Deuteronomy 32:18
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Original Language Analysis
צ֥וּר
Of the Rock
H6697
צ֥וּר
Of the Rock
Strong's:
H6697
Word #:
1 of 6
properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)
יְלָֽדְךָ֖
that begat
H3205
יְלָֽדְךָ֖
that begat
Strong's:
H3205
Word #:
2 of 6
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
וַתִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
and hast forgotten
H7911
וַתִּשְׁכַּ֖ח
and hast forgotten
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
4 of 6
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
Cross References
Isaiah 17:10Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:Jeremiah 2:32Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.Psalms 106:21They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;Deuteronomy 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.Psalms 9:17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.Deuteronomy 8:19And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.Deuteronomy 6:12Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.Deuteronomy 8:14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;Deuteronomy 8:11Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:Deuteronomy 32:15But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Historical Context
The metaphor of God as father appears throughout Deuteronomy (1:31, 8:5, 32:6), but maternal imagery is rarer, making this verse striking. The covenant at Sinai established Israel's unique identity as God's 'son' (Exodus 4:22). Forgetting their origin parallels Adam's sin—creatures denying their Creator, autonomy replacing dependence.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the combination of paternal and maternal imagery for God deepen your understanding of His creative love?
- In what ways do you 'forget' God who formed you by living autonomously rather than dependently?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful—ṣûr yĕlādĕkā (צוּר יְלָדְךָ) uses the verb yālad, typically for childbirth, creating powerful imagery: God as both father who begets and mother who gives birth. Unmindful (תֵּשִׁי) means to neglect or forget, implying deliberate inattention, not mere forgetfulness.
Hast forgotten God that formed thee—mĕḥōlĕlekā (מְחֹלְלֶךָ) from ḥûl means to writhe in labor, again using maternal imagery. The double metaphor (father begetting, mother birthing) emphasizes both God's creative power and nurturing care. This parallels Isaiah 49:15: 'Can a woman forget her sucking child?' Yet Israel did what seemed impossible—forgot their Creator.