Deuteronomy 32:1
Deuteronomy 32:1 in Multiple Translations
Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
Give ear, O heavens, to my voice; let the earth take note of the words of my mouth:
Heaven, listen as I speak; Earth, hear what I'm saying.
Hearken, ye heauens, and I will speake: and let the earth heare the words of my mouth.
'Give ear, O heavens, and I speak; And thou dost hear, O earth, sayings of my mouth!
Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Hear, O ye heavens, the things I speak, let the earth give ear to the words of my mouth.
“Listen to me, all you who are in the heavens, and all you who are on the earth, listen to what I say [MTY].
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 32:1
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 32:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
וַ/אֲדַבֵּ֑רָה
וְ/תִשְׁמַ֥ע
הָ/אָ֖רֶץ
אִמְרֵי
פִֽ/י
הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ
ʼâzan
H238
to listen
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
shâmayim
H8064
heaven
Art | N-mp
וַ/אֲדַבֵּ֑רָה
dâbar
H1696
to speak
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
וְ/תִשְׁמַ֥ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3fs
הָ/אָ֖רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
אִמְרֵי
ʼêmer
H561
word
N-mp
פִֽ/י
peh
H6310
lip
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 32:1
הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ
ʼâzan
H238
"to listen"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
To listen or hear is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often implying obedience or paying attention to what is being said, as in 1 Kings 3:9.
Definition: 1) to hear, listen 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to hear, listen, give ear 1a2) to be obedient, harken 1a3) to hear or listen to prayers (of God)
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See H239 (אָזַן). See also: Genesis 4:23; Psalms 77:2; Psalms 5:2.
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
shâmayim
H8064
"heaven"
Art | N-mp
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Definition: 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Usage: Occurs in 395 OT verses. KJV: air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). See also: Genesis 1:1; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 28:21.
וַ/אֲדַבֵּ֑רָה
dâbar
H1696
"to speak"
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Definition: : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
Usage: Occurs in 1049 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work. See also: Genesis 8:15; Exodus 12:25; Leviticus 23:9.
וְ/תִשְׁמַ֥ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3fs
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
הָ/אָ֖רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
אִמְרֵי
ʼêmer
H561
"word"
N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to a word or speech, like a promise or command from God. It is used in books like Genesis and Exodus to describe God's conversations with people.
Definition: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: answer, [idiom] appointed unto him, saying, speech, word. See also: Genesis 49:21; Psalms 141:6; Psalms 5:2.
פִֽ/י
peh
H6310
"lip"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Definition: : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
Usage: Occurs in 460 OT verses. KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. See also: Genesis 4:11; Deuteronomy 21:17; Ezra 9:11.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 32:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 32:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 32:1
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:1
Context — The Song of Moses
1Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants. 3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Ascribe greatness to our God!Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 1:2 | Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 4:26 | I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 22:29 | O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! |
| 4 | Psalms 49:1 | Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world, |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 31:28 | Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 6:19 | Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction. |
| 7 | Psalms 50:4 | He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people: |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 30:19 | I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, |
| 9 | Jeremiah 2:12 | Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD. |
Deuteronomy 32:1 Summary
[Deuteronomy 32:1 is a call to creation to listen to the words of God's mouth, spoken through Moses. This verse reminds us that God's message is not just for humans, but for all of creation, as seen in Romans 8:19-22. In simple terms, Moses is saying that what he is about to say is important and true, and he wants all of creation to witness it. By addressing the heavens and earth, Moses is emphasizing the grandeur and significance of God's words, which are like life-giving rain to our souls (as in Psalm 119:25).]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the speaker in Deuteronomy 32:1 call on the heavens and earth to listen?
The speaker, Moses, is invoking the creation to witness his words, emphasizing their importance and universality, much like the heavens and earth are called as witnesses in Isaiah 1:2 and Jeremiah 6:19.
What is the significance of the heavens and earth being addressed in this verse?
By addressing the heavens and earth, Moses is highlighting the cosmic scope of God's redemptive plan, which is also seen in Psalm 19:1-6, where the heavens declare God's glory.
Is this verse a call to worship or a call to repentance?
While it could be seen as both, the primary focus of Deuteronomy 32:1 is to introduce a declaration of God's greatness, similar to how the Psalmist begins in Psalm 92:1, giving thanks and declaring God's wonderful works.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32?
Deuteronomy 32:1 serves as an introduction to the song of Moses, setting the stage for the declaration of God's faithfulness and the consequences of Israel's disobedience, which is a theme also explored in Deuteronomy 31:16-22.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for the creation to 'hear' and 'give ear' to the words of God's mouth, and how can I apply this to my own life?
- In what ways can I, like Moses, declare the words of God's mouth to those around me, whether in my community or in the world at large?
- How does the image of the heavens and earth as witnesses to God's words challenge or encourage my faith, and what does it reveal about God's character?
