Deuteronomy 32:31
Deuteronomy 32:31 in Multiple Translations
For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies concede.
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.
For their rock is not like our Rock, even our haters themselves being judges.
The rock they rely on is not like our Rock, as even our enemies admit.
For their god is not as our God, euen our enemies being iudges.
For not as our Rock [is] their rock, (And our enemies [are] judges!)
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves concede.
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges:
For our God is not as their gods: our enemies themselves are judges.
Your enemies know that their gods are not powerful like Yahweh, our God, so their gods could not have defeated us Israelis.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 32:31
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 32:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּ֛י
לֹ֥א
כְ/צוּרֵ֖/נוּ
צוּרָ֑/ם
וְ/אֹיְבֵ֖י/נוּ
פְּלִילִֽים
כִּ֛י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
כְ/צוּרֵ֖/נוּ
tsûwr
H6697
rock
Prep | N-ms | Suff
צוּרָ֑/ם
tsûwr
H6697
rock
N-ms | Suff
וְ/אֹיְבֵ֖י/נוּ
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
Conj | V-Qal | Suff
פְּלִילִֽים
pâlîyl
H6414
judge
N-mp
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 32:31
כִּ֛י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
כְ/צוּרֵ֖/נוּ
tsûwr
H6697
"rock"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
A rock or boulder, often used to describe God as a refuge, like in Psalm 18:2.
Definition: 1) rock, cliff 1a) rocky wall, cliff 1b) rock (with flat surface) 1c) block of stone, boulder 1d) rock (specific) 1e) rock (of God) 1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei 1g) Rock Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also H1049 (בֵּית צוּר). See also: Exodus 17:6; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 18:3.
צוּרָ֑/ם
tsûwr
H6697
"rock"
N-ms | Suff
A rock or boulder, often used to describe God as a refuge, like in Psalm 18:2.
Definition: 1) rock, cliff 1a) rocky wall, cliff 1b) rock (with flat surface) 1c) block of stone, boulder 1d) rock (specific) 1e) rock (of God) 1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei 1g) Rock Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also H1049 (בֵּית צוּר). See also: Exodus 17:6; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 18:3.
וְ/אֹיְבֵ֖י/נוּ
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
Conj | V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
פְּלִילִֽים
pâlîyl
H6414
"judge"
N-mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a judge or magistrate, like those in the book of Exodus. It refers to someone who makes decisions and settles disputes. This word is used to describe leaders in Israel.
Definition: judge, assessment, estimate
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: judge. See also: Exodus 21:22; Deuteronomy 32:31; Job 31:11.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 32:31
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 32:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:31
Context — The Song of Moses
29If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.
30How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
31For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies concede.
32But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter. 33Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 14:25 | He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!” |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 2:2 | There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. |
| 3 | Daniel 2:47 | The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.” |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 4:8 | Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. |
| 5 | Daniel 6:26–27 | I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” |
| 6 | Numbers 23:8 | How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced? |
| 7 | Ezra 1:3 | Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. |
| 8 | Daniel 3:29 | Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.” |
| 9 | Ezra 6:9–12 | Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail. Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons. I also decree that if any man interferes with this directive, a beam is to be torn from his house and raised up, and he is to be impaled on it. And his own house shall be made a pile of rubble for this offense. May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence. |
| 10 | Jeremiah 40:3 | and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you. |
Deuteronomy 32:31 Summary
This verse, Deuteronomy 32:31, is saying that the false gods that other nations worship are not the same as the one true God of Israel. The enemies of Israel even agree that their gods are not as powerful as the God of Israel, because they have seen God's power at work, as described in Psalm 18:2 where God is called the Rock of salvation. This is an important reminder for us today, as we can easily get distracted by false idols or things that seem powerful but are not, as warned against in Deuteronomy 4:35 and Isaiah 44:8. By recognizing God's uniqueness and power, we can trust in Him more fully, just like the Psalmist did in Psalm 18:2, and live with confidence and peace, as encouraged in Romans 11:33.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when it says 'their rock is not like our Rock' in Deuteronomy 32:31?
This phrase is saying that the false gods of the enemies of Israel are not comparable to the one true God of Israel, as seen in verses like Psalm 18:2, where David calls God his Rock, and Isaiah 44:8, where God is proclaimed as the only Rock.
Why do the enemies of Israel concede that their rock is not like the Rock of Israel?
The enemies of Israel recognize the power and might of the God of Israel, as demonstrated in Deuteronomy 32:30, where it says that unless the LORD had given them up, one man could not have pursued a thousand or two put ten thousand to flight, showing God's sovereignty over all nations, as in Daniel 4:35.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Deuteronomy?
