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Deuteronomy 32:28

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 32:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
Deuteronomy 32:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 32

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25Without shall the sword bereave, And in the chambers terror; [It shall destroy] both young man and virgin, The suckling with the man of gray hairs.
26I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;
27Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should judge amiss, Lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, And Jehovah hath not done all this.
28For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
29Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!
30How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?
31For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.
← Deuteronomy 32:27Deuteronomy 32:29 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Song of Moses If Deuteronomy 32:1-3 be regarded as the introduction, and Deuteronomy 32:43 as the conclusion, the main contents of the song may be grouped under three heads, namely, (1) Deuteronomy 32:4-18, the faithfulness of God, the faithlessness of Israel; (2) Deuteronomy 32:19-33, the chastisement and the need of its infliction by God; (3) Deuteronomy 32:34-42, God’s compassion upon the low and humbled state of His people. The Song differs signally in diction and idiom from the preceding chapters; just as a lyrical passage is conceived in modes of thought wholly unlike those which belong to narrative or exhortation, and is uttered in different phraseology. There are, however, in the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Void of counsel - Their enemies are foolish people, and therefore make so false and foolish a judgment upon things. Deuteronomy 32:29”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Deu 32:6; Job 28:28; Psa 81:12; Pro 1:7; Isa 27:11, Isa 29:14; Jer 4:22, Jer 8:9; Hos 4:6; Mat 13:14, Mat 13:15; Rom 11:25; Co1 3:19 Deuteronomy 32:29”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification