The Meaning of Deuteronomy 32:15 Explained

Deuteronomy 32:15

KJV: But 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.

YLT: And Jeshurun waxeth fat, and doth kick: Thou hast been fat -- thou hast been thick, Thou hast been covered. And he leaveth God who made him, And dishonoureth the Rock of his salvation.

Darby: Then Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked Thou art waxen fat, Thou art grown thick, And thou art covered with fatness; He gave up +God who made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

ASV: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: Thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become sleek; Then he forsook God who made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But 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. 

What does Deuteronomy 32:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 32:15-35 - Moses' Song: Israel's Response
"Jeshurun" is a pet name for Israel, implying affection and endearment. The metaphor employed is derived from a pampered animal which, in consequence of rich and plentiful feeding, becomes mischievous and vicious.
Let us be warned by these denunciations against backsliding and willful sin. The greatness of our privileges will be the measure of the anguish of our doom. They who are exalted to Heaven by privilege must be cast down to Hades if they refuse and reject. The most fervent love becomes the hottest fire when it turns to jealousy. O my soul, it becomes thee to fear God as well as love Him. Remember Hebrews 10:26.
But what privileges await those who obey! When we abide in God, no enemy can stand against us. Five, strong in His miraculous fellowship, can chase a hundred, and a hundred, ten thousand. See Leviticus 26:8; also 1 Samuel 14:1, etc. God shows "Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." See 2 Chronicles 16:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 32

1  Moses' song, which sets forth God's mercy and vengeance
46  He exhorts them to set their hearts upon it
48  God sends him up to mount Nebo to see the land, and to die

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 32:15 mean?

But grew fat Jeshurun and kicked You grew fat you grew thick You are obese and he forsook God [who] made him and esteemed scornfully the Rock of his salvation
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ן יְשֻׁרוּן֙ וַיִּבְעָ֔ט שָׁמַ֖נְתָּ עָבִ֣יתָ כָּשִׂ֑יתָ וַיִּטֹּשׁ֙ אֱל֣וֹהַ עָשָׂ֔הוּ וַיְנַבֵּ֖ל צ֥וּר יְשֻׁעָתֽוֹ

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ן  But  grew  fat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמֵן  
Sense: to be or become fat, grow fat.
יְשֻׁרוּן֙  Jeshurun 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשֻׁרוּן  
Sense: a symbolic name for Israel describing her ideal character.
וַיִּבְעָ֔ט  and  kicked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּעַט  
Sense: to kick, kick at.
שָׁמַ֖נְתָּ  You  grew  fat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמֵן  
Sense: to be or become fat, grow fat.
עָבִ֣יתָ  you  grew  thick 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבָה  
Sense: to be thick, be fat, be gross.
כָּשִׂ֑יתָ  You  are  obese 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּשָׂה  
Sense: (Qal) to become sated, be gorged with food.
וַיִּטֹּשׁ֙  and  he  forsook 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.
אֱל֣וֹהַ  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹוהַּ  
Sense: God.
עָשָׂ֔הוּ  [who]  made  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וַיְנַבֵּ֖ל  and  esteemed  scornfully 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָבֵל 
Sense: to be senseless, be foolish.
צ֥וּר  the  Rock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
יְשֻׁעָתֽוֹ  of  his  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.