This verse fits into the larger theme of Deuteronomy, which emphasizes the uniqueness and greatness of the God of Israel, as stated in Deuteronomy 4:35, where Moses says that the LORD is God and there is no other besides Him, and in Deuteronomy 32:39, where God declares His sole sovereignty over life and death.
What lesson can believers learn from this verse about their own relationship with God?
Believers can learn from this verse the importance of recognizing and trusting in the power and uniqueness of the one true God, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6, where it advises trusting in the LORD with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding, and in Romans 11:33, where it praises the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which you have seen God demonstrate His power and might in your life, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 32:30-31?
- How does recognizing the uniqueness of God impact your daily decisions and trust in Him, as encouraged in verses like Proverbs 3:5-6?
- In what ways can you apply the truth of Deuteronomy 32:31 to your own life, especially in times of uncertainty or doubt, by recalling verses like Psalm 18:2 that proclaim God as our Rock?
- What does it mean for you to 'concede' or acknowledge God's sovereignty in your life, and how can you practically live out this acknowledgement, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Daniel in Daniel 4:35?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:31
For their rock [is] not as our rock,.... That is, the gods of the Heathens, the rock in which they trusted, are not like the God of Israel, the rock of salvation, in which all true believers, whether
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:31
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
Who by their dear-bought experience have been forced to acknowledge that our God was far stronger than they and their false gods together. See Numbers 23 .
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges.Ver. 31. For their rock is not as our rock.] We may well say, Who is a God like unto thee? Contemno minutulos istos deos, mode Iovem (Iehovam) mihi propitium habeam; I care not for those dunghill deities, so I may have the true God to favour me. Even our enemies.] Exodus 14:25 Numbers 23:8; Numbers 23:12 1 Samuel 4:8.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
(31) For their rock.—Perhaps this may be taken, For their rock (the enemies’ God) is not as our Rock (Jehovah), and yet our enemies are judges, i.e., lords, over us. So Rashi takes it. The verse should be read as a parenthesis. The argument would be this: No cause can be found for the defeat of Israel except the displeasure of Jehovah. The enemies have no gods that could fight against Israel. The word for judges occurs only in Exodus 21:22; Job 31:11. The phrase “our enemies themselves being judges” (of the question) is more like Latin than Hebrew, but it may be correct.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
Verse 31. For their rock] The gods and pretended protectors of the Romans. Is not as our Rock] Have neither power nor influence like our God. Our enemies themselves being judges.] For they often acknowledged the irresistible power of that God who fought for Israel. See Exodus 14:25; Numbers 23:8-12; Numbers 23:19-21; 1 Samuel 4:8. There is a passage in Virgil, Eclog. iv., ver. 58, very similar to this saying of Moses: - Pan Deus Arcadia mecum si judice certet, Pan etiam Arcadia dicat se judice victum. "Should the god Pan contend with me," (in singing the praises of the future hero, the deliverer, prophesied of in the Sibylline books,) "were even Arcadia judge, Pan would acknowledge himself to be vanquished, Arcadia herself being judge."
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:31
31For not as our Rock is their rock, Our foes being judges; 32For their vine’s from the vine of Sedóm And out of the tracts of Gomorrah; Their grapes are poisonous grapes, Bitterest clusters are theirs. 33Their wine is the venom of dragons, The pitiless poison of asps. 31. emphasises the previous couplet; it must have been Israel’s God who brought such defeat on His people.
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:31
31. The false gods are set in contrast with Jehovah, the God of Israel. For their rock is not as our Rock,… our enemies — That is, the nations who have oppressed or been at war with Israel — being judges. Comp.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:31
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Stone of Salvation or Destruction by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar explores the multifaceted significance of the 'stone' in Matthew 21:44, emphasizing its role as a symbol of Christ. He discusses how this stone represents rejection, |
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Passionate for God's Holiness - Part 2 by John Piper | This sermon emphasizes the transformative power of understanding and embracing the holiness of God in our lives. It explores how the vision of God's holiness can be a rock and sour |
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The Discipline of Disappointment - 20 by Jack Hibbs | Jack Hibbs delivers a powerful sermon on 'The Discipline of Disappointment,' emphasizing that disappointment is an inevitable part of life that can be managed through faith in God. |
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From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Daniel) ch.2:36-3:30 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the sovereignty of God as depicted in the book of Daniel. He highlights God's sovereignty over the physical bodies of Daniel and his friends, |
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K-484 Discipleship by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker expresses his deep concern for the state of the world and the future. He believes that the current cultural changes are just the beginning and that thin |
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May God Give Us Light by Carter Conlon | This sermon is a powerful call to resist the temptations and delicacies of the world, to stand firm in faith like Daniel did, and to choose to walk in the light of God's truth. It |
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1 Corinthians 14:20 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom delivers a sermon urging the congregation to maintain order and reverence in the church, emphasizing the importance of edifying one another through spiritual gifts |