Deuteronomy 32:2

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

My doctrine {H3948} shall drop {H6201} as the rain {H4306}, my speech {H565} shall distil {H5140} as the dew {H2919}, as the small rain {H8164} upon the tender herb {H1877}, and as the showers {H7241} upon the grass {H6212}:

May my teaching fall like rain. May my speech condense like dew, like light rain on blades of grass, or showers on growing plants.

Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.

My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender grass, And as the showers upon the herb.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:2 is a profound poetic declaration from the Song of Moses, emphasizing the life-giving nature and gentle power of God's divine instruction.

Context of Deuteronomy 32:2

This verse is part of the extensive "Song of Moses" (Deuteronomy 32:1-43), delivered by Moses just before his death. This song serves as a powerful prophetic witness, recounting God's faithfulness to Israel and foretelling their future rebellion and subsequent restoration. In this opening section, Moses calls upon heaven and earth to bear witness to the profound importance and beneficial quality of God's words, which he is about to impart to the people of Israel. It sets the stage for the solemn covenant renewal and a final warning from their great leader.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Revelation as Sustenance: The imagery of "rain," "dew," and "showers" highlights that God's "doctrine" (leqach, meaning teaching or instruction) and "speech" (imrah, meaning utterance or word) are absolutely essential for spiritual life, much like water is for physical life in an arid land. It speaks to the vital nourishment and refreshment that comes from God's truth.
  • Gentle and Pervasive Influence: The terms "drop," "distil," "small rain," and "showers" suggest a gentle, gradual, yet pervasive influence. God's word doesn't come as a destructive flood but as a life-sustaining, refreshing force that permeates and nourishes the soul.
  • Nourishment for Growth: Just as rain and dew cause "tender herb" and "grass" to flourish, God's word is designed to cultivate spiritual growth, wisdom, and understanding in those who receive it. It prepares the ground of the heart for fruitfulness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "doctrine" here is leqach (ืœึถืงึทื—), which signifies teaching, instruction, or learning. It implies something that is received and absorbed. "Speech" is imrah (ืึดืžึฐืจึธื”), referring to a divine utterance or saying. The verbs "drop" (ื ึธื–ึทืœ - nazal) and "distil" (ืชึผึดื–ึผึทืœ - tizzal) both convey the idea of flowing down gently, emphasizing the natural and beneficial descent of God's truth. This vivid agricultural imagery would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society dependent on rainfall for survival.

Related Scriptures

This verse beautifully echoes the broader biblical truth about the power and necessity of God's word. Just as physical life depends on sustenance, so too does spiritual life depend on divine instruction. The prophet Isaiah also uses similar imagery, declaring, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11). Jesus Himself affirmed the ultimate necessity of God's word, stating that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 32:2 reminds us of the profound privilege and blessing of having access to God's word. Like the thirsty ground longing for rain, our souls need the constant refreshment and nourishment that comes from His truth. We are encouraged to:

  • Receive God's Word Humbly: Approach the Scriptures with an open heart, ready to absorb its life-giving instruction.
  • Seek Daily Nourishment: Just as plants need regular water, we need consistent engagement with God's word for spiritual health and growth.
  • Trust Its Effectiveness: Understand that God's word, like the rain, is inherently effective in accomplishing His purposes in our lives and in the world.

This verse serves as a timeless invitation to let God's "doctrine" and "speech" continually "drop" and "distil" into our hearts, leading us to spiritual vitality and fruitfulness.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 55:10

    For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

  • Isaiah 55:11

    So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

  • Micah 5:7

    ยถ And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

  • Job 29:22

    After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

  • Job 29:23

    And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.

  • Hosea 6:4

    ยถ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
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