Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 9:14
Leave Me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation mightier and greater than they are.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Moses on Mount Sinai while the Israelites worship the golden calf. He commands Moses to stand aside so He can execute judgment before establishing a new nation through him.
The words — The imperative הֶ֤רֶף (he.ref), translated as "refrain" or "leave Me alone," initiates a divine pause for judgment. This is followed by וְ/אֶמְחֶ֣ה (ve./'em.Cheh), meaning "and I may wipe out," which targets their שְׁמָ֔/ם (she.ma/m), "name," from under הַ/שָּמָ֑יִם (ha./sha.ma.yim), "the heavens."
The thread — This declaration mirrors Exodus 32:10, where God uses identical language to threaten destruction before Moses intercedes. It also parallels Psalm 9:5, which states God destroys the wicked and erases their name, and anticipates the covenant curses detailed in Deuteronomy 29:20.
Why it lands — The text states that divine judgment will erase a people's name and existence, yet immediately follows with a promise to create a mightier nation through Moses. It requires the reader to acknowledge that national continuity depends entirely on God's sovereign choice rather than human merit.
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
Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven
- Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
- Psalms 9:5 You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever.
- Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?
- Psalms 109:13 May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.
- Luke 11:7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’
- Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
- Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”