Deuteronomy 32:33 Meaning and Explanation
“Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel's spiritual practices produce poison as deadly as serpent venom.
The Context of Deuteronomy 32:33
Moses extends the corruption metaphor to deadly venom and poison.
What Does Deuteronomy 32:33 Mean?
The imagery escalates from merely bitter fruit to actively poisonous substances. Dragons and asps are ancient symbols of chaos and death. What began as unfaithfulness has become spiritually lethal. The people who drink from Israel's corrupted practices ingest deadly poison.
This progression in the song is careful: from complacency to forgetting to idolatry to producing toxins. Each stage deepens the spiritual sickness. The metaphor connects spiritual corruption to physical consequence: poison kills.
Deuteronomy 32:33 in the Original Language
taninim (תַּנִּינִים), 'dragons' — great serpents or sea creatures, often associated with primordial chaos.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 32:33
What does Deuteronomy 32:33 mean?
Israel's spiritual practices produce poison as deadly as serpent venom.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 32:33?
Moses extends the corruption metaphor to deadly venom and poison.