- What are some ways I can 'ascribe greatness' to God in my daily life, as hinted at in the following verses, and how can I proclaim His name to those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:1
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:1
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Give ear, O ye heavens ... hear, O earth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
CHAPTER 32 The Divine song, in which God’ s power, mercy to his people, and vengeance on his enemies exalted, their ingratitude is rebuked, . God’ s wrath and future judgments, . Yet the idolatrous nations to be destroyed, and they at last to be enlarged, . He exhorts them to set their hearts on these words for their good, . God sendeth him up to Mount Nebo, there to see the promised land and die, . O ye heavens, and, O earth: either, 1. Angels and men; or, 2. You lifeless and senseless creatures, heaven and earth, which he calls upon partly to accuse the stupidity of Israel, that were more dull of hearing than these; and partly as witnesses of the truth of his sayings, and the justice of God’ s proceedings against them.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.Ver. 1. Give ear, O ye heavens,] q.d., Such is this people’ s stupidity and obstinacy, that I may as soon gain audience of these inanimate creatures as of them. See Isaiah 1:2 Joshua 24:27 Jeremiah 22:29. We may cry till we are hoarse; speak till we spit forth our lungs, and to no more purpose than Bede did, when he preached to a heap of stones. Holy Melancthon, being himself newly converted, thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the gospel. But after he had been a preacher a while, it is said he complained, that "old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon."
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
XXXII.(1) Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.—Comp. the opening of Isa 1:2, which is almost identical, excepting that the two words for “hearing” are transposed.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:1
CHAPTER XXXII The prophetical and historical song of Moses, showing forth the nature of God's doctrine, 1-3. The character of God, 4. The corruption of the people, 5, 6. They are called to remember God's kindness, 7, and his dealings with them during their travels in the wilderness, 8-14. Their ingratitude and iniquity, 15-18. They are threatened with his judgments, 19-28. A pathetic lamentation over them because of their sins, 29-35. Gracious purposes in their behalf, mixed with reproaches for their manifold idolatries, and threatenings against his enemies, 36-42. A promise of salvation to the Gentiles, 43. Moses, having finished the song, warmly exhorts the people to obedience, 44-47.
God calls him up to the mount, that he may see the good land and then die, 48-52. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXII Verse 1. On the inimitable excellence of this ode much has been written by commentators, critics, and poets; and it is allowed by the best judges to contain a specimen of almost every species of excellence in composition. It is so thoroughly poetic that even the dull Jews themselves found they could not write it in the prose form; and hence it is distinguished as poetry in every Hebrew Bible by being written in its own hemistichs or short half lines, which is the general form of the Hebrew poetry; and were it translated in the same way it would be more easily understood. The song itself has suffered both by transcribers and translators, the former having mistaken some letters in different places, and made wrong combinations of them in others. As to the translators, most of them have followed their own fancy, from good Mr. Ainsworth, who ruined it by the most inanimate rhyming version, to certain latter poets, who have cast it unhallowedly into a European mould. See the observations at the end of the chapter. See Clarke on Deuteronomy 32:52".
Give ear, O ye heavens] Let angels and men hear, and let this testimony of God be registered both in heaven and earth. Heaven and earth are appealed to as permanent witnesses.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:1
1–3. The Exordium 1Give ear, O Heavens, let me speak, And let Earth hear the words of my mouth. 2May my message drop as the rain, My speech distil as the dew, Like mists on the grass, And like showers on the herb. 3For the name of the Lord I proclaim, To our God give the greatness!
Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 32:1
Song of Moses If Deuteronomy 32:1-3 be regarded as the introduction, and Deuteronomy 32:43 as the conclusion, the main contents of the song may be grouped under three heads, namely, (1) Deuteronomy
Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Way to Paradise by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of believing in the word of God and accepting Jesus as one's advocate. He encourages the listeners to come out on God's side |
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God Gives Blessing to Produce Fruit by George Warnock | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of God's work in producing spiritual fruit in the lives of believers. He compares the rain that waters plants and produces bea |
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America's Godly Heritage by John Franklin | In this sermon, the speaker recounts the story of the early pilgrims and Puritans who settled in America, seeing themselves as a type of the children of Israel. The sermon referenc |
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(Radical Jesus) 6 Radical Standard by Glenn Meldrum | In this sermon, the speaker uses a metaphor of a friend creating a paradise for ants to illustrate the warped and perverted nature of humanity. He references Moses' prophetic song |
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The Rock in Scripture by Ken Baird | In this sermon, the preacher begins by emphasizing the attributes of God, highlighting His truth, righteousness, and perfection. Moving on to verse 15, the preacher focuses on the |
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On Eagles' Wings Pt 520 by Don Courville | In this sermon, the speaker begins by introducing the morning message, which will continue in the next week's program. He calls upon the heavens and the earth to listen to his word |
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Letter 149 by James Bourne | James Bourne shares his personal struggles with fear, sin, and doubts, especially in the face of death and judgment, despite being involved in writing and speaking to others about |