Deuteronomy 32:22

KJV

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

KJV (with Strong's)

For a fire {H784} is kindled {H6919} in mine anger {H639}, and shall burn {H3344} unto the lowest {H8482} hell {H7585}, and shall consume {H398} the earth {H776} with her increase {H2981}, and set on fire {H3857} the foundations {H4144} of the mountains {H2022}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'For my anger has been fired up. It burns to the depths of Sh'ol, devouring the earth and its crops, kindling the very roots of the hills.

Berean Standard Bible

For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains.

American Standard Version

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And burneth unto the lowest Sheol, And devoureth the earth with its increase, And setteth on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 32:22, a powerful declaration within the "Song of Moses," starkly articulates the terrifying and comprehensive nature of God's righteous indignation against Israel's anticipated apostasy. This verse employs vivid, apocalyptic imagery to convey that divine judgment, once kindled, will penetrate the deepest spiritual realms, consume the entirety of the physical world, and shake even the most immutable foundations of creation, underscoring the severe and inescapable consequences of covenant infidelity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the "Song of Moses" (Deuteronomy 32:1-43), a prophetic poem delivered by Moses just before his death, serving as his final testament and a solemn warning to the Israelites. The song functions as a divine witness against Israel, recounting God's faithful provision and protection while simultaneously foretelling their future rebellion, idolatry, and subsequent divine judgment. Following a poignant lament over Israel's spiritual decline and their "provoking Him to jealousy with strange gods" [Deuteronomy 32:16](/deuteronomy/32-16 "Deuteronomy 32:16 - Israel's Idolatry"), God declares His intention to bring judgment upon them [Deuteronomy 32:19-25](/deuteronomy/32-19-25 "Deuteronomy 32:19-25 - God's Judgment on Israel"). Verse 22 specifically describes the intensity and terrifying scope of this impending wrath, using hyperbolic language to emphasize its all-consuming nature, setting the stage for the detailed descriptions of various forms of judgment that follow, such as famine, plague, and warfare [Deuteronomy 32:23-25](/deuteronomy/32-23-25 "Deuteronomy 32:23-25 - Further Forms of Judgment").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Delivered on the plains of Moab, with the Promised Land in sight, Moses' song serves as a crucial covenant renewal and a final exhortation to a generation poised to enter Canaan. The historical context is one of significant transition, where Israel is about to face the immense temptations of pagan worship prevalent among the Canaanite nations. Culturally, the concept of divine wrath and judgment was well understood in the ancient Near East, often associated with the breaking of treaties or covenants between a suzerain (a dominant ruler) and his vassals. God's anger here is not capricious but a just and righteous response to the anticipated violation of the Mosaic Covenant, particularly the command against idolatry and the worship of other gods [Deuteronomy 6:14-15](/deuteronomy/6-14-15 "Deuteronomy 6:14-15 - Warning Against Idolatry"). The imagery of fire consuming the earth and mountains would have resonated powerfully with ancient audiences familiar with devastating natural disasters and the destructive power often attributed to divine displeasure in their worldview.
* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 32:22 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the "Song of Moses" and the broader book of Deuteronomy. Primarily, it underscores the **Holiness and Justice of God**, asserting that His unblemished character demands a righteous response to sin and covenant breaking. The "fire...kindled in mine anger" is a manifestation of His unyielding commitment to justice, not a volatile temper, ensuring His moral order is upheld. Secondly, it highlights the **Severity and Scope of Divine Judgment**, portraying a wrath so profound that it reaches "unto the lowest hell" and consumes "the earth with her increase," emphasizing that no aspect of existence is beyond God's reach or immune to the consequences of rebellion. This comprehensive judgment serves as a stark and terrifying warning. Finally, the verse powerfully reinforces the theme of **Consequences of Disobedience**, serving as a prophetic reminder that forsaking God and His commandments, as Israel is predicted to do [Deuteronomy 31:29](/deuteronomy/31-29 "Deuteronomy 31:29 - Israel's Future Corruption"), inevitably leads to dire and inescapable repercussions, underscoring the seriousness of the covenant relationship and the necessity of faithful adherence.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fire (Hebrew, _'êsh'_):** In biblical literature, "fire" is a multifaceted symbol. Here, it primarily represents God's intense, consuming judgment and purification. It is not merely destructive but also indicative of God's holy presence and His zeal against sin. This imagery is consistent throughout scripture, portraying God's wrath as an active, powerful force that purges and destroys that which opposes His righteousness, as seen in [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - God is a Consuming Fire").
