Deuteronomy 32:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 32:20
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 32 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of obedience, judgment, faith. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-52: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 32:20
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Analysis
I will hide my face from them—astîrāh phānay (אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי) describes God's covenantal withdrawal, removing His protective presence and blessing. This terrifying phrase appears throughout Deuteronomy (31:17-18) and the prophets (Isaiah 54:8, Ezekiel 39:23-24) as the ultimate covenant curse. God's face represents favor, guidance, and protection—to lose it is spiritual abandonment.
For they are a very froward generation—dôr tahpukōt (דּוֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת) means 'a generation of perversions,' from hāphak (to overturn, pervert). Children in whom is no faith (lō'-'ēmun bām)—the word 'ēmun means faithfulness, reliability, or steadfastness. Jesus applies this to His generation: 'O faithless and perverse generation' (Matthew 17:17).
Historical Context
The divine withdrawal described here was progressively fulfilled: God's silence during the 400 years between Malachi and Christ, the destruction of Herod's temple in AD 70, and Israel's dispersion. Yet Romans 11:25-27 promises future restoration when 'all Israel shall be saved,' demonstrating that God's hiding is temporal discipline, not final rejection.
Reflection
- What does it mean to experience God 'hiding His face,' and how is this discipline different from abandonment?
- How does Jesus's quotation of 'faithless and perverse generation' connect Moses's prophecy to first-century Israel?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 32:5