Deuteronomy 32:27

25 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.

26 I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,

if 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.’”

28 Israel is a nation devoid of counsel, with no understanding among them.

29 If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
if 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.’”
KJV
Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.
WEB
were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is exalted; the LORD has not done all this.’”
ASV
Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should judge amiss, Lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, And Jehovah hath not done all this.
DARBY
If I did not fear provocation from the enemy, Lest their adversaries should misunderstand it, Lest they should say, Our hand is high, and Jehovah has not done all this.
BLB
if I had not feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should misunderstand, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is high, and [it is] not YHWH who has done all this.’”
ÅB
dersom jeg ikke hadde fryktet for at fiendene skulle krenke meg, at deres motstandere skulle mistyde det og si: Det var vår hånd som var så sterk; det var ikke Herren som gjorde alt dette.
OTB
hvis jeg ikke hadde fryktet fiendens hån, for at deres motstandere skulle misforstå, for at de skulle si, “Vår hånd er triumferende, det var ikke Herren som gjorde alt dette.”’
B1930
dersom jeg ikke hadde fryktet for at fiendene skulde krenke mig, at deres motstandere skulde mistyde det og si: Det var vår hånd som var så sterk; det var ikke Herren som gjorde alt dette.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 14:15–16

    If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 1:14–15

    Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 12:22

    Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:9

    When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 140:8

    Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah

    Read in context
  • Exodus 32:12

    Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 37:28–29

    But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 37:10

    “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

    Read in context