* **Anger (Hebrew, _'aph'_):** This word literally means "nose" or "nostril" and often refers to the snorting of an enraged animal, thus conveying intense, burning indignation. God's anger is not an irrational outburst but a settled, holy wrath against sin, a righteous response to deliberate rebellion and covenant infidelity. It is a manifestation of His perfect justice, flowing from His righteous character.
* **Hell (Hebrew, _shᵉʼôwl'_):** This term, _shᵉʼôwl_, refers to the grave, the underworld, or the realm of the dead, a place of shadows and silence. The addition of "lowest" (Hebrew, _tachtîy_) intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the uttermost depths or the most profound abyss of this realm. It signifies a judgment that penetrates to the very lowest possible point of existence, implying complete and inescapable destruction, even reaching the spiritual or unseen world where the dead reside.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For a fire is kindled in mine anger":** This opening clause establishes the divine origin and nature of the impending judgment: it stems directly from God's holy wrath. The imagery of "kindled fire" suggests an active, deliberate initiation of judgment, not a passive consequence, emphasizing God's sovereign control over the unfolding events and the intentionality of His righteous response to sin.
* **"and shall burn unto the lowest hell":** This phrase describes the profound depth and pervasive reach of God's judgment. It indicates that His wrath will penetrate beyond the visible world, extending into the deepest parts of the underworld or the realm of the dead. This signifies a judgment that is utterly comprehensive and inescapable, affecting even the departed, leaving no place or state of being untouched.
* **"and shall consume the earth with her increase":** Here, the scope of judgment expands to the physical, material world. "The earth with her increase" refers to the land and all its produce, its inhabitants, and its bounty—everything that sustains life and prosperity. This signifies that God's wrath will devastate the material realm, leading to famine, desolation, and the destruction of life and livelihood, directly impacting the very sustenance and existence of the people.
* **"and set on fire the foundations of the mountains":** This final clause employs powerful hyperbole to emphasize the extreme intensity and comprehensiveness of the judgment. Mountains, typically symbols of stability, permanence, and strength, are depicted as being consumed from their very foundations. This imagery conveys that God's judgment is so severe that it will shake and destroy even the most enduring and seemingly unshakeable elements of creation, leaving nothing untouched and demonstrating the absolute power of His wrath.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 32:22 is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid and terrifying picture of divine wrath through the use of fire, the depths of the underworld, the consuming of the earth, and the burning of mountain foundations. The central device is **Metaphor**, where "fire" serves as a powerful representation of God's intense, consuming anger and judgment. This is not literal fire, but a symbolic expression of His righteous indignation and purifying zeal against sin. The verse also employs significant **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the scope of destruction (burning "unto the lowest hell," consuming "the earth with her increase," and setting "on fire the foundations of the mountains") to convey the absolute and inescapable nature of God's wrath, ensuring the audience grasps its unparalleled severity and totality. Furthermore, the phrase "mine anger" is an example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human emotion (anger) to God, making His divine response relatable and emphasizing the personal nature of His righteous indignation against sin and covenant infidelity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 32:22 powerfully articulates the biblical truth of God's absolute holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice. It reveals that God is not indifferent to sin but actively responds to rebellion and covenant breaking with a righteous wrath that is both profound and comprehensive. This verse serves as a stark reminder that while God is merciful and gracious, His character also demands accountability for sin, demonstrating that He is a God who judges evil with consuming fire. This divine attribute is not arbitrary but flows from His perfect nature, ensuring that His moral order is upheld and that sin does not go unpunished. The terrifying imagery underscores the gravity of human sin and the immense cost of turning away from the Creator, compelling a deep reverence for His majesty and justice.

