Deuteronomy 32:28
in Deuteronomy 32Israel is a nation devoid of counsel, with no understanding among them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
KJV
For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 32
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Israel is a nation devoid of counsel
on Deuteronomy 32:28-30
One man chasing a thousand reverses the promise of Leviticus 26:8 and Joshua 23:10, where Israel does the chasing. The words “their Rock had sold them” use the verb Judges 2:14 and 3:8 use for what God does with Israel when it turns, so the defeat is put as a transaction. The song was given at 31:19 as a witness for the day they understand “their fate”.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"It is a nation without counsel and without prudence: would that they were wise and understood and foresaw their last things." He touches upon the three parts of intelligence, namely memory of things past, understanding of things present, and circumspection regarding things future. Whoever does …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For they are a nation void of counsel,....
A promise of the destruction of their enemies and oppressors at last, and the glorious deliverance of a remnant of Israel,
In consideration of this, Mercy prevails for the sparing of a remnant and the saving of that unworthy people from utter ruin: I feared the wrath of the enemy. It is an expression after the manner of men; it is certain that God fears no man's wrath, but he acted in this matter as if he had feared it.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ג֛וֹי | goy | [are] a nation | H1471 → | 561 times |
| אֹבַ֥ד | ʾovad | perishing | H6 → | 184 times |
| עֵצ֖וֹת | etzot | of counsel<s> | H6098 → | |
| הֵ֑מָּה | hemah | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| וְאֵ֥ין | veein | and there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| בָּהֶ֖ם | bahem | in <the> them | ||
| תְּבוּנָֽה׃ | tevunah | [is] understanding | H8394 → |
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
ג֛וֹי[are] a nation
goyH1471 →561 times
אֹבַ֥דperishing
ʾovadH6 →184 times
עֵצ֖וֹתof counsel<s>
etzotH6098 →
הֵ֑מָּהthey
hemahH1992 →553 times
וְאֵ֥יןand there not
veeinH369 →789 times
בָּהֶ֖םin <the> them
bahem
תְּבוּנָֽה׃[is] understanding
tevunahH8394 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
it leads to
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Psalms 111:10
Through
Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget…
it leads to
- Isaiah 5:13
Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.
- Proverbs 19:2
Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
- Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
- 2 Corinthians 4:3–6
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- Isaiah 5:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.