude 1:5 | "I will therefore put you in remembrance... how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." | God's judgment on those who failed to trust and obey. |
| 2 Sam 12:14 | "Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme..." | Principle: Public sin, especially by leaders, can cause God's name to be dishonored. |
| 1 Pet 3:15 | "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..." | Christian application: Inward reverence and honor for God. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." | Christian application: Living in a manner that sanctifies God. |
| Isa 5:16 | "But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." | Principle: God's holiness is vindicated through His righteous judgment. |
| Mal 2:5-6 | "My covenant was with him of life and peace... the law of truth was in his mouth..." | Describes a priest who honored God, contrasting with those who fail. |
| Num 12:1-15 | Account of Miriam and Aaron's rebellion and punishment. | Illustrates that even close associates of God are accountable for disrespecting Him. |
Deuteronomy 32 verses
Deuteronomy 32 51 Meaning
Deuteronomy 32:51 serves as God's definitive explanation for why Moses, along with Aaron, was prevented from entering the promised land. The verse explicitly states that Moses and Aaron "trespassed" against God, failing to "sanctify" Him in the sight of the Israelites, specifically at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. This transgression was a significant act of disobedience that diminished God's holiness and glory before His people, leading to severe consequences for the two leaders.
Deuteronomy 32 51 Context
Deuteronomy 32:51 is part of Moses' final words to Israel, shortly before his death. He has led the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years, and they are now on the verge of entering the Promised Land. The preceding verses (32:48-50) detail God's command for Moses to ascend Mount Nebo to see the land before dying, a command directly linked to his offense. This verse serves as a crucial explanation for Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land, reinforcing God's unwavering holiness and the strict accountability for leaders, even the most revered. The larger context of Deuteronomy 32 is the Song of Moses, a powerful poetic warning about Israel's future apostasy, God's enduring faithfulness, and His ultimate vindication.
Deuteronomy 32 51 Word analysis
- Because ye trespassed: The Hebrew word is ma'al (מָעַל). This term signifies acting unfaithfully, often in relation to a sacred trust or covenant obligation. It implies a breach of fidelity, a deep-seated lack of loyalty or trust. For Moses, entrusted with representing God, it was a profound act of unfaithfulness to God's specific instruction.
- against Me: Emphasizes that the trespass was directly against God's Person and His expressed will, not merely a minor misstep or an error against the people. It highlighted disrespect for divine authority.
- among the children of Israel: Signifies the public nature of the sin. The act was performed before the very people Moses was leading, influencing their perception of God's character and Moses' authority.
- at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh: "Meribah" (מְרִיבָה) means "contention" or "strife." "Kadesh" (קָדֵשׁ) means "holy." This location itself became a memorial to the Israelites' disputing with God and Moses' subsequent failure to sanctify God's name there. It links directly to the detailed account in Num 20.
- in the wilderness of Zin: Pinpoints the specific geographical context of the transgression, reminding Israel of the challenging desert environment where God's power and provision were meant to be publicly glorified.
- because ye sanctified Me not: This is the core accusation. To "sanctify" God (from Hebrew qadash - קִדַּשׁ) means to show Him to be holy, set apart, awe-inspiring, and supreme. Moses failed to properly attribute the miracle of water to God's power alone, taking credit for himself by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded. This action implied a lack of belief and failed to uphold God's unique glory before the congregation.
- in the midst of the children of Israel: Reinforces the public nature of Moses' failure and the direct impact on the congregation's perception of God. It was a failure of leadership to uphold God's name before His people.
Deuteronomy 32 51 Bonus section
The precise nature of Moses' sin at Meribah is a topic of significant theological discussion, beyond merely striking the rock twice instead of speaking once. Scholars often point to several interconnected aspects:
- Unbelief (Nu 20:12): The root sin, leading to a failure of trust in God's explicit instruction.
- Lack of Reverence/Sanctification: By acting rashly, Moses failed to treat God as uniquely holy and distinct before the people. He did not show God the proper honor due to His omnipotence and majesty.
- Taking Personal Credit: His words, "Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Nu 20:10), implied that the miracle originated with him and Aaron, not exclusively from God.
- Disobedience to Command: God had explicitly told him to speak to the rock. Moses, perhaps in anger or frustration with the rebellious people, defied this clear instruction.
- Setting a Negative Example: As the preeminent leader, Moses' public transgression had a ripple effect, teaching the people a lack of respect for God's clear word.
The severity of the punishment for a single act highlights God's demand for holiness and strict accountability from His chosen vessels, reinforcing that even the greatest spiritual giants are subject to God's unwavering standards of righteousness. It underscores that God is ultimately more concerned with His own glory being fully recognized than with the convenience or desires of even His most beloved servants.
Deuteronomy 32 51 Commentary
Deuteronomy 32:51 highlights the critical significance of leadership integrity and obedience in relation to divine holiness. Moses and Aaron's sin at Meribah was not merely an act of striking a rock instead of speaking to it. It was a failure of faith and a public desecration of God's name. By losing his temper, speaking presumptuously ("must we fetch you water?") and disobeying God's explicit command to speak to the rock (Num 20:8), Moses conveyed to the people that the miracle was his or Aaron's doing, or that it was born out of frustration, rather than solely by the unblemished power and grace of God. This undermined God's glory and His authority. For leaders who stand close to God, a higher standard of faithfulness and reverence is demanded, for their actions profoundly influence how God is perceived by those they lead. The punishment, Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land, underscores that God's justice is unswerving, even for His most faithful servants, when His holiness is publicly dishonored. This principle reminds all believers that their conduct, especially when representing God, must always prioritize His sanctification above all else. For instance, public leaders must handle their duties with reverent adherence to God's will, knowing that their conduct reflects on Him. Private believers, too, must guard their words and actions, lest their failures cause God's name to be dishonored (e.g., gossiping while claiming Christian faith dishonors God).