God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 32:8
8When the Most High gave nations their land, when he divided the descendants of Adam, he set up borders for the tribes corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel.
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 silly people? Isn’t he your Father and Owner, who made you and formed you? 7Remember a time long ago. Think about all the past generations. Ask your fathers to remind you, and your leaders to tell you. When the Most High gave nations their land, when he divided the descendants of Adam, he set up borders for the tribes corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel. 9But the Lord’s people were his property. Jacob was his own possession. 10He found his people in a desert land, in a barren place where animals howl. He guarded them, took care of them, and protected them because they were helpless.
Read all of Deuteronomy 32Deuteronomy 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 24:16This is the message of the one who hears God’s words, receives knowledge from the Most High, has a vision from the Almighty, and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open:
- Psalms 7:17I will give thanks to the Lord for his righteousness. I will make music to praise the name of the Lord Most High.
- Psalms 50:14Bring ⌞your⌟ thanks to God as a sacrifice, and keep your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 82:6I said, “You are gods. You are all sons of the Most High.
- Psalms 91:1Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Psalms 92:8But you, O Lord, are highly honored forever.
- Isaiah 14:14I’ll go above the top of the clouds. I’ll be like the Most High.”
- Daniel 4:17The guardians have announced this decision. The holy ones have announced this so that every living creature will know that the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes. He can place the lowest of people in charge of them.’ ”
- Daniel 5:18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory.
- Acts 7:48“However, the Most High doesn’t live in a house built by humans, as the prophet says:
- Genesis 10:25Two sons were born to Eber. The name of the one was Peleg [Division], because in his day the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.
- Genesis 11:9This is why it was named Babel, because there the Lord turned the language of the whole earth into babble. From that place the Lord scattered them all over the face of the earth.
- Psalms 115:16The highest heaven belongs to the Lord, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.
- Acts 17:26From one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live.
- Genesis 10:15Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, then Heth,
- Genesis 15:18At that time the Lord made a promise to Abram. He said, “I will give this land to your descendants. This is the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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