Deuteronomy 32:25
Deuteronomy 32:25 in Multiple Translations
Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
Without shall the sword bereave, And in the chambers terror; It shall destroy both young man and virgin, The suckling with the man of gray hairs.
Outside they will be cut off by the sword, and in the inner rooms by fear; death will take the young man and the virgin, the baby at the breast and the grey-haired man.
Outside in the streets the sword kills their children, inside their homes, they die from fright; young men and young women, children and old people.
The sworde shall kill them without, and in the chambers feare: both the yong man and the yong woman, the suckeling with the man of gray heare.
Without bereave doth the sword, And at the inner-chambers — fear, Both youth and virgin, Suckling with man of grey hair.
Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
Without, the sword shall lay them waste, and terror within, both the young man and the virgin, the sucking child with the man in years.
Outside their houses, their enemies will kill them [MTY] with swords, and in their homes, their enemies will cause them to be terrified. Their enemies will kill young men and young women, and they will kill infants and old people with gray hair.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 32:25
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 32:25 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
מִ/חוּץ֙
תְּשַׁכֶּל
חֶ֔רֶב
וּ/מֵ/חֲדָרִ֖ים
אֵימָ֑ה
גַּם
בָּחוּר֙
גַּם
בְּתוּלָ֔ה
יוֹנֵ֖ק
עִם
אִ֥ישׁ
שֵׂיבָֽה
מִ/חוּץ֙
chûwts
H2351
outside
Prep | N-ms
תְּשַׁכֶּל
shâkôl
H7921
be bereaved
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs
חֶ֔רֶב
chereb
H2719
sword
N-fs
וּ/מֵ/חֲדָרִ֖ים
cheder
H2315
chamber
Conj | Prep | N-mp
אֵימָ֑ה
ʼêymâh
H367
terror
N-fs
גַּם
gam
H1571
also
DirObjM
בָּחוּר֙
bâchûwr
H970
youth
N-ms
גַּם
gam
H1571
also
DirObjM
בְּתוּלָ֔ה
bᵉthûwlâh
H1330
virgin
N-fs
יוֹנֵ֖ק
yânaq
H3243
to suckle
V-Qal
עִם
ʻim
H5973
with
Prep
אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
שֵׂיבָֽה
sêybâh
H7872
greyheaded
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 32:25
מִ/חוּץ֙
chûwts
H2351
"outside"
Prep | N-ms
This word means outside or outdoors, referring to something beyond a wall or boundary. It can also mean a street or highway, as seen in various KJV translations, including abroad, field, and without.
Definition: outside, outward, street, the outside
Usage: Occurs in 158 OT verses. KJV: abroad, field, forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without. See also: Genesis 6:14; 2 Chronicles 24:8; Psalms 18:43.
תְּשַׁכֶּל
shâkôl
H7921
"be bereaved"
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs
Barrenness refers to the inability to have children. In the Bible, this word is used to describe someone who has lost a child or is unable to conceive, like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:5-6.
Definition: 1) to be bereaved, make childless, miscarry 1a) (Qal) to be bereaved 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make childless 1b2) to cause barrenness, show barrenness or abortion 1b3) to miscarry 1c) (Hiphil) miscarrying (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, [idiom] expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil. See also: Genesis 27:45; Isaiah 49:21; Jeremiah 15:7.
חֶ֔רֶב
chereb
H2719
"sword"
N-fs
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone
Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.
וּ/מֵ/חֲדָרִ֖ים
cheder
H2315
"chamber"
Conj | Prep | N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to a private room or chamber, often the innermost part of a building. It is used in the Bible to describe a private space, like a bedroom or a parlour. The KJV translates it as 'inner chamber'.
Definition: chamber, room, parlour, innermost or inward part, within
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: ((bed) inner) chamber, innermost(-ward) part, parlour, [phrase] south, [idiom] within. See also: Genesis 43:30; 2 Chronicles 18:24; Psalms 105:30.
אֵימָ֑ה
ʼêymâh
H367
"terror"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for terror or dread, used to describe fear or horror, and sometimes an idol that inspires fear. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of awe or fright. This word is used in various contexts, including descriptions of God's power.
Definition: terror, dread
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: dread, fear, horror, idol, terrible, terror. See also: Genesis 15:12; Job 20:25; Psalms 55:5.
גַּם
gam
H1571
"also"
DirObjM
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Definition: 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike
Usage: Occurs in 661 OT verses. KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea. See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 19:9; 1 Samuel 14:21.
בָּחוּר֙
bâchûwr
H970
"youth"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word refers to a young person, often a chosen or select individual, like a young man in his prime. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of young soldiers. The term emphasizes the idea of being selected or set apart.
Definition: youth, young man
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: (choice) young (man), chosen, [idiom] hole. See also: Deuteronomy 32:25; Jeremiah 18:21; Psalms 78:31.
גַּם
gam
H1571
"also"
DirObjM
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Definition: 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike
Usage: Occurs in 661 OT verses. KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea. See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 19:9; 1 Samuel 14:21.
בְּתוּלָ֔ה
bᵉthûwlâh
H1330
"virgin"
N-fs
A virgin, or bride, is described by this word, emphasizing her private and untouched state, as seen in the stories of Genesis and Esther.
Definition: virgin
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: maid, virgin. See also: Genesis 24:16; Isaiah 23:12; Psalms 45:15.
יוֹנֵ֖ק
yânaq
H3243
"to suckle"
V-Qal
To suckle or nurse is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which also means to give milk. It describes the act of nursing a child.
Definition: 1) to suckle, nurse, suck 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to suck 1a2) suckling, babe (subst) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to give suck to, nurse 1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: milch, nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling). See also: Genesis 21:7; 2 Chronicles 22:11; Psalms 8:3.
עִם
ʻim
H5973
"with"
Prep
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Definition: 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as
Usage: Occurs in 919 OT verses. KJV: accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al). See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 29:11.
אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
שֵׂיבָֽה
sêybâh
H7872
"greyheaded"
N-fs
This word describes old age, gray hair, or a long life. In the Bible, it is used to signify wisdom and experience, and is translated as gray or old age in the KJV.
Definition: 1) age, gray hair, hoary head, old age 1a) gray hair, hoary head 1b) old age
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: (be) gray (grey hoar,-y) hairs (head,-ed), old age. See also: Genesis 15:15; 1 Kings 2:6; Psalms 71:18.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 32:25
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 32:25 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:25
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:25
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:25
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:25
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:25
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:25
Context — The Song of Moses
23I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them.
24They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.
25Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
26I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind, 27if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest their adversaries misunderstand and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed; it was not the LORD who did all this.’”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 7:15 | The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague. |
| 2 | Lamentations 1:20 | See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death. |
| 3 | Isaiah 30:16 | “No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 36:17 | So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, |
| 5 | Jeremiah 9:21 | For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. |
| 6 | 2 Corinthians 7:5 | For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. |
| 7 | Lamentations 4:4 | The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. |
| 8 | Leviticus 26:36–37 | As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies. |
| 9 | Lamentations 2:19–22 | Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street. Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets. My young men and maidens have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger; You have slaughtered them without compassion. You summoned my attackers on every side, as for the day of an appointed feast. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; my enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared. |
Deuteronomy 32:25 Summary
[Deuteronomy 32:25 describes a scene of complete devastation, where war and violence take the lives of children outside, and fear and terror grip the hearts of everyone inside, regardless of age. This verse teaches us about the severe consequences of turning away from God, as seen in other parts of the Bible like Romans 6:23. It reminds us that our actions have real consequences, and that God's judgment is a call to repentance and salvation, as offered in John 3:16. By understanding this, we can seek God's mercy and forgiveness, and live in the peace and safety that comes from following Him.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of 'the sword' in Deuteronomy 32:25?
