Deuteronomy 32:33 — Word Study
WLCחֲמַ֥ת תַּנִּינִ֖ם יֵינָ֑ם וְרֹ֥אשׁ פְּתָנִ֖ים אַכְזָֽר׃
BSATheir wineyayin [the poison of dragons, fermented drink] is the venomchêmâh [cruel, deadly poison] of serpentstannîyn [sea-serpents, monsters] the deadlyʼakzâr [incurable, fierce] poisonrôʼsh [harmful substance, gall] of cobraspethen [asps, venomous snakes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֲמַ֥ת | [is the] venom of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| תַּנִּינִ֖ם | serpents | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יֵינָ֑ם | wine their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְרֹ֥אשׁ | and [the] poison of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| פְּתָנִ֖ים | cobras | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| אַכְזָֽר׃ | cruel | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras. |
| KJV | Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. |
| ASV | Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps. |
| YLT | The poison of dragons [is] their wine And the fierce venom of asps. |
| WEB | Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps. |
| BBE | Their wine is the poison of dragons, the cruel poison of snakes. |
Where they part company is אַכְזָר — see How Translations Differ.
The structure presents a main clause followed by two descriptive phrases that elaborate on the nature of the wine.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 32:33
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Song of Mosesgenerated
Deuteronomy 32:33 is part of a poetic warning from Moses to the Israelites about their future disobedience and the consequences that would follow. This section highlights the dangers of their choices, comparing the wine they consume to venomous substances that can lead to destruction, reinforcing the seriousness of their actions and the need for vigilance against temptation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 20:14–16 | yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. |
| 2 | Psalm 58:4 | Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears, |
| 3 | Psalm 140:3 | They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah |
| 4 | Jeremiah 8:14 | Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. |
| 5 | Romans 3:13 | “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֲמַ֥ת, cha.Matgenerated
The word חֵמָה (*chemah*) is a noun that conveys the idea of intense anger or rage. In this context, it is used to describe the toxic nature of wine, suggesting that it has the potential to incite destructive emotions and behaviors. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular construct, linking it directly to the noun it modifies.
This word is often associated with divine wrath and human anger, warning against the dangers of unchecked emotions. Its use here implies that consuming such wine can lead to harmful outcomes, much like the effects of rage.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses venom and deadly poison to convey the dangerous qualities of wine. Other translations, such as the KJV and ASV, align closely with this wording.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of אַכְזָר — cruel (ASV, KJV) versus fierce (YLT) and incurable (DRA). This indicates a range of interpretations regarding the severity of the poison being described.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse centers around the subject חֲמַ֥ת (*cha.Mat*), which is the wine, and the predicate describes its nature as venom. The structure emphasizes the comparison between wine and the poison of serpents, creating a vivid image of danger.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the wine first, highlighting its significance in the warning being conveyed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word חֲמַ֥ת is rendered as οἶνος (*oinos*), meaning 'wine'. This choice reflects a straightforward translation, maintaining the focus on the substance being described.
The use of δρακόντων for תַּנִּינִ֖ם indicates a broader interpretation, as it can refer to dragons or sea monsters, suggesting a more mythical connotation in the Greek text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 32:33 compares wine to the venom of serpents, emphasizing its harmful and toxic nature. This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of consuming such wine, which can lead to destructive behavior and consequences.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The verse warns that wine can be as dangerous as the venom of serpents, suggesting that it has harmful effects.
The comparison highlights the potential for wine to lead to destructive emotions and actions, similar to the effects of venom.
The serpents symbolize danger and harm, reinforcing the idea that the wine's effects can be lethal.
This verse serves as a warning to the Israelites about the consequences of their actions and the need to be vigilant against temptation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways that I can be mindful of the substances I consume and their effects on my behavior?
- How can I apply the warning in this verse to my own life and choices?
- In what ways can I help others recognize the dangers of harmful substances?
- What steps can I take to ensure that my emotions do not lead to destructive actions?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 32:33 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTheir wine [is] the poison of dragons,.... Of these creatures, both land and sea dragons, [See comments on Micah 1:8]; [See comments on Malachi 1:3]; Pliny says (l) the dragon has no poison in it;
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 32 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTheir wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. Their wine is the poison of dragons , [ chªmat (H2534) taniynim (H8577), the heat] - i:e. (as ulcerating the bowels), the poison or venom of serpents.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 32 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe poison of dragons; for although some write that the dragons of Greece have no poison in them, yet that the African and Arabian dragons, of which Moses here writes, have poison in them, is confessed by ancient heathen authors. The cruel venom of asps; whose poison kills certainly and speedily, as Aristotle and others write.
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 32 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 32:33 Their wine [is] the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.Ver. 33. Their wine,] i.e., Their works, yea, their best works, prove pernicious to them; not their own table only, but God’ s table becomes a snare to the unprepared communicant; he sucks there the poison of asps, &c., he eats his bane and drinks his poison: as Henry VII, Emperor, was poisoned in the sacramental bread by a monk; Pope Victor II, by his sub-deacon in his chalice; and one of our Bishops of York, by poison put into the wine at the eucharist.
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 32 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 33. Their wine] Their system of doctrines and teaching, is the poison of dragons, &c., fatal and destructive to all them who follow it.
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 32 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges33. venom of dragons] Or, foam of. pitiless poison of asps] Poison, rôsh, as in Deuteronomy 29:17; asps, or according to some, cobras, the hooded kind, in Egypt and the lower parts of Syria, especially S. of Beersheba, Heb. pethanîm, Isaiah 11:8, etc.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 32 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible33. Their wine is the poison of dragons — The wine that this vine of Sodom bears is as the poison of deadly serpents. The figures employed suggest that the nation will become utterly corrupt.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 32 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.
Their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.
Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.
Their wine is snakes’ poison, the deadly venom of cobras.
Tyndale line
Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps.
Their wine is the poison of dragons, And the cruel venom of asps.
Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
Their wine is the poyson of dragons, and the cruel gall of aspes.
Strictly literal
Their wine is the poison of dragons, And the cruel venom of vipers.
The poison of dragons [is] their wine And the fierce venom of asps.
The poison of dragons [is] their wine || And the fierce venom of cobras.
The poison of serpents is their wine, and the deadly venom of asps.
Their wine is the poison of serpents and the cruel venom of asps.
From the Latin
Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the venom of asps, which is incurable.
Simplified
Their wine is the poison of serpents, deadly snake venom.
Their wine is the poison of dragons, the cruel poison of snakes.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with five of the six words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in three words, indicating variations in the text's transmission. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restorations but do not provide significant variations from the Masoretic Text.
חֲמַ֥ת תַּנִּינִ֖ם יֵינָ֑ם וְרֹ֥אשׁ פְּתָנִ֖ים אַכְזָֽר׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
חמת תנינים יינם וראשׁ פתנים אך זרי
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: תנינים (second), אך (only), זרי (strange)
[חמת] תנינים [יי] נ׳מה [ורוש] פתנים [אכזרי]
nothing on the leather here — 3 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
[חמת] [תנינם] יינ׳ם וראש [פתנים] [אכזר]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 32:33
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word חֵמָה (*chemah*) primarily means heat and rage, encompassing concepts like fever, poison, and burning anger. It can refer to human anger as well as divine wrath, and is noted in Daniel's vision. The entries highlight its figurative use related to intense emotions and reactions.
חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) 121 n.f. heat, rage
heat:
fever
venom, poison
burning anger, rage:
of man
of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
of God
base
H2534 חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) heat, rage . heat: . fever
. venom, poison
. burning anger, rage: . of man
. of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
. of God
2534 chemah khay-maw'
or (Dan. 11:44) chemaC {khay-maw'}; from 3179; heat;
figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever):--anger, bottles,
hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison,
rage, wrath(- ful). See 2529.
see HEBREW for 03179
see HEBREW for 02529
חֵמָה (che.mah) — rage.
1) heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles
1a) heat
1a1) fever
1a2) venom, poison (fig.)
1b) burning anger, rage
Aramaic equivalent: che.ma (חֱמָא "rage" H2528)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
תַּן (tan) means jackal, while תַּנִּין (tan.nin) refers to a serpent, dragon, or sea monster. The entries suggest that the word can denote both land and marine creatures, including dragons and venomous snakes. Ezekiel 29:3 is specifically mentioned in relation to the term.
[תַּן] n.[m. et] f. jackal
base
תַּנִּין (erron. תַּנִּים) n.m. serpent, dragon, sea-monster
base
H8577a [תַּן] jackal H8577b תַּנִּין (erron. תַּנִּים) serpent, dragon, sea-monster
8577 tanniyn tan-neen'
or tanniym (Ezek. 29:3) {tan-neem'}; intensive from the same
as 8565; a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or
jackal:--dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale.
see HEBREW for 08565
תַּן (tan) — jackal.
jackal
Also means: tan.nah (תַּנָּה "dragon" H8568)
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — Dragon.
This name means dragon, serpent, sea monster
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — serpent: snake.
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake
Also means: tan.nin (תַּנִּין ": monster" H8577N)
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — serpent: monster.
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
These reptiles, unclean among the Hebrews, Le 11:10,41, are widely diffused through the world, but are most numerous and venomous in tropical climates. About one-sixth part of all that are known to be poisonous. These are distinguished by having two hollow poisonfangs in the upper jaw, and are usually of slower motion than most snakes. Venomous serpents were abundant in Egypt and Arabia, and seven different kinds are mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, some of which are identified with existing species. See ADDER, ASP, COCKATRICE, and VIPER.
The serpents mentioned in Nu 21:1-35 Isa 14:29 30:6, and by whom multitudes of the Israelites were destroyed in the desert north of the Gulf of Akabah, were probably called "fiery" and…
יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.
יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine
base
H3196 יַ֫יִן wine
3196 yayin yah'-yin
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as
fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,
wine(-bibber).
יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.
wine
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) refers to a bitter and poisonous herb, often associated with venom or poison. The entries suggest it may specifically denote a plant like the poppy, and it is used figuratively to indicate bitterness or toxicity. The term appears in contexts related to poison, gall, and hemlock.
רֹאשׁ and רוֹשׁ n.m. a bitter and poisonous herb, then venom, alw. fig.
base
H7219 רֹאשׁ and רוֹשׁ a bitter and poisonous herb, then venom, alw. fig.
7219 ro'sh roshe
or rowsh (Deut. 32:32) {roshe}; apparently the same as 7218;
a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous
head); generally poison (even of serpents):--gall, hemlock,
poison, venom.
see HEBREW for 07218
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — poison.
gall, venom, bitter, poisonous
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פֶּ֫תֶן (pethen) refers to a venomous serpent, likely a cobra or similar snake, characterized by its twisting movements. The term appears in contexts that suggest danger due to its venomous nature. The entries indicate a consensus on its meaning as a snake, but do not provide specific verse references.
פֶּ֫תֶן n.m. a venomous serpent, perh. cobra
base
H6620 פֶּ֫תֶן a venomous serpent, perh. cobra
6620 pethen peh'-then
from an unused root meaning to twist; an asp (from its
contortions):--adder.
פֶּ֫תֶן (pe.ten) — cobra.
1) a snake, venomous serpent
1a) perhaps the cobra, adder, or viper
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word אַכְזָר (*akzar*) means cruel or fierce. It is derived from an unused root that suggests acting harshly and can imply violence or deadliness. The entries consistently describe it in a negative sense, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אַכְזָר adj. cruel, fierce
base
H393 אַכְזָר cruel, fierce
393 'akzar ak-zawr'
from an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly);
violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense)
brave:--cruel, fierce.
אַכְזָר (akh.zar) — cruel.
cruel, fierce
Adj — AdjHAamsa