Deuteronomy 32:39

See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — YHWH addresses Israel in Deuteronomy 32, positioned between a challenge to false gods in verse 38 and a sworn declaration in verse 40.

The words — רְא֣וּ (re.'U) = see and אֱלֹהִ֖ים ('E.lo.Him) = god anchor the opening declaration that Yahweh alone possesses divine status.

The thread — The same claims over life, death, wounding, and healing appear in 1 Samuel 2:6, Hosea 6:1, and Job 5:18.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that no power can counteract or escape divine action, leaving the reader with a direct choice of allegiance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

רְא֣וּ׀re.'Usee עַתָּ֗ה'a.Tahnow כִּ֣יkithat אֲנִ֤י'a.NiI אֲנִי֙'a.NiI ה֔וּאHu'[am] he וְאֵ֥יןve./'Einand/ there not אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.Him[is] a god עִמָּדִ֑י'i.ma.D/iwith/ me אֲנִ֧י'a.NiI אָמִ֣ית'a.MitI put to death וַאֲחַיֶּ֗הva./'a.chai.Yehand/ I may restore to life מָחַ֙צְתִּי֙ma.Chatz.tiI wound וַאֲנִ֣יva./'a.Niand/ I אֶרְפָּ֔א'er.Pa'I heal וְאֵ֥יןve./'Einand/ there not מִיָּדִ֖יmi./ya.D/ifrom/ hand/ my מַצִּֽיל׃ma.Tzil[is] a deliverer

King James Version

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 2:6 The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.
Job 5:18 For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
Isaiah 45:22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 43:13 Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Psalms 68:20 Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.
Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,