* [Psalm 97:3](/psalms/97-3 "Psalm 97:3 - Fire Goes Before Him")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - God is a Consuming Fire")
* [Revelation 20:14-15](/revelation/20-14-15 "Revelation 20:14-15 - Lake of Fire and Second Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 32:22 stands as a solemn warning, urging us to consider the profound holiness of God and the seriousness with which He regards sin. It compels us to move beyond a superficial understanding of God's love and to embrace the full scope of His character, which includes His righteous judgment. For believers, this verse should cultivate a deep reverence for God, motivating us to walk in obedience and integrity, recognizing that our actions have eternal weight and that God is indeed a consuming fire. It underscores the immense grace we have received in Christ, who delivers us from the wrath to come. For those who have not yet surrendered to Christ, this passage serves as a sober call to repentance, a stark reminder of the reality and severity of divine judgment that awaits those who remain in rebellion against a holy God. The imagery of an all-consuming fire should provoke a deep and urgent reflection on one's standing before the Almighty and the desperate need for salvation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God's anger as a "fire" challenge or deepen your understanding of His character?**
* **In what ways might we, like ancient Israel, be prone to spiritual complacency or idolatry that could provoke divine displeasure?**
* **How does the comprehensive scope of judgment described in this verse (lowest hell, earth, mountains) emphasize the gravity of sin?**
* **What practical steps can you take to live in greater reverence and obedience to God, in light of His holiness and justice?**

### FAQ
**What does "lowest hell" mean in the context of this Old Testament verse?**

Answer: In the King James Version, "lowest hell" translates the Hebrew phrase _she'ol tachtit_ (שְׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּית). In the Old Testament, "Sheol" generally refers to the grave, the underworld, or the realm of the dead, a shadowy place where all the deceased were believed to go, regardless of their righteousness. It is distinct from the New Testament concept of Gehenna, which denotes a place of eternal conscious punishment. The addition of "lowest" (Hebrew, _tachtîy_) intensifies the meaning, signifying the deepest or uttermost parts of this realm. Therefore, "lowest hell" here emphasizes the profound depth and inescapable nature of God's judgment, implying that His wrath will penetrate to the absolute lowest possible point of existence, leaving no place untouched by its consuming power. It speaks to the totality of the impending destruction, affecting both the living and the dead, the visible and the unseen.

**Does this verse contradict God's love and mercy?**

Answer: No, this verse does not contradict God's love and mercy; rather, it underscores the necessity and depth of them. God's anger and judgment, as depicted in [Deuteronomy 32:22](/deuteronomy/32-22 "Deuteronomy 32:22 - God's Consuming Anger"), are not capricious or out of control; they are a righteous response to sin and covenant breaking. A truly holy and just God must respond to evil; otherwise, His holiness would be compromised. The severity of the judgment highlights the immense gravity of human sin and the high cost of rebellion against a perfect Creator. It is precisely because God is so holy and just that His love and mercy, extended through His covenant faithfulness and ultimately through Christ, are so profound and precious. The very fact that He provides a way of escape from such wrath (as seen in the New Testament) magnificently reveals His compassion and grace. Understanding God's wrath helps us appreciate the depth of His love in providing salvation, as beautifully described in [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 32:22, with its terrifying imagery of a "fire... kindled in mine anger" consuming everything from "the lowest hell" to "the foundations of the mountains," serves as a profound Old Testament foreshadowing of the righteous wrath of God against human sin. This verse vividly portrays the inescapable and comprehensive nature of divine judgment that every human being, by virtue of their sin, inherently deserves. However, the New Testament reveals the glorious Christ-centered fulfillment of this terrifying reality: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, bore the full brunt of this consuming divine wrath on the cross. He became the propitiation for our sins, absorbing the very fire of God's anger that we deserved, just as [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins") prophesied and [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ as Propitiation") explains. Through His vicarious sacrifice, Christ descended into the depths, conquering death and the grave, thereby delivering all who believe in Him from the "wrath to come," as triumphantly declared in [1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1_thessalonians/1-10 "1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Deliverance from Wrath"). Thus, the very judgment described in Deuteronomy 32:22, which threatened to consume everything, was perfectly and completely satisfied in the person of Jesus, allowing God to be both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Him [Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "Romans 3:26 - God is Just and Justifier").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Lamentations 4:11

The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Jeremiah 15:14

And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

Micah 1:4

And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, [and] as the waters [that are] poured down a steep place.

Job 9:5

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Job 9:6

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Numbers 16:35

¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Psalms 86:13

For great [is] thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.