Deuteronomy 32:27
25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
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.
28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
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
Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
Read in contextZechariah 1:14–15
So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
Read in context1 Samuel 12:22
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
Read in contextJoshua 7:9
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
Read in contextPsalms 140:8
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
Read in contextExodus 32:12
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:28–29
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:10
Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Read in context