Deuteronomy 32:36 Meaning and Explanation
“For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will judge Israel but also turn back to mercy when their strength is exhausted.
The Context of Deuteronomy 32:36
Moses shifts from judgment to anticipate God's eventual turning back to mercy.
What Does Deuteronomy 32:36 Mean?
A crucial turn: even in judgment, God remains bound by covenant to His people. He will judge them, but this judgment is not the end. When Israel's independent power is exhausted and they have no recourse but to return, God will repent—turn back toward them with compassion.
The condition of God's repentance is Israel's complete humbling. When 'their power is gone and none are left,' Israel is empty of self-sufficiency. This broken, empty condition is paradoxically the opening for restoration. God's judgment aims at producing this condition.
Deuteronomy 32:36 in the Original Language
nicham (נִחַם), 'repent' — literally turn back, change course toward compassion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 32:36
What does Deuteronomy 32:36 mean?
God will judge Israel but also turn back to mercy when their strength is exhausted.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 32:36?
Moses shifts from judgment to anticipate God's eventual turning back to mercy.