What Does Deuteronomy 32:1 Mean in the King James?
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Heaven and earth are not scenery around the words; they are the listeners summoned to receive them.
THE MEANING
This verse meets you inside a world that listens: heaven is called to attend, and earth to hear the words coming from a mouth. The two commands move from giving attention to receiving what is said. The spoken words stand before the whole created order.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Only human beings can witness what is spoken.
THE ROOT
תִּשְׁמַע
tishma
GROWS FROM
שמע
sh-m-ʿ
To hear, listen, heed, or respond.
“hear” in this verse is tishma. The root שמע (sh-m-ʿ) holds hearing together with response. Paired with “give ear,” the word asks earth for more than sound registering: it calls for receiving what the mouth says.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear; hear and respond.
שְׁמַע
This imperative shares the root and makes the responsive force of hearing plain.
shemu'ah: A report or message; what is heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
The root extends from the act of hearing to the message that hearing carries forward.
הַאֲזִינוּ
ha'azinu
GROWS FROM
אזן
ʾ-z-n
Ear; to attend by giving ear.
“give ear” in this verse is ha'azinu. The root אזן (ʾ-z-n) centers the ear as the means of attending. The verse first turns heaven toward focused attention, then calls earth to hear and respond.
ALSO GROWS
ozen: Ear.
אֹזֶן
The body part names the receptive attention summoned by “give ear.”
ma'azin: One who listens or gives ear.
מַאֲזִין
This form describes a listener shaped by the same act of attending.
THE PATTERN
Creation is called to hear and bear witness to what is spoken and done among people.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.THE THREAD
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.Isaiah repeats the roots שמע (shama, hear and respond) and אזן (azan, give ear), but reverses which one addresses heaven and earth. The same paired call opens words that name a broken relationship, making the created order the listening witness.
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