Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Israel collectively in his final blessing, the last words he speaks before his death (Deut 33:1-29).
The words — מְעֹנָה (me'onah) is a rare noun meaning "hiding place" or "retreat," not a generic dwelling but a place of concealment from danger. קֶ֔דֶם (qedem) renders "eternal" as "of ancient time," anchoring God's permanence in the past rather than the future.
The thread — The "dwelling place through all generations" of Psalms 90:1 and the "refuge and strength, an ever-present help" of Psalms 46:1 both echo me'onah, while Psalms 18:2 adds the military imagery of rock and shield.
Why it lands — The verse pairs stillness (hiding place) with violence (drives out, "Destroy him!"), asking the reader to accept that God's shelter is not passive but enforced.
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
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Cross-references
- Psalms 90:1 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.
- Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
- Psalms 46:1 For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,
- Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Psalms 91:9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling—my refuge, the Most High—
- Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- 1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.