Deuteronomy 32:34 — Word Study
WLCהֲלֹא־ ה֖וּא כָּמֻ֣ס עִמָּדִ֑י חָתֻ֖ם בְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃
BSAHave I notlôʼ [certainly, without a doubt] stored upkâmaç△ [laid up in store, kept safe] these thingshûwʼ sealed upchâtham [locked away, marked as mine] within Myʻimmâd vaultsʼôwtsâr [treasure house, secret storehouse]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֲלֹא־ | ¿ not | Particle, particle |
| ה֖וּא | [is] that | Pronoun |
| כָּמֻ֣ס | stored up | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| עִמָּדִ֑י | with me | Preposition, suffix |
| חָתֻ֖ם | sealed up | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| בְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃ | in storehouses my | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Have I not stored up these things, sealed up within My vaults? |
| KJV | Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? |
| ASV | Is not this laid up in store with me, Sealed up among my treasures? |
| YLT | Is it not laid up with Me? Sealed among My treasures? |
| WEB | “Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures? |
| BBE | Is not this among my secrets, kept safe in my store-house? |
Where translations differ is in the rendering of כָּמֻ֣ס — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by a subject and two phrases that provide additional information about the action.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהוּא
verbכָּמַס
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 32:34
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 32:34 is part of the Song of Moses, where Moses recounts God's faithfulness and warns Israel of the consequences of their disobedience. This verse emphasizes God's assurance that He has securely stored certain things, reflecting His omniscience and care for His people.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 14:17 | My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 2:22 | Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD. |
| 3 | Hosea 13:12 | The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up. |
| 4 | Romans 2:5 | But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 4:5 | Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כָּמֻ֣ס, ka.Musgenerated
The verb כָּמַס (kamac) means to store up or save. It is a participle in the passive voice, indicating that something has been stored away for safekeeping. This word conveys the idea of preserving something valuable, much like laying up treasures in a secure place.
In this context, it emphasizes God's action of safeguarding important matters, suggesting that these things are not just forgotten but are intentionally kept safe within His vaults.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as stored up, which aligns with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb כָּמֻ֣ס governs the sentence, indicating the action of storing up. It is complemented by the participle חָתֻ֖ם, which describes the state of being sealed, creating a relationship between the two actions.
The structure emphasizes God's assertion about the security of what has been stored, with the adverbial הֲלֹא־ introducing a rhetorical question that underscores the certainty of His claim.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כָּמֻ֣ס as συνῆκται, which means to be gathered together. This choice reflects a broader understanding of collection rather than the specific connotation of secure storage found in the Hebrew.
This translation may suggest a different emphasis on the gathering of God's knowledge or treasures, rather than their preservation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 32:34 shows God questioning whether He has not securely stored certain things in His vaults. This verse emphasizes God's assurance that He keeps important matters safe, reflecting His care and oversight.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God has preserved certain important matters securely, indicating His control and care over them.
The question emphasizes God's certainty and the rhetorical nature of His claim, affirming that He indeed has stored them away.
Sealing signifies that these matters are protected and marked as belonging to God, ensuring their security.
This verse underscores God's vigilance in safeguarding His promises and judgments, reinforcing the theme of divine justice throughout the Song of Moses.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some important truths or memories that I have stored up in my own life?
- How can I ensure that I keep my relationship with God secure and protected?
- In what ways can I reflect God's care for what is important to me in my daily life?
- How does understanding God's assurance in this verse affect my view of His justice and care?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 32:34 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[Is] not this laid up in store with me,.... The fruit of the degenerate vine, its bitter clusters of grapes, and poisonous wine; meaning the evil principles and practices of the apostate church, well
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 32 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIs not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? Is not this laid up in store with me? - i:e., all their wickedness, of which previous mention has been made.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 32 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. All their wickedness mentioned before. My longsuffering towards them may make them and others think that I have forgotten their sins, but I remember them punctually, they are sealed up as in a bag, , and as men seal up their treasures that nothing be lost; and I shall bring them to their remembrance also.
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 32 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 32:34 [Is] not this laid up in store with me, [and] sealed up among my treasures?Ver. 34. Is not this laid up in store?] To wit, for just punishment, though for a while I forbear them. The wicked man is like a thief, which having stolen a horse, rides away well mounted, till, overtaken by hue and cry, he is apprehended, sentenced, and executed. "Your sin will find you out" as a bloodhound; Et patientia Dei erga impios quo diuturnior, eo minacior. Morae dispendium faenoris duplo pensatur; the longer God forbears, the heavier he punishes. Jerome, in Jerem,
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 32 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(34) Is not this laid up?—“This” is generally taken to refer to what follows, but it is not clear. It may refer to the fact that “He looked for grapes, and the vine brought forth wild grapes.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 32 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 34. Sealed up among my treasures?] Deeds or engagements by which persons were bound at a specified time to fulfil certain conditions, were sealed and laid up in places of safety; so here God's justice is pledged to avenge the quarrel of his broken covenant on the disobedient Jews, but the time and manner were sealed in his treasures, and known only to himself. Hence it is said:-
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 32 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges34–43. It is Destined for Israel’s Foes 34Is all that not stored with me, Sealed in my treasuries, 35For the day of revenge and requital, What time their foot shall slip. Yea, near is their day of disaster, And destiny rushes upon them.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 32 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible34. Is not this laid up in store with me — The thought designed to be expressed is, that God’s time for punishment is decided upon, but not yet revealed.