The 'sword' in this verse is likely a metaphor for war and violence, as seen in other passages like Jeremiah 15:2-3, where it is associated with judgment and destruction.
Why does the verse mention 'the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man'?
This phrase emphasizes that the judgment described in Deuteronomy 32:25 will affect all ages and demographics, leaving no one immune to its impact, much like the universal judgment described in Revelation 20:12-13.
Is this verse describing a historical event or a future prophecy?
While Deuteronomy 32:25 has historical context, its themes of judgment and destruction are also echoed in prophetic passages like Isaiah 13:6-16, suggesting that it may have ongoing relevance and application beyond its initial setting.
How does this verse relate to God's character and nature?
Deuteronomy 32:25, when considered in light of other verses like Exodus 34:6-7, highlights the complex balance between God's justice and mercy, demonstrating that His holiness demands judgment for sin, yet His love always offers a path to redemption and restoration.
Reflection Questions
- What are the ways in which 'the sword' of judgment might be at work in our own lives or communities, and how can we respond in repentance and faith?
- In what ways can we see the devastating effects of sin, as described in this verse, in our world today, and how should this inform our prayers and actions?
- How does the comprehensive nature of the judgment in Deuteronomy 32:25—afflicting all ages—challenge or comfort you, and what does it teach you about God's sovereignty and justice?
- Reflecting on the contrast between the 'sword' outside and 'terror' inside, what are the external and internal challenges you face, and how can you seek God's protection and peace in the midst of them?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:25
The sword without,.... Either without the city, the sword of the Roman army besieging it, which destroyed all that came out or attempted to go in; or in the streets of the city, the sword of the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:25
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:25
Deuteronomy 32:25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling [also] with the man of gray hairs.Ver. 25. And terror within.] Warring times are terrible times. By the civil dissensions here in King John’ s time, all the kingdom became like a general shambles, or place of infernal terrors and tortures. War, saith one, is a misery which all words, how wide soever, want compass to express. It is, saith another, the slaughter house of mankind, and the hell of this present world.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:25
(24, 25)“Consumed[8] with hunger, and devoured with pestilence, and bitter destruction— [8] Or, possibly, “Regaled with hunger, and fed with bread of pestilence and bitter destruction,” &c. I will also send the tooth of the beasts upon them, with the poison of crawling things of the dust. Outside the sword bereaveth, and in the chambers terror: Both young man and maiden, the suckling with the man of grey hairs.” God’s four sore judgments are all depicted here—“the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence.” With Deuteronomy 32:25 comp. Jeremiah 14:18, “If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.”
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:25
25. War the climax to these natural plagues, just as in Amos 7.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:25
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Through the Bible) 2 Chronicles 28-36 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker tells the story of Balaam and his donkey from the Bible. Balaam is tempted by the king's offer of wealth and power, but his donkey keeps veering off the |
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Progress of Redemption #03 by David Shirley | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Solomon in the book of 1 Kings. He highlights how Solomon's disobedience to God's commands led to the decline and division of t |
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Daniel and His Times by Sir Robert Anderson | Sir Robert Anderson delves into the life of the prophet Daniel, highlighting his unique role as a recipient of divine revelations rather than an inspired prophet. Daniel, living in |
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De Vitis Patrum, Book Ix by Heribert Rosweyde | Heribert Rosweyde preaches on the lives of devout men, like Jacobus of Nisibis, who embraced a solitary life in pursuit of virtue and wisdom, demonstrating through their actions th |
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(Costa Rica) the Ministry of Refreshing Others by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of refreshment and how it can come in times of rejection and despair. He uses the example of David, who was feeling rejected and h |
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Glory of God in Dry Places by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the common struggle that believers face when they leave the sanctuary and enter a hostile world. He emphasizes that the devil continuously bo |
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The Secret War of Every Saint by Carter Conlon | This sermon focuses on the secret war that every saint faces, emphasizing the mental battles and intense spiritual warfare encountered while walking with God, especially in challen |