Deuteronomy 32:18
Deuteronomy 32:18 in Multiple Translations
You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, And hast forgotten God that gave thee birth.
You have no thought for the Rock, your father, you have no memory of the God who gave you birth.
You dismissed the Rock who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave birth to you.
Thou hast forgotten the mightie God that begate thee, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
The Rock that begat thee thou forgettest, And neglectest God who formeth thee.
Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Thou hast forsaken the God that beget thee, and hast forgotten the Lord that created thee.
They forgot the true God, the one who protects them [MET], the one who created them and caused them to live.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 32:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 32:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
צ֥וּר
יְלָדְ/ךָ֖
תֶּ֑שִׁי
וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
אֵ֥ל
מְחֹלְלֶֽ/ךָ
צ֥וּר
tsûwr
H6697
rock
N-ms
יְלָדְ/ךָ֖
yâlad
H3205
to beget
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
תֶּ֑שִׁי
shâyâh
H7876
to forget
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
shâkach
H7911
to forget
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
אֵ֥ל
ʼêl
H410
god
N-ms
מְחֹלְלֶֽ/ךָ
chûwl
H2342
to twist
V-o | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 32:18
צ֥וּר
tsûwr
H6697
"rock"
N-ms
A rock or boulder, often used to describe God as a refuge, like in Psalm 18:2.
Definition: 1) rock, cliff 1a) rocky wall, cliff 1b) rock (with flat surface) 1c) block of stone, boulder 1d) rock (specific) 1e) rock (of God) 1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei 1g) Rock Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also H1049 (בֵּית צוּר). See also: Exodus 17:6; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 18:3.
יְלָדְ/ךָ֖
yâlad
H3205
"to beget"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
תֶּ֑שִׁי
shâyâh
H7876
"to forget"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to forget or be unmindful, like when we overlook something important. In Deuteronomy 32:18, it's used to describe how the Israelites forgot their Rock, or God.
Definition: (Qal) to forget, deprive
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: be unmindful. (Render Deuteronomy 32:18, 'A Rock bore thee, thou must recollect; and (yet) thou hast forgotten,' etc.) See also: Deuteronomy 32:18.
וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
shâkach
H7911
"to forget"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Definition: 1) to forget, ignore, wither 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to forget 1a2) to cease to care 1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten 1c) (Piel) to cause to forget 1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget 1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
Usage: Occurs in 95 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. See also: Genesis 27:45; Psalms 106:13; Psalms 9:13.
אֵ֥ל
ʼêl
H410
"god"
N-ms
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Definition: : god 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power Also means: ": power" (el אֵל H0410L)
Usage: Occurs in 235 OT verses. KJV: God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.' See also: Genesis 14:18; Job 33:14; Psalms 5:5.
מְחֹלְלֶֽ/ךָ
chûwl
H2342
"to twist"
V-o | Suff
This Hebrew word means to twist or whirl, and can describe dancing, pain, or fear. It is used to convey strong emotions or physical struggles, such as childbirth or great fear.
Definition: : tremble/fear 1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to dance 1a2) to twist, writhe 1a3) to whirl, whirl about 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to dance 1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth 1b3) to wait anxiously 1c) (Pulal) 1c1) to be made to writhe, be made to bear 1c2) to be brought forth 1d) (Hophal) to be born 1e) (Hithpolel) 1e1) whirling (participle) 1e2) writhing, suffering torture (participle) 1e3) to wait longingly 1f) (Hithpalpel) to be distressed
Usage: Occurs in 56 OT verses. KJV: bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded. See also: Genesis 8:10; Proverbs 8:24; Psalms 10:5.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 32:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 32:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:18
Context — The Song of Moses
16They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations.
17They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.
18You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
19When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters. 20He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation— children of unfaithfulness.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 17:10 | For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock of your refuge. Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines— |
| 2 | Jeremiah 2:32 | Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number. |
| 3 | Psalms 106:21 | They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 32:4 | He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 32:15 | But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. |
| 6 | Isaiah 22:10–11 | You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall. You built a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider Him who planned it long ago. |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 8:11 | Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day. |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 8:19 | If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. |
| 9 | Psalms 44:20–22 | If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart? Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 6:12 | be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. |
Deuteronomy 32:18 Summary
[Deuteronomy 32:18 reminds us that God is the source of our life and spiritual birth, and forgetting Him can lead to spiritual darkness and unfaithfulness. This verse encourages us to remember and honor God in all we do, just as the Israelites were supposed to remember their covenant with God (Deuteronomy 8:2). By acknowledging our dependence on God, we can live a life of faithfulness and obedience, as seen in Psalm 119:55. We must regularly reflect on our relationship with God and seek to honor Him, just as the Psalmist did in Psalm 77:11.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'ignore the Rock who brought you forth' in Deuteronomy 32:18?
This phrase refers to forgetting or neglecting the Lord, who is the foundation and source of our existence, much like the Israelites did when they turned to idolatry, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:16-17, and as warned against in Psalm 78:35.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual birth?
The phrase 'the God who gave you birth' in Deuteronomy 32:18 highlights the idea that our spiritual birth and new life come from God, as also seen in John 3:6 and 1 Peter 1:3, emphasizing our dependence on Him for spiritual life and growth.
What are the consequences of forgetting God, as described in this verse?
Forgetting God, as described in Deuteronomy 32:18, leads to rejection and anger from the Lord, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:19-20, and can result in a life of unfaithfulness and spiritual perversion, as warned against in Proverbs 3:1 and Romans 1:28.
How can we apply the lesson of Deuteronomy 32:18 to our own lives?
We can apply this verse by regularly reflecting on our dependence on God, acknowledging His role in our lives, and seeking to honor and remember Him in all we do, as encouraged in Deuteronomy 8:2 and Psalm 77:11.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways have I forgotten or neglected the Lord in my own life, and how can I return to a deeper dependence on Him?
- How does the concept of spiritual birth, as mentioned in this verse, shape my understanding of my relationship with God?
- What are some practical ways I can 'remember' God and honor Him in my daily life, and what difference might this make in my spiritual growth?
- What role does gratitude and remembrance of God's works play in maintaining a healthy and faithful spiritual life, and how can I cultivate these qualities in my own walk with God?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 32:18
Of the rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful,.... The same with the rock of salvation, Deuteronomy 32:15; repeated and expressed in different words, that their wretched ingratitude might be taken
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 32:18
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
Of the Rock, i.e. of God, one of whose titles this is, above, ; or of Christ, who is called the Rock, , whom the Israelites are said to have tempted, there, . That begat thee, i.e. who hath adopted you to be his people, and hath showed as much care and kindness to you as if he had begotten you.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
Deuteronomy 32:18 Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.Ver. 18. And hast forgotten God that formed thee.] Or, That brought thee forth. Here God is compared to a mother, as in the former clause to a father. So James 1:18, "Of his own will begat he us," - απεκυησε, He brought us forth, and did the office of a mother to us; which doth notably set forth his love and the work of his grace.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
(18) Of the Rock that begat thee.—“The Rock hath begotten thee forgetful, and thou hast forgotten God that travailed with thee” is another possible translation of this verse. The expression in the second clause is found also in Psalms 90:2 (a prayer of Moses), “Before the mountains were brought forth, while Thou wast yet in travail with earth and world, and from eternity unto eternity Thou art God!” The word which I have rendered “forgetful” is usually taken as a verb. But the verb is not found elsewhere (i.e., it is invented for the sake of this passage), and the word may not impossibly be an adjective.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
Verse 18. Of the Rock that begat thee] צור tsur, the first cause, the fountain of thy being. See Clarke on Deuteronomy 32:4.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 32:18
18. Rock] See on Deuteronomy 32:4; God, Heb. ’El. The predicates used of Him are generally interpreted as if attributing to Him the functions both of father and mother. But the first vb. is more usually in the O.T. of the mother, and is rightly rendered here by R.V. marg. bare; the second, gave thee birth, is rather was in travail with thee; cp. Numbers 11:12.
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 32:18
18. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee — Moses emphasizes the ingratitude of the nation in that they forsake Him who has shown paternal and maternal love to them.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 32:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
God's Chosen People Have Forgotten Him by Bob Jones III | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of remembering and acknowledging God in our lives. He warns against becoming complacent and forgetting the source of our bless |
|
America's Godly Heritage by John Franklin | In this sermon, the speaker recounts the story of the early pilgrims and Puritans who settled in America, seeing themselves as a type of the children of Israel. The sermon referenc |
|
The Stone of Salvation or Destruction by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar explores the multifaceted significance of the 'stone' in Matthew 21:44, emphasizing its role as a symbol of Christ. He discusses how this stone represents rejection, |
|
|
The Resting-Place Forgotten. by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the tragic forgetfulness of humanity regarding their true resting-place, which is God Himself. He draws parallels between Israel's apostasy and the modern |
|
|
The Resting-Place Forgotten by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the tragic forgetfulness of humanity regarding their true resting-place, which is found in God and Christ Jesus. He draws parallels between Israel's apost |
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 17:1 - Part 3 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He emphasizes the need for young adults to abstain from the immorali |
|
|
The Rock of My Salvation by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the significance of a song given by God to Moses in the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy. The song was meant to be memorized and passed down throug |