The Meaning of Deuteronomy 32:39 Explained

Deuteronomy 32:39

KJV: See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

YLT: See ye, now, that I -- I am He, And there is no god with Me: I put to death, and I keep alive; I have smitten, and I heal; And there is not from My hand a deliverer,

Darby: See now that I, I am HE, And there is no god with me; I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, And there is none that delivereth out of my hand,

ASV: See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

See  now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god  with me: I kill,  and I make alive;  I wound,  and I heal:  neither [is there any] that can deliver  out of my hand. 

What does Deuteronomy 32:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 32:36-52 - Moses Views What Others Shall Possess
Sometimes God leaves us to ourselves that we may learn our weakness and sinfulness. Then, when our power is gone and we seem destined to be destroyed, we begin to repent of our idolatry and apostasy and to long after our former blessed experiences. At such times He draws graciously near to us again, to heal, to quicken and to deliver. He renders swift vengeance to the evils that have desolated us, and is merciful with a great compassion. See Deuteronomy 32:43. In that remarkable verse, quoted in Romans 15:10, the appeal goes forth to all the world to join with God's people in glad acknowledgment of His saving mercy.
This noble song declares for all ages the way of life and peace as contrasted with soul-death and misery. Every line of it has been fulfilled in the history of the Jews. May we not hope, also, that the time is not far distant when Jew and Gentile shall rejoice together in the bonds of common Christian fellowship? Note Deuteronomy 32:46-47. The love and service of God are life. [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 32:39 mean?

See now that I [even] I [am] He and [there is] no God besides Me kill and I make alive I wound and I heal and [there is] none from My hand who can deliver
רְא֣וּ ׀ עַתָּ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י אֲנִי֙ ה֔וּא וְאֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּדִ֑י אָמִ֣ית וַאֲחַיֶּ֗ה מָחַ֙צְתִּי֙ וַאֲנִ֣י אֶרְפָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין מִיָּדִ֖י מַצִּֽיל

רְא֣וּ ׀  See 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
עַתָּ֗ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֲנִי֙  [even]  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
וְאֵ֥ין  and  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עִמָּדִ֑י  besides  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִמָּד  
Sense: with.
אָמִ֣ית  kill 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וַאֲחַיֶּ֗ה  and  I  make  alive 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
מָחַ֙צְתִּי֙  I  wound 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: מָחַץ  
Sense: to smite through, shatter, wound severely.
וַאֲנִ֣י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֶרְפָּ֔א  heal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
וְאֵ֥ין  and  [there  is]  none 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מִיָּדִ֖י  from  My  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
מַצִּֽיל  who  can  deliver 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.