Keraia
Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32:8

The Song of Moses · Deuteronomy 32:1–47
Read Deuteronomy 32

Translations

Modern
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
Traditional
When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Literal
When the Most High gave their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples by the number of the sons of God.
Latin
Quando dividebat Altissimus gentes, quando separabat filios Adam, constituit terminos populorum juxta numerum filiorum Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

Notes

Deuteronomy 32:8

  • God is sovereign over all nations and cares about them. He has given them their lands for his own reasons (see Psalm 74:17; Acts 17:26).

  • the Most High (Hebrew ‘Elyon): Abraham learned this name for God when he met Melchizedek (Genesis 14:19). This ancient name shows that God rules over all. It describes his universal sovereignty, which means that he has authority over every nation and every part of creation.

  • the boundaries: One sign of God's sovereignty was how he gave lands to the nations (see Genesis 10).

Deuteronomy 31:30–32:47

In ancient times, vows from both parties secured a treaty between individuals or nations. Israel's promise was in a song of witness that Moses composed under divine inspiration (31:19–22).

Israel probably sang the song during a regular covenant-renewal ceremony (31:21). They invoked upon themselves the covenant's judgments and reminded themselves of its promises.

Parallels

Revelation 15:1–4

People

Adam: The first man, created by God Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Deuteronomy, Book of Inheritance Song of Moses

Topics

Adam: The First Man: Progenitor of the Human Race Death: Scenes of Death of Moses Dispersion: After Building the Tower of Babel Earth: Early Divisions of God: Sovereign Instruction in Religion Predestination: General Scriptures Concerning Psalms: Didactic Songs Composed by Moses, Celebrating the Providence, Righteousness