King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Their wine [is] the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
Complete Jewish Bible:
their wine is snake poison, the cruel venom of vipers.
Berean Standard Bible:
Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.
American Standard Version:
Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Their wine{H3196} is the poison{H2534} of dragons{H8577}, and the cruel{H393} venom{H7219} of asps{H6620}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 58:4
- Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;
Romans 3:13
- Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips:
Psalms 140:3
- They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah.
Jeremiah 8:14
- Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Job 20:14
- [Yet] his meat in his bowels is turned, [it is] the gall of asps within him.
Job 20:16
- He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 32:33
Deuteronomy 32:33 is part of the Song of Moses, a poem that Moses recites to the Israelites just before his death. The song serves as a prophetic warning and a reflection on Israel's history, emphasizing the themes of God's faithfulness and the consequences of the people's unfaithfulness. In this verse, Moses uses vivid imagery to describe the dire consequences of idolatry and disobedience. The metaphorical language speaks of wine that is as poisonous as the venom of dragons and asps (a type of venomous snake). This imagery suggests that the false gods and idols that the Israelites might be tempted to worship are not only worthless but also harmful, leading to destruction and death.
Historically, this verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern context where wine was a common beverage, and its intoxicating effects were well known. By comparing idolatry to poisoned wine, Moses conveys that the allure of foreign gods is deceptive and ultimately leads to ruin. The reference to dragons and asps would resonate with the audience, familiar with the dangers of such creatures. The verse serves as a stark warning against the seductive but deadly nature of idolatry, which can seem enticing on the surface but is, in fact, lethal to the spiritual health of the nation.
In the broader context of Deuteronomy, this verse underscores the importance of exclusive loyalty to the God of Israel, who had delivered the people from Egypt and entered into a covenant with them. It calls the Israelites to remember their history and to remain faithful to God's commandments, lest they suffer the bitter consequences of their ancestors' mistakes.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3196
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַיִן
Transliteration: yayin
Pronunciation: yah'-yin
Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). - Strong's Number: H2534
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵמָה
Transliteration: chêmâh
Pronunciation: khay-maw'
Description: or (Daniel 11:44) חֵמָא; from יָחַם; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See חֶמְאָה. - Strong's Number: H8577
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּנִּין
Transliteration: tannîyn
Pronunciation: tan-neen'
Description: or תַּנִּים; (Ezekiel 29:3), intensive from the same as תַּן; a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or jackal; dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale. - Strong's Number: H393
There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַכְזָר
Transliteration: ʼakzâr
Pronunciation: ak-zawr'
Description: from an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly); violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense) brave; cruel, fierce. - Strong's Number: H7219
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: or רוֹשׁ; (Deuteronomy 32:32), apparently the same as רֹאשׁ; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents); gall, hemlock, poison, venom. - Strong's Number: H6620
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּתֶן
Transliteration: pethen
Pronunciation: peh'-then
Description: from an unused root meaning to twist; an asp (from its contortions); adder.