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
“Have I not stored up these things, sealed up within My vaults?
“Isn’t this laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures?
“Have I not stored up these things, sealed up within My vaults?
“Is this not stored up with me?” says the Lord, “Is it not sealed up in my storehouses?
Tyndale line
Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
Is not this laid up in store with me, Sealed up among my treasures?
Is not this laid up in store with me, Sealed up among my treasures?
Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
Is not this laide in store with me, and sealed vp among my treasures?
Strictly literal
Is not this hidden with me, Sealed up among my treasures?
Is it not laid up with Me? Sealed among My treasures?
Is it not laid up with Me? Sealed among My treasures?
Behold! this is laid up in store with me, it is sealed up among my treasures!
Is not this plan secretly kept by me, sealed up among my treasures?
From the Latin
Are not these things stored up with me, and sealed up in my treasures?
Simplified
I've stored this all up; it's sealed in my vaults.
Is not this among my secrets, kept safe in my store-house?
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 is supported by the Septuagint, which matches five of the six words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in three words, using לוא (not), כנוס (gather), and חתום (seal), indicating a variation in the interpretation of the original text.
הֲלֹא־ ה֖וּא כָּמֻ֣ס עִמָּדִ֑י חָתֻ֖ם בְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃
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.
הלוא הוא כנוס עמדי חתום באוצרתי
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: לוא (not), כנוס (gather), חתום (seal)
[הלא] [הוא] [כמס] [עמד׳י] [חתם] [באוצרת׳י]
nothing on the leather here — 6 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 32:34
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.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
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)
Part | Part — Particle · particleHTi/Tn
הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
It resumes the subj. with emph.
Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
As an emph. predicate, of God
In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
base
H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
. It resumes the subj. with emph.
. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
. As an emph. predicate, of God
. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
1931 huw' hoo
of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a
primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or
it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also
(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;
sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally
(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),
it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,
this, those, which (is), who.
הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.
pron 3p s
1) he, she, it
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subj with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subj)
1e) (emphasising predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron
2) that (with article)
Pron — PronounHPp3ms
כָּמַס (kamac) is a primitive root meaning to store up or save. It is used in a figurative sense to refer to storing in memory. The primary reference noted is Deuteronomy 32:34, where it appears in the Qal form.
[כָּמַס] vb. store up, in Qal Dt 32:34
ref
H3647 [כָּמַס] store up
3647 kamac kaw-mas'
a primitive root; to store away, i.e. (figuratively) in the
memory:--lay up in store.
כָּמַס (ka.mas) — to store up.
1) to store up, save
1a) (Qal) stored up (participle)
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
חָתַם (cha.tam) means to seal or affix a seal. It covers various forms, including sealing up, locking up, and being stopped. The verb appears in different stems, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating various nuances of sealing and closure. The Aramaic equivalent is also noted.
חָתַם vb. seal, affix seal, seal up
Qal
seal, affix one’s seal, in attestation
seal up, fasten up by sealing
Niph. (it was) written and sealed
Pi. lit. by day they seal up for themselves, i.e acc. to most, they shut themselves up
Hiph. or hath his flesh (genital organ) shewn stoppage by reason of his flux.
base
H2856 חָתַם seal, affix seal, seal up
2856 chatham khaw-tham'
a primitive root; to close up; especially to seal:--make an
end, mark, seal (up), stop.
חָתַם (cha.tam) — to seal.
1) to seal, seal up, affix a seal
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to seal, affix one's seal
1a2) to seal up, fasten up by sealing
1b) (Niphal) to seal
1c) (Piel) to lock up
1d) (Hiphil) to be stopped
Aramaic equivalent: cha.tam (חֲתַם "to seal" H2857)
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
The Hebrew word אוֹצָר (o-tsar) means 'treasure' or 'storehouse.' It encompasses various types of treasures, including valuable items like gold and silver, as well as supplies of food or drink. The term can also refer to a treasury or a depository for weapons, indicating a broader range of meanings related to storage and value.
אוֹצָר n.m. treasure, store, treasury, storehouse
base
H214 אוֹצָר treasure, store, treasury, storehouse
214 'owtsar o-tsaw'
from 686; a depository:--armory, cellar, garner,
store(-house), treasure(-house) (-y).
see HEBREW for 0686
אוֹצָר (o.tsar) — treasure.
1) treasure, storehouse
1a) treasure (gold, silver, etc)
1b) store, supplies of food or drink
1c) treasure-house, treasury
1c1) treasure-house
1c2) storehouse, magazine
1c3) treasury
1c4) magazine of weapons (fig. of God's armoury)
1c5) storehouses (of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea)
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp1bs
