Deuteronomy 32:21

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

أثَارُوا غَيْرَتِي بِمَا هُوَ لَيْسَ إلِهًا، وَأغَاظُونِي بِأصْنَامٍ لَا قِيمَةَ لَهَا. لِذَا سأجْعَلُهُمْ يَغَارُونَ إذْ أسْتَخْدِمُ شَعْبًا بِلَا هَوِيَّةٍ. وَسَأُغِيظُهُمْ فَاسْتَخْدِمُ أُمَّةً جَاهِلَةً.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, God is speaking and expressing His anger and jealousy because the Israelites have turned to false gods and idols. He promises to respond by giving them over to jealousy and anger through nations that are not His chosen people.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a favorite toy, and you love it so much. But then, your friend starts playing with a fake toy instead of yours. You might feel sad and angry, right? This verse is like that, but God is upset because His people are choosing fake things instead of Him, and He says He'll make them feel jealous about other people who don't know Him.

Historical Background

This verse is from the Book of Deuteronomy, written by Moses around 1200 BC. The context is Moses addressing the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, warning them about the dangers of turning away from God and following false gods.

Living It Out Today

Today, this verse can remind us of the importance of staying true to our values and not being swayed by worldly temptations or false idols. For example, someone might feel pressured to follow the crowd or adopt harmful habits, but this verse encourages us to remain faithful to our beliefs and commitments.

Topics

• faithfulness
• jealousy
• idolatry
• God's anger
• warning
• chosen people

Related Verses

• Exodus 20:3
• Isaiah 42:8
• 1 Corinthians 10:22
• Romans 10:19
• Revelation 2:14

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is speaking in Deuteronomy 32:21?

In this verse, God is speaking through Moses. God is expressing His feelings of jealousy and anger towards the Israelites.

What does God mean by 'those which are not a people'?

This phrase refers to nations that were not God's chosen people, specifically nations like the Philistines or Moabites. God is saying He will use these nations to provoke the Israelites.

How does this verse relate to Christian doctrine?

Christians often interpret this verse as a foreshadowing of God's plan to include non-Jewish people into His covenant through Jesus Christ, highlighting the importance of remaining faithful.

What does 'vanities' mean in this context?

Vanities here refer to false gods or empty things that people worship instead of the true God. It suggests that these objects or concepts provide no real value or meaning.