Deuteronomy 31:17
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
Original Language Analysis
וְחָרָ֣ה
shall be kindled
H2734
וְחָרָ֣ה
shall be kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
1 of 27
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
אַפִּ֣י
Then my anger
H639
אַפִּ֣י
Then my anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
2 of 27
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
בַּיּ֣וֹם
against them in that day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
against them in that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
4 of 27
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַ֠הוּא
H1931
הַ֠הוּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
5 of 27
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וַֽעֲזַבְתִּ֞ים
and I will forsake
H5800
וַֽעֲזַבְתִּ֞ים
and I will forsake
Strong's:
H5800
Word #:
6 of 27
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
וְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨י
them and I will hide
H5641
וְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨י
them and I will hide
Strong's:
H5641
Word #:
7 of 27
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
פָנַ֤י
my face
H6440
פָנַ֤י
my face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְהָיָ֣ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
10 of 27
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לֶֽאֱכֹ֔ל
from them and they shall be devoured
H398
לֶֽאֱכֹ֔ל
from them and they shall be devoured
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
11 of 27
to eat (literally or figuratively)
מְצָא֖וּנִי
come
H4672
מְצָא֖וּנִי
come
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
12 of 27
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
הָֽרָע֥וֹת
Are not these evils
H7451
הָֽרָע֥וֹת
Are not these evils
Strong's:
H7451
Word #:
13 of 27
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
רַבּ֖וֹת
and many
H7227
רַבּ֖וֹת
and many
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
14 of 27
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וְאָמַר֙
them so that they will say
H559
וְאָמַר֙
them so that they will say
Strong's:
H559
Word #:
16 of 27
to say (used with great latitude)
בַּיּ֣וֹם
against them in that day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
against them in that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
17 of 27
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֔וּא
H1931
הַה֔וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
18 of 27
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
הֲלֹ֗א
H3808
הֲלֹ֗א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַ֣ל
H5921
עַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
20 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
21 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֱלֹהַי֙
upon us because our God
H430
אֱלֹהַי֙
upon us because our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
23 of 27
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
בְּקִרְבִּ֔י
is not among
H7130
בְּקִרְבִּ֔י
is not among
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
24 of 27
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
מְצָא֖וּנִי
come
H4672
מְצָא֖וּנִי
come
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
25 of 27
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Cross References
Isaiah 8:17And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.Psalms 104:29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.2 Chronicles 15:2And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.Numbers 14:42Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.Judges 6:13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.Isaiah 64:7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.Psalms 30:7LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.Jeremiah 23:33And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.1 Chronicles 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Historical Context
Prophesied circa 1406 BC, fulfilled progressively through Israel's history. Periods of divine protection alternated with judgment—Philistine oppression, Assyrian invasion, Babylonian exile. Each demonstrated that military defeat wasn't merely geopolitical misfortune but covenant consequences. The question 'Is not God among us?' tragically echoed their presumptuous confidence before disasters (Jeremiah 7:4, Micah 3:11). Only after seventy years of exile did Judah adequately repent, and the return remained incomplete until Christ established the new covenant.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that God 'hides His face'? How is divine absence worse than direct punishment?
- How do people recognize consequences of sin yet fail to adequately repent? What's the difference?
- How does Christ's experience of God's hidden face on the cross guarantee believers never face ultimate abandonment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day—covenant violation would provoke divine wrath. And I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them—the terrifying withdrawal of God's presence and protection. And they shall be devoured—by enemies and circumstances. And many evils and troubles shall befall them—covenant curses enumerated in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. So that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?—belated recognition that calamity resulted from God's absence due to their rebellion.
God's 'hidden face' is Scripture's most dreadful judgment—not annihilation but abandonment (Psalm 27:9, Isaiah 59:2). Israel would recognize consequences of forfeiting divine protection but apparently not repent adequately, since God describes their response as question rather than confession. The prophets repeatedly warned that judgment was coming, exile was inevitable, yet mercy would eventually restore remnants (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Christ experienced the ultimate 'hidden face' on the cross ('My God, why have You forsaken Me?') to ensure believers never face final abandonment.