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 pay back Adonai, O foolish, unwise people? Isn’t He your Father who ransomed you? He made you and established you. 7“Remember the days of antiquity, understand the years across generations. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will say to you. When Elyon gave nations their heritage, when He separated the sons of man, He set boundaries for the people by the number of Bnei-Yisrael. 9But Adonai’s portion is His people— Jacob is the share of His inheritance. 10He found him in the wilderness land, in the void of a howling waste. He surrounded him, cared for him, guarded 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 hearing God’s speech, one experiencing Elyon’s knowledge, one seeing Shaddai’s vision, one fallen down, yet with open eyes:
• Psalms 7:17His mischief will turn on his own head. His violence will boomerang on his crown.
• Psalms 50:14Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings, then fulfill your vows to Elyon.
• Psalms 82:6I said: ‘You are ‘gods’, and you are all sons of Elyon,
• Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon, will abide in the shadow of Shaddai.
• Psalms 92:8Though the wicked spring up like grass, and all evildoers flourish, it is only to be ruined forever.
• Isaiah 14:14I will ascend above the high places of the clouds— I will make myself like Elyon.”
• Daniel 4:17The tree that you saw grow large and strong, whose top reached to heaven and that was visible to all the earth,
• Daniel 5:18Your majesty, God Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor.
• Acts 7:48However, Elyon does not dwell in man-made houses. As the prophet says,
• Genesis 10:25Two sons were born to Eber. The name of the first was Peleg—because in his days the land was divided—and his brother’s name was Joktan.
• Genesis 11:9This is why it is named Babel, because Adonai confused the languages of the entire world there, and from there Adonai scattered them over the face of the entire world.
• Psalms 115:16The heavens are the heavens of Adonai, but the earth He gave to the children of men.
• Acts 17:26From one He made every nation of men to live on the face of the earth, having set appointed times and the boundaries of their territory.
• Genesis 10:15Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn, Heth,
• Genesis 15:18On that day Adonai cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your seed, from the river 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