Deuteronomy 32:8

Deuteronomy 32:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.

Context of Deuteronomy 32:8

6Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Isn’t he your Father and Creator? Didn’t he make you and sustain you? 7Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you. When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance and divided the human race, he set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the people of Israel. 9But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob, his own inheritance. 10He found him in a desolate land, in a barren, howling wilderness; he surrounded him, cared for him, and protected him as the pupil of his eye.

Deuteronomy 32:8 word by word

בְּהַנְחֵ֤ל עֶלְיוֹן֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם בְּהַפְרִיד֖וֹ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם יַצֵּב֙ גְּבֻלֹ֣ת עַמִּ֔ים לְמִסְפַּ֖ר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When the most Highעֶלְיוֹן‛elyôn · Most HighH5945
• dividedנָחַלnâchal · to inheritH5157
• to the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• when he separatedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Adamאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• he setנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• the boundsגְּבוּלָהgebûlâh gebûlâh · borderH1367
• of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• according to the numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 32:8

• Numbers 24:16the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
• Psalms 7:17I will thank the Lord for his righteousness; I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.
• Psalms 50:14Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.
• Psalms 82:6I said, “You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.
• Psalms 91:1The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.
• Psalms 92:8But you, Lord, are exalted forever.
• Isaiah 14:14I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
• Daniel 4:17This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them.
• Daniel 5:18Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.
• Acts 7:48but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:
• Genesis 10:25Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, for during his days the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
• Genesis 11:9Therefore it is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them throughout the earth.
• Psalms 115:16The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given to the human race.
• Acts 17:26From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
• Genesis 10:15Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth,
• Genesis 15:18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 32:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8When the Most High divided to the nations, etc. - Deuteronomy 32:8; and Deuteronomy 32:9, says Dr. Kennicott, give us express authority for believing that the earth was very early divided in consequence of a Divine command, and probably by lot, (see Acts 17:26;); and as Africa is called the land of Ham, ( Psalm 78:51; Psalm 105:23, Psalm 105:27; Psalm 106:22;), probably that country fell to him and to his descendants, at the same time that Europe fell to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-42Verses 1-42 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-14Verses 7-14 Moses gives particular instances of God's kindness and concern for them. The eagle's care for her young is a beautiful emblem of Christ's love, who came between Divine justice and our guilty souls, and bare our sins in his own body on the tree. And by the preached gospel, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, He stirs up and prevails upon sinners to leave Satan's bondage. In ver. #(13-14), are emblems of the conquest believers have over their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8God 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…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-98-9. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance--In the division of the earth, which Noah is believed to have made by divine direction (Ge 10:5; De 2:5-9; Ac 17:26, 27), Palestine was reserved by the wisdom and goodness of Heaven for the possession of His peculiar people and the display of the most stupendous wonders. The theater was small, but admirably suited for the convenient observation of the human race--at the junction of the two…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 32:8

• Adam
• Death
• Dispersion
• Earth
• Instruction
• Predestination
• Psalms

In the dictionaries

• Adam
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Most High
• Cease
• Crooked
• Drunk
• Esteem

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings