Deuteronomy 32:26
New International Version
I said I would scatter them and erase their name from human memory,

New Living Translation
I would have annihilated them, wiping out even the memory of them.

English Standard Version
I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces; I will wipe them from human memory,”

Berean Standard Bible
I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,

King James Bible
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

New King James Version
I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces, I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,”

New American Standard Bible
‘I would have said, “I will wipe them out, I will remove the mention of their name from humanity,”

NASB 1995
‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces, I will remove the memory of them from men,”

NASB 1977
‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces, I will remove the memory of them from men,”

Legacy Standard Bible
I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces; I will cause the memory of them to cease from men,”

Amplified Bible
‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces [scattering them far away], I will remove the memory of them from men,”

Christian Standard Bible
“I would have said: I will cut them to pieces and blot out the memory of them from mankind,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I would have said: I will cut them to pieces and blot out the memory of them from mankind,

American Standard Version
I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;

Contemporary English Version
"I wanted to scatter you, so no one would remember that you had ever lived.

English Revised Version
I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I said that I would cut them in pieces and erase everyone's memory of them.

Good News Translation
I would have destroyed them completely, so that no one would remember them.

International Standard Version
"I said, 'I will scatter them, erasing their memory from the human race,

Majority Standard Bible
I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,

NET Bible
"I said, 'I want to cut them in pieces. I want to make people forget they ever existed.

New Heart English Bible
I said, I want to cut them to pieces. I will remove the memory of them from men;

Webster's Bible Translation
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;

World English Bible
I said that I would scatter them afar. I would make their memory to cease from among men;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have said: I blow them away, "" I cause their remembrance to cease from man;

Young's Literal Translation
I have said: I blow them away, I cause their remembrance to cease from man;

Smith's Literal Translation
I have said I will blow them away, I will turn away their remembrance from man;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I said: Where are they? I will make the memory of them to cease from among men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I said: Where are they? I will cause their memory to cease from among men.

New American Bible
I said: I will make an end of them and blot out their name from human memory,

New Revised Standard Version
I thought to scatter them and blot out the memory of them from humankind;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I said, Where are they? I would blot out the memory of them from among men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said: “Where are they? I shall obliterate their memory from the children of men”:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I thought I would make an end of them, I would make their memory cease from among men;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I said, I will scatter them, and I will cause their memorial to cease from among men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of Moses
25Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man. 26I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind, 27if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest their adversaries misunderstand and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed; it was not the LORD who did all this.’ ”…

Cross References
Leviticus 26:33
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

Jeremiah 9:16
I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”

Ezekiel 12:15
And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

Psalm 44:11
You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.

Isaiah 11:12
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Jeremiah 18:17
I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.”

Ezekiel 20:23
However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.

Nehemiah 1:8
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

Amos 9:9
“For surely I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is sifted in a sieve; but not a pebble will reach the ground.

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 25:21
There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Matthew 24:31
And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

John 11:52
and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.


Treasury of Scripture

I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

Deuteronomy 28:25,37,64
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth…

Leviticus 26:33,38
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste…

Isaiah 63:16
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

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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














I would have said
This phrase indicates a deliberation or intention that was considered. In the Hebrew text, the verb used here is "אמרתי" (amarti), which is a form of the verb "אמר" (amar), meaning "to say" or "to speak." This suggests a divine contemplation, reflecting God's sovereign ability to decide the fate of nations. It underscores the seriousness of God's judgment and the weight of His words, which are not spoken lightly.

that I would cut them to pieces
The phrase "cut them to pieces" is translated from the Hebrew "אפאיהם" (afaihem), which can imply a severe form of judgment or destruction. This imagery is vivid and conveys the idea of complete dismantling or annihilation. Historically, this reflects the severe consequences that could befall a nation that turns away from God. It serves as a warning of the potential for divine retribution when covenantal faithfulness is abandoned.

and blot out their memory
The concept of "blotting out" comes from the Hebrew "אשביתה" (ashbitah), which means to erase or obliterate. This is a powerful image of total erasure from history, suggesting that the people would be forgotten entirely. In the ancient Near Eastern context, memory and legacy were crucial, and to have one's memory blotted out was a fate worse than death. It emphasizes the seriousness of divine judgment and the importance of remaining faithful to God.

from mankind
This phrase, "מאנוש" (me'enosh), indicates a removal from the collective memory of humanity. It suggests a complete and utter removal from the annals of human history. In the biblical context, this serves as a stark warning to the Israelites about the consequences of disobedience and idolatry. It highlights the importance of living in accordance with God's commandments to ensure their continued existence and remembrance among the nations.

(26, 27) The argument of these verses is such as no man would dare to put into the mouth of the Most High. Moses had pleaded it (in Numbers 14:13-16; Exodus 32:12), but none but Jehovah Himself would say for Himself, "I feared the wrath of the enemy."

Verses 26, 27. - Israel's desert was to be utterly destroyed, but God refrained from this for his own Name's sake. I said, I would scatter them into corners; rather, I should say, I trill blow them away, i.e. disperse them as by a mighty wind. The verb here is the Hiph, of פָאָה, to breathe, to blow, and is found only here. The rabbins make it a denominative from פֵאָה, a corner, and this the Authorized Version follows; others trace it to an Arabic root, פאא, amputavit, excidit, and render, "will cut them off." The idea intended to be conveyed is obviously that of entire destruction, and this is not satisfied by the representation of their being scared or driven into corners. Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy. Various renderings and interpretations of this passage have been given.

1. Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, i.e. that I should be provoked to wrath by the enemy ascribing the destruction of Israel to their own prowess.

2. Were it not that I feared a wrath upon the enemy, with much the same meaning.

3. Were it not that I feared the fury of the enemy, i.e. against Israel - feared lest the enemy should be encouraged to rise up against Israel and ascribe their destruction to their own valor. Of these that most generally approved is the first. (On this reason for sparing Israel, see Deuteronomy 9:28; Exodus 32:12; Numbers 14:13, etc.; Isaiah 10:5, etc.; Ezekiel 20:13, 14.) Should behave themselves strangely; rather, should mistake or falsely pretend. The verb is the Piel of נָכַר, to look upon, to mark, and conveys the idea of looking on askance or prejudicially, hence being ignorant of, mistaking, feigning, or falsely pretending. Our hand is high; rather, was high, i.e. was mighty in power. Vers 28-33. - The cause of Israel's rejection was that they were a people utterly destitute of counsel and without understanding. Had they been wise, they would have looked to the end, and acted in a way conducive to their own welfare, instead of rushing upon ruin.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I would have said
אָמַ֖רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

I will cut them to pieces
אַפְאֵיהֶ֑ם (’ap̄·’ê·hem)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6284: To cleave in pieces

and blot out
אַשְׁבִּ֥יתָה (’aš·bî·ṯāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion

their memory
זִכְרָֽם׃ (ziḵ·rām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2143: A memento, recollection, commemoration

from mankind,
מֵאֱנ֖וֹשׁ (mê·’ĕ·nō·wōš)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 582: Man, mankind


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 32:26 I said I would scatter them afar (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 32:25
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