Deuteronomy 32:10

Authorized King James Version

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יִמְצָאֵ֙הוּ֙
He found
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
#2
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ
land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#3
מִדְבָּ֔ר
him in a desert
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
#4
וּבְתֹ֖הוּ
and in the waste
a desolation (of surface), i.e., desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain
#5
יְלֵ֣ל
howling
howl
#6
יְשִׁמֹ֑ן
wilderness
a desolation
#7
יְסֹֽבְבֶ֙נְהוּ֙
he led him about
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
#8
יְב֣וֹנְנֵ֔הוּ
he instructed
to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand
#9
יִצְּרֶ֖נְהוּ
him he kept
to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
#10
כְּאִישׁ֥וֹן
him as the apple
the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence, the middle (of night)
#11
עֵינֽוֹ׃
of his eye
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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