Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

Here is, I. A commanding preface or introduction to this song of Moses, Deut. 32:1, 2. He begins, 1. With a solemn appeal to heaven and earth concerning the truth and importance of what he was about to say, and the justice of the divine proceedings against a rebellious and backsliding people, for he had said (Deut. 31:28) that he would in this song call heaven and earth to record against them. Heaven and earth would sooner hear than this perverse and unthinking people; for they revolt not from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:3

Because I will publish the name of the Lord ,.... Not call on his name, as some, nor call to the heaven and earth in his name, as others, but proclaim his name, even the same that was proclaimed before Moses, Exodus 34:6 ; and this is to be understood, not of Jehovah the Father, nor of Jehovah the Spirit, but of Jehovah the Son, the rock whose work is perfect, and the rock of salvation, Deuteronomy 32:4 ; and not of any particular name of his, unless any of those mentioned can be thought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the rock ,.... That is, Jehovah is the rock, whose name Moses proposed to publish; and our God, to whom the heavens and the earth are called upon to ascribe greatness, even Christ the rock of salvation: here begins the song; the first word in it is very emphatic; it has a letter in it larger than usual, to denote the greatness of this Person, and to make it observable; he is "this" or "that rock" F11 הצור "quod attinet ad rupem illam", Piscator; "rupes illa", Van Till; "rupes... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock - The word צור tsur is rendered Creator by some eminent critics; and khalyk is the reading in the Arabic Version. Rab. Moses ben Maimon, in his valuable work, Moreh Nebochim, observes that the word צור tsur , which is ordinarily translated rock, signifies origin, fountain, first cause, etc., and in this way it should be translated here: "He is the first principle, his work is perfect." As he is the cause of all things, he must be infinitely perfect; and consequently... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:3

Verse 3 3Because I will publish the name of the Lord. He signifies by these words that, if there were any spark of piety in the Israelites, it must be manifested by their welcoming this address, wherein the majesty of God shines forth. The first clause of the verse, therefore, stands last in order, since it is an assignment of a reason for the other. For when he exhorts them that they should ascribe to God the glory He deserves, he inculcates upon them obedience and attention, as if he had said... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:4

Verse 4 4.His work is perfect. Those who take these expressions generally, and without particular reference to this passage, not only obscure their meaning, but also lessen the force of the doctrine they contain. Let us, then, understand that the perfection of God’s works, the rectitude of His ways, etc., are contrasted with the rebellion of the people; for if there were anything (251) in God’s works imperfect and in arranged, if His mode of dealing were deficient in rectitude, if His truth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-3

Beneficial teaching. Moses was directed to instruct the people by composing for their use a song ( Deuteronomy 31:19 , Deuteronomy 31:21 ). A song is: 1. Memorable. 2. Easily handed down from mouth to mouth. 3. Of singular power to awaken sympathetic feeling (cf. influence of ballads, of Jacobite songs, of the 'Marseillaise,' of popular hymns). The action of song is not violent, but gentle and persuasive. It steals about the heart like rippling water or like sunlight,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-4

God the believer's Rock. "Forms change: principles neverse" So have we had often to remark in discovering in and developing from this book the everlasting principles which are therein set in archaic forms. The song of Moses here recorded will yield us many illustrations of this kind of teaching. Its first four versos suggest three lines of thought. I. THERE IS HERE A REVEALED DOCTRINE CONCERNING GOD . In the last song which the old man utters ere he climbs the mount of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-6

God's vicegerent as poet. The true poet is God's messenger. He that sings not of truth and goodness is not a genuine poet; he is but a rhymester. As the swan is said to sing sweetly only in the act of dying, so, on the eve of his departure, Moses sings his noblest strains. I. OBSERVE THE POET 'S AUDITORY . He summons heaven and earth to hear. We read in ancient story that when Orpheus made music with his lyre, the wild beasts listened, and the trees and rocks of Olympus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:1-14

The fatherhood of God. In this first section of the Divine song, the predominating idea is God's fatherhood. It comes out in Deuteronomy 32:6 in express terms; it is implied in the care that is attributed to him for his children of Israel; it passes into the still tenderer idea of motherhood in the illustration of the eagle ( Deuteronomy 32:11 ); and may fairly be taken as the idea dominating the whole. It has been thought that the fatherhood of God is almost altogether a New Testament... read more

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