Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 32:43
Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses speaks this verse as part of the Song of Moses, addressing the heavens, God’s angels, and the nations at the conclusion of Israel’s wilderness journey before entering the Promised Land. The song follows a declaration of divine judgment and precedes Moses and Joshua reciting the full text to the people.
The words — The text uses הַרְנִ֤ינוּ (har.Ni.nu), literally “shout for joy,” to command cosmic and earthly creation to celebrate. It also employs יִקּ֑וֹם (yi.Kom) and וְ/נָקָם (ve./na.Kam), meaning “he will avenge” and “vengeance,” to describe God’s retribution against enemies.
The thread — The theme of divine vengeance and repayment appears in Romans 12:19 and Revelation 19:2, where God’s judgment is explicitly attributed to Him rather than human agents. The promise to cleanse the land and people echoes the restoration language of Psalms 85:1.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that God alone executes justice for the blood of His people and purifies His land. It requires readers to cease self-justification and submit to divine timing and action.
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
King James Version
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Revelation 19:2 For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”
- Psalms 85:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
- Revelation 6:10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
- Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Job 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
- Romans 15:9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”
- 2 Kings 9:7 And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel.
- Psalms 65:3 When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.
- Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.