Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 32:5
His people have acted corruptly toward Him; the blemish on them is not that of His children, but of a perverse and crooked generation.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab, concluding his covenant speech just before his death and their entry into the promised land.
The words — The text uses שִׁחֵת (shi.Chet, "acted corruptly") and מוּמָם (mu.Ma/m, "blemish") to declare that Israel's moral failure contradicts their identity as God's offspring. It further employs עִקֵּשׁ ('i.Kesh, "perverse") and פְּתַלְתּוֹל (fe.tal.Tol, "crooked") to characterize the generation's twisted nature.
The thread — This pattern of a corrupted people appears in Isaiah 1:4 and is recalled in Philippians 2:15, which contrasts the current generation's perversity with the call to remain blameless. The warning also echoes Deuteronomy 31:29, where Moses predicts Israel's posthumous corruption and abandonment of his commands.
Why it lands — The verse states that moral corruption severs the visible reflection of God's character from His people, demanding immediate accountability rather than inherited status. It requires readers to examine whether their conduct aligns with the righteous and upright standard established in the surrounding context.
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
They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
Cross-references
- Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- Isaiah 1:4 Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
- Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”
- Matthew 17:17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”
- Luke 9:41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
- Psalms 78:8 Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
- Hosea 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
- Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
- Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.
- Exodus 32:7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.