Deuteronomy 32:1
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Original Language Analysis
הַֽאֲזִ֥ינוּ
Give ear
H238
הַֽאֲזִ֥ינוּ
Give ear
Strong's:
H238
Word #:
1 of 7
to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e., (by implication) to listen
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
O ye heavens
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
O ye heavens
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
2 of 7
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וַֽאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה
and I will speak
H1696
וַֽאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה
and I will speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
3 of 7
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע
and hear
H8085
וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע
and hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 7
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 1:2Hear, 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.Deuteronomy 4:26I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.Jeremiah 22:29O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.Psalms 50:4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.Jeremiah 6:19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.Deuteronomy 30:19I 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:Deuteronomy 31:28Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.Psalms 49:1Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:Jeremiah 2:12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
Historical Context
The Song of Moses was composed circa 1406 BC in Moses' final month before death. Deuteronomy 31:19-22 records God's command that Moses write this song and teach it to Israel as prophetic testimony against their future apostasy. The Song was to be memorized and recited, ensuring its preservation across generations. This poetic structure aided memorization in pre-literate culture. The Song accurately predicted Israel's cycle of rebellion, judgment, and restoration throughout the conquest, monarchy, exile, and return—a span of over 1,000 years.
Questions for Reflection
- How does calling heaven and earth as witnesses emphasize the cosmic significance of covenant faithfulness?
- What role does memorizing and reciting Scripture play in preserving God's truth across generations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth (הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וַאֲדַבֵּרָה וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ אִמְרֵי־פִי ha'azinu hashamayim va'adabberah vetishma ha'arets imre-fi)—Moses invokes heaven and earth as covenant witnesses, echoing ancient Near Eastern treaty language where cosmic elements bore witness to binding agreements. Ha'azin (give ear) and shema (hear) create poetic parallelism, calling all creation to attend to God's covenant lawsuit against Israel.
This introduction to the Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43) establishes the poem as prophetic testimony transcending time. Heaven and earth, which witnessed the covenant's establishment (Deuteronomy 4:26, 30:19), now witness Israel's predicted apostasy and God's faithful restoration. Isaiah (1:2) and Micah (6:1-2) later employ identical juridical language—creation itself testifies to God's righteousness and Israel's rebellion. Jesus echoed this imagery when declaring that stones would cry out if humans remained silent (Luke 19:40). The Song functions as perpetual witness, preserved in writing so future generations would hear God's prophetic word.