Deuteronomy 32:37 — Word Study
WLCוְאָמַ֖ר אֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ צ֖וּר חָסָ֥יוּ בֽוֹ׃
BSAHe will sayʼâmar Whereʼay [in what location, how] are their godsʼĕlôhîym [divine beings, idols] the rocktsûwr [foundation, stronghold] they took refugechâçâh■ [sought protection, trusted]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאָמַ֖ר | and he will say | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֵ֣י | where? | Particle |
| אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ | [are] gods their | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| צ֖וּר | [the] rock | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| חָסָ֥יוּ | [which] they sought refuge | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| בֽוֹ׃ | in it | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, |
| KJV | And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, |
| ASV | And he will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge; |
| YLT | And He hath said, Where [are] their gods — The rock in which they trusted; |
| WEB | He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, |
| BBE | And he will say, Where are their gods, the rock in which they put their faith? |
Where they part company is אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause followed by descriptive phrases that clarify the subject and action.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 32:37
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Challenge to Idolatrygenerated
Deuteronomy 32:37 is part of a larger passage where God is asserting His power and questioning the effectiveness of the idols worshiped by Israel. This section emphasizes God's role as the true protector and the futility of relying on false gods, contrasting their inability to save with His own sovereignty and might. The surrounding verses highlight God's compassion for His people and His ultimate authority over life and death.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 10:14 | Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.” |
| 2 | 2 Kings 3:13 | Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 2:28 | But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ, 'e.lo.Hei.movgenerated
The word אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun that generally means 'gods' or 'God.' It can refer to the supreme deity or to lesser divine beings, reflecting their power and majesty. In this verse, it questions the reliability of these gods, emphasizing their impotence compared to the one true God.
The parsing indicates that this word is in the construct state, showing a relationship to the suffix, which refers back to the people. This usage implies a questioning of the gods that the people have placed their trust in, highlighting the contrast between their false security and God's true strength.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb אָמַ֖ר, he will say, governs the entire verse, indicating a declaration made by God. The structure consists of a main clause followed by a series of noun phrases and a prepositional phrase, which clarify the subject and the object of the inquiry.
The word order places emphasis on the interrogative אֵ֣י, where?, immediately following the verb, which draws attention to the questioning nature of God's statement regarding the idols.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ is rendered as θεοὶ (theoi), meaning 'gods.' This choice reflects a direct translation that maintains the plural form, emphasizing the challenge posed to the worship of multiple deities.
The use of ποῦ (pou) for אֵ֣י indicates a straightforward translation of the question 'where?', aligning closely with the Hebrew intent of seeking the location of these idols.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 32:37 presents God questioning the people about their idols, asking where their gods are, specifically the rock in which they sought refuge. This verse highlights God's challenge to the reliability of these false gods, emphasizing that they cannot provide true protection.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
God is questioning the validity and power of the idols that the people have trusted in, highlighting their inability to provide help or refuge.
The term 'rock' signifies strength and reliability, contrasting the false security of idols with God's true protective nature.
This verse is part of a broader declaration where God asserts His sovereignty and compassion for His people, emphasizing the futility of idol worship.
This challenge serves as a reminder of the importance of placing trust in God alone, who is the true source of protection and strength.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I rely on things other than God for security or protection?
- How can I better recognize the false idols in my life?
- What does it mean for God to be my rock and refuge?
- How can I encourage others to trust in God rather than in worldly things?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 32:37 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he shall say, where [are] their gods?.... Not the Lord shall say to Israel, upbraiding them with their idols and their idolatries; but, as the Targum of Jonathan, "the enemy shall say, where is
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 32 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, He shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted?
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 32 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe shall say: the Lord, before he deliver his people, will first convince them of their former folly in forsaking him and following idols; he will find an occasion from that miserable and hopeless condition into which their idols have brought them, to upbraid them with it.
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 32 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 32:37 And he shall say, Where [are] their gods, [their] rock in whom they trusted,Ver. 37. And he shall say,] i.e., He shall upbraid them with the inability of their idols to do for them.
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 32 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 37. He shall say] He shall begin to expostulate with them, to awaken them to a due sense of their ingratitude and rebellion. This may refer to the preaching of the Gospel to them in the latter days.
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 32 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges37. took refuge] As in R.V. marg., so often in the Pss., e.g. Psalms 2:12, Psalms 46:2.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 32 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible37. Where are their gods — Here Jehovah is represented as showing his people the folly of idol-worship, the helplessness of the false gods.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 32 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in whom they sought security,
Tyndale line
And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
And he will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge;
And he shall say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they trusted;
And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
When men shall say, Where are their gods, their mighty God in whome they trusted,
Strictly literal
And he shall say, Where are their gods, Their rock in whom they trusted,
And He hath said, Where [are] their gods — The rock in which they trusted;
And He has said, Where [are] their gods—The rock in which they trusted?
Then will he say, Where are their gods, the rock in whom they trusted,
Then he will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in whom they took refuge?—
From the Latin
And he shall say: Where are their gods, in whom they trusted?
Simplified
He'll ask, “What happened to your gods, the rock where you went for protection?
And he will say, Where are their gods, the rock in which they put their faith?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text (MT) of Deuteronomy 32:37 reads, "He will say: 'Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,'" which is closely mirrored in the Septuagint, although the Greek translation has its own word order. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using the words "ואמרו איה אלהימו" ("and they will say: where are their gods"), which changes the subject from singular to plural. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q44) also show some differences, with two words present on the leather and five others supplied by an editor. Overall, while the main idea is preserved across these texts, the variations in wording and subject reflect different traditions in the transmission of this verse.
וְאָמַ֖ר אֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֑ימוֹ צ֖וּר חָסָ֥יוּ בֽוֹ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואמרו איה אלהימו צור חסיו בו
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: אמרו (say), איה (where)
[ואמר] יהוה [איה] [אלהי׳מו] אשר [חסיו] [ב׳ו]
2 words on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 32:37
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
אַי (ay) is an interrogative adverb meaning 'where?' It can also be prefixed to other adverbs or pronouns to add an interrogative force. The word covers a range of meanings related to location and inquiry, including 'how,' 'what,' and 'whence.'
[אַי]
interrog. adv. where?
prefixed to other adverbs or prons., אַי imparts an interrog. force
base
H335 אַי . interrog. adv. where?
. prefixed to other adverbs or prons., אַי imparts an interrog. force
335 'ay ah'ee
perhaps from 370; where? hence how?:--how, what, whence,
where, whether, which (way).
see HEBREW for 0370
אַי (ay) — where?.
1) whereto ?, whence?
2) which?, how? (in prefix with other adverb)
Part — ParticleHTi
אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
pl. in number.
rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
angels
gods
pl. intensive
god or goddess
godlike one
works of God, or things belongng to him
God
הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
אֱלֹהִים = God
base
H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
. angels
. gods
. pl. intensive . god or goddess
. godlike one
. works of God, or things belongng to him
. God
. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
. אֱלֹהִים = God
430 'elohiym el-o-heem'
plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
mighty.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.
This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.
Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3mp
צוּר (tsur) means rock or cliff, often referring to a sharp rock or boulder. It can also signify a refuge or an edge, and is used in various contexts, including references to God as a rock. The word is built from the root associated with strong, compressed formations, and it appears in different forms, such as in the phrase 'rock of God.'
צוּר n.m. rock, cliff
base
H6697 צוּר rock, cliff
6697 tsuwr tsoor
or tsur {tsoor}; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock,
as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a
refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God
(one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also
1049.
see HEBREW for 06696
see HEBREW for 01049
צוּר (tsur) — Rocks (of Goats).
Combined with ya.el (יָעֵל "Wildgoats'" H3277)
This name means rock, cliff
צוּר (tsur) — rock.
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)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
rok ((1) cela`; (2) tsur (3) challamish, "flint"; compare Arabic khalanbus, "flint"; (4) kephim (Job 30:6; Jer 4:29); compare Kephas, "Cephas" = Petros, "Peter" (Joh 1:42 the King James Version and the Revised Version margin); (5) petra):
1. Names:
Tsur and cela` are the words most often found, and there is no well-defined distinction between them. They are frequently coupled together in the parallelism which is characteristic of the Hebrew writers: e.g.
"Be thou to me a strong rock (tsur),
A house of defense to save me.
For thou art my rock (tsela) and my fortress"
(Ps 31:2,3).
"He clave rocks (tsur) in the wilderness,
And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Rock
(Heb. tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:2; 2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 17:10; Ps. 28:1; 31:2,3; 89:26; 95:1); also in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4). In Dan. 2:45 the Chaldaic form of the Hebrew word is translated “mountain.” It ought to be translated “rock,” as in Hab. 1:12 in the Revised Version. The “rock” from which the stone is cut there signifies the…
חָסָה (chacah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek refuge or flee for protection, often used in a figurative sense to express trust or hope in God. It is primarily found in poetic contexts, emphasizing the act of confiding in divine protection.
חָסָה vb. (mostly poet. and fig.) seek refuge
base
H2620 חָסָה (mostly poet. and fig.) seek refuge
2620 chacah khaw-saw'
a primitive root; to flee for protection (compare 982);
figuratively, to confide in:--have hope, make refuge, (put)
trust.
see HEBREW for 0982
חָסָה (cha.sah) — to seek refuge.
1) (Qal) to seek refuge, flee for protection
1a) to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God) (fig.)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
ref'-uj: A place of resort and safety. The principal words in the Old Testament are machceh (Ps 14:6; 46:1; 62:7,8; Isa 4:6, etc.), and manoc (2Sa 22:3; Ps 59:16, etc.), both applied chiefly to God as a "refuge" for His people. For the King James Version "refuge" in De 33:27, the Revised Version (British and American) has "dwelling-place," and in Ps 9:9, "high tower." Conversely, the Revised Version (British and American) has "refuge" for the King James Version "shelter" in Ps 61:3, and "hope" in
→ CITIES OF
From the avenger of blood Ex 21:13,14; Nu 35:11-32; De 4:41-43; 19:2-13; Jos 20:1-6
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms