What Does Deuteronomy 32:36 Mean in the King James?
For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
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
The verse joins judgment with being moved for the people: when their own strength is gone, the LORD’s regard turns toward them.
THE MEANING
When your strength is spent, the LORD still sees you. His judgment is joined to being moved for those who serve him, so helplessness does not erase you from his regard.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that your exhaustion makes you invisible to God is undone here: the verse says he sees his people when their strength is gone.
THE ROOT
יִתְנֶחָם
yitnaḥam
GROWS FROM
נחם
n-ḥ-m
To be moved or relent; in another verb form, to comfort or console.
Alongside its sense of relenting, this root forms words for comfort and consolation. The verse’s “repent himself” therefore carries a movement toward servants whose strength has failed.
ALSO GROWS
relent: To relent, be moved, or regret.
נִחַם
This is close to the form in the verse and shows a changed response arising when the LORD sees his people’s condition.
comfort: To comfort or console.
נִחֵם
This branch links the LORD’s movement toward his servants with consolation in their distress.
comforter: One who comforts or consoles.
מְנַחֵם
The root can name the one who brings comfort, extending the verse’s movement beyond regret toward care.
יָדִין
yādin
GROWS FROM
דין
d-y-n
To judge or decide a case; to contend.
“judge” in this verse is yādin. The same root names judgment and the taking up of a case. Here, judgment appears beside the LORD being moved for his people, giving it the shade of active regard for them.
ALSO GROWS
judgment: Judgment or a legal case.
דִּין
This noun makes the judicial sense explicit: the people’s crisis is a matter the LORD takes up.
judge: A judge or arbiter.
דַּיָּן
This branch names the one who decides a case, echoing the LORD’s active role on behalf of his people.
עֲבָדָיו
ʿavāḏāv
GROWS FROM
עבד
ʿ-b-d
To work or serve.
“servants” in this verse is ʿavāḏāv. The word names the people through their relation of service to the LORD. Their strength may be gone, but the relationship named here remains.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāvad: To serve or work.
עָבַד
The verb shows the activity behind the identity “servants,” even when their own power has failed.
ʿavodah: Service, labor, or work.
עֲבֹדָה
This related noun keeps the language of service visible in the verse’s description of those for whom the LORD is moved.
THE PATTERN
God’s regard becomes active where human strength and protection fail.
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.THE THREAD
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.Psalm 135:14 repeats the Hebrew verbs יָדִין (yādin, judge) and יִתְנֶחָם (yitnaḥam, be moved or relent). Their pairing shows that the LORD’s judgment of his people and his being moved for his servants belong together.
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