Deuteronomy 32:24

[They shall be] burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

They shall be burnt {H4198} with hunger {H7458}, and devoured {H3898} with burning heat {H7565}, and with bitter {H4815} destruction {H6986}: I will also send {H7971} the teeth {H8127} of beasts {H929} upon them, with the poison {H2534} of serpents {H2119} of the dust {H6083}.

"'Fatigued by hunger, they will be consumed by fever and bitter defeat; I will send them the fangs of wild beasts, and the poison of reptiles crawling in the dust.

They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.

They shall bewasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat And bitter destruction; And the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:24 is a stark prophetic warning embedded within the "Song of Moses," a powerful poem delivered by Moses to the Israelites just before his death. This verse vividly describes the severe consequences of Israel's future apostasy and disobedience to God's covenant.

Context

This verse is part of the Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32), which serves as both a historical recounting of God's faithfulness to Israel and a prophetic indictment against their eventual rebellion. Moses foresees a time when Israel will "lightly esteem the Rock of their salvation" (Deuteronomy 32:15) and turn to other gods. In response, God declares He will "heap mischiefs upon them" (Deuteronomy 32:23), detailing the specific forms of judgment that will come upon a disobedient people. This passage echoes the curses outlined in the covenant, such as those found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, emphasizing God's justice and the seriousness of breaking covenant with Him.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences of Disobedience: The verse explicitly details the various forms of judgment God will unleash upon a rebellious Israel. These include famine ("burnt with hunger"), pestilence and drought ("burning heat," "bitter destruction"), and attacks from the natural world ("teeth of beasts," "poison of serpents"). It underscores the direct link between sin and its severe, divinely ordained consequences.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Creation: God is depicted as sovereign over all creation, using natural elements and creatures—hunger, disease, wild animals, and venomous snakes—as instruments of His righteous judgment. This highlights that even the natural world is under His command to fulfill His purposes.
  • The Severity of Sin: The comprehensive and dire nature of the punishments described emphasizes the gravity of forsaking the Lord and turning to idolatry. It illustrates that God's justice is as profound as His mercy.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "bitter destruction" translates from the Hebrew word Resheph (רֶשֶׁף), which often refers to plague, pestilence, or burning fever. It suggests a consuming, fiery disease or calamity, adding another layer of suffering beyond mere hunger or heat.
  • "Poison of serpents of the dust" refers to the venom of snakes, particularly those that slither on the ground. This imagery recalls earlier instances where God used fiery serpents to judge Israel in the wilderness, reinforcing the idea of a specific, painful form of divine retribution.

Practical Application

While this verse speaks specifically to ancient Israel's covenant relationship with God, its principles hold timeless relevance. It serves as a powerful reminder that:

  • Actions Have Consequences: Disobedience to God's revealed will carries serious consequences, not just in an eternal sense but often in the present life.
  • God is Just: God is not only loving and merciful but also righteous and just. He will not tolerate sin indefinitely without consequence.
  • The Call to Faithfulness: This passage implores believers to remain faithful to God and His commands, understanding the gravity of spiritual rebellion. It encourages introspection on our own walk with God and the importance of living in alignment with His Word.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 26:22

    I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] ways shall be desolate.

  • Ezekiel 5:17

    So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken [it].

  • Amos 9:3

    And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

  • Genesis 3:14

    ¶ And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

  • Lamentations 5:10

    Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

  • Psalms 18:12

    At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds passed, hail [stones] and coals of fire.

  • Psalms 18:14

    Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
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