Deuteronomy 32:16 - They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Deuteronomy 32:16" mean?
Deuteronomy 32:16 is a verse that describes the Israelites' unfaithfulness to God after He had delivered them and blessed them. Let's break down the meaning:
"They moved him to jealousy with strange gods":
"They": Refers to the Israelites.
"Moved him to jealousy": God is portrayed as feeling jealous. This isn't human jealousy in a petty or insecure sense. Instead, it's righteous jealousy born from His covenant relationship with Israel. He has a right to their exclusive devotion, and their worship of other gods is seen as a betrayal. The imagery of jealousy emphasizes the deep personal pain and offense God experiences when His people are unfaithful. God made a covenant with them, promising blessings in exchange for exclusive devotion, so their idolatry is a direct breach of that agreement.
"Strange gods": Refers to foreign deities that the Israelites began to worship, gods of the surrounding nations. These gods are described as "strange" because they were alien to the true God who had revealed Himself to Israel. The term emphasizes their emptiness and lack of genuine power compared to the One True God.
"They provoked him to anger with abominations":
"Provoked him to anger": Their actions caused God to become angry. This is righteous anger at their blatant disobedience and rejection of Him. It's not capricious rage, but a just response to their violation of the covenant and their embrace of evil.
"Abominations": Refers to detestable practices associated with the worship of these foreign gods. These likely included idol worship, sacrificing to false deities, and engaging in morally reprehensible rituals. In the eyes of God, these practices were deeply offensive and repulsive.
In essence, this verse is a powerful indictment of Israel's spiritual adultery. They turned away from the one true God who had redeemed them and lavished blessings upon them. They chose to worship false gods and engage in practices that were abhorrent to Him. Their actions stirred God's righteous jealousy and provoked His anger.
The verse serves as a warning about the consequences of unfaithfulness and idolatry. It underscores the importance of remaining loyal to God and avoiding anything that would lead to spiritual compromise.
Deuteronomy 32:16 - They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. They provoked him to anger with abominations.
What does "Deuteronomy 32:16" mean?
Deuteronomy 32:16 is a verse that describes the Israelites' unfaithfulness to God after He had delivered them and blessed them. Let's break down the meaning:
"They moved him to jealousy with strange gods":
"They": Refers to the Israelites.
"Moved him to jealousy": God is portrayed as feeling jealous. This isn't human jealousy in a petty or insecure sense. Instead, it's righteous jealousy born from His covenant relationship with Israel. He has a right to their exclusive devotion, and their worship of other gods is seen as a betrayal. The imagery of jealousy emphasizes the deep personal pain and offense God experiences when His people are unfaithful. God made a covenant with them, promising blessings in exchange for exclusive devotion, so their idolatry is a direct breach of that agreement.
"Strange gods": Refers to foreign deities that the Israelites began to worship, gods of the surrounding nations. These gods are described as "strange" because they were alien to the true God who had revealed Himself to Israel. The term emphasizes their emptiness and lack of genuine power compared to the One True God.
"They provoked him to anger with abominations":
"Provoked him to anger": Their actions caused God to become angry. This is righteous anger at their blatant disobedience and rejection of Him. It's not capricious rage, but a just response to their violation of the covenant and their embrace of evil.
"Abominations": Refers to detestable practices associated with the worship of these foreign gods. These likely included idol worship, sacrificing to false deities, and engaging in morally reprehensible rituals. In the eyes of God, these practices were deeply offensive and repulsive.
In essence, this verse is a powerful indictment of Israel's spiritual adultery. They turned away from the one true God who had redeemed them and lavished blessings upon them. They chose to worship false gods and engage in practices that were abhorrent to Him. Their actions stirred God's righteous jealousy and provoked His anger.
The verse serves as a warning about the consequences of unfaithfulness and idolatry. It underscores the importance of remaining loyal to God and avoiding anything that would lead to spiritual compromise.