Deuteronomy 32:38
New International Version
the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up to help you! Let them give you shelter!

New Living Translation
Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings? Let those gods arise and help you! Let them provide you with shelter!

English Standard Version
who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection!

Berean Standard Bible
which ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them give you shelter!

King James Bible
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

New King James Version
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise and help you, And be your refuge.

New American Standard Bible
‘Those who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection!

NASB 1995
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your hiding place!

NASB 1977
‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their libation? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your hiding place!

Legacy Standard Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your hiding place!

Amplified Bible
‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your hiding place!

Christian Standard Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let it be a shelter for you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let it be a shelter for you.

American Standard Version
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection.

Contemporary English Version
You offered them wine and your best sacrifices. Can't those gods help you now or give you protection?

English Revised Version
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Where are the gods who ate the fat from their sacrifices and drank the wine from their wine offerings? Let them come to help you! Let them be your refuge!"

Good News Translation
You fed them the fat of your sacrifices and offered them wine to drink. Let them come and help you now; let them run to your rescue.

International Standard Version
Who ate the fat of their offerings and drank the wine that was their drink offering? Let them rise and help you and be your hiding place!'

Majority Standard Bible
which ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them give you shelter!

NET Bible
who ate the best of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge!

New Heart English Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you. Let them be your protection.

Webster's Bible Translation
Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

World English Bible
which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you! Let them be your protection.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who eat the fat of their sacrifices, "" [And] drink the wine of their drink-offering? Let them arise and help you, "" Let it be a hiding place for you!

Young's Literal Translation
Which the fat of their sacrifices do eat, They drink the wine of their libation! Let them arise and help you, Let it be for you a hiding-place!

Smith's Literal Translation
Whose fat of their sacrifices they shall eat; They shall drink the wine of their libations They shall rise up, and they shall succor you, It shall be for you protection.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of whose victims they ate the fat, and drank the wine of their drink offerings: let them arise and help you, and protect you in your distress.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They ate the fat of their victims, and they drank the wine of their libations. So let these rise up, and bring relief to you, and protect you in your distress.

New American Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their libations? Let them rise up now and help you! Let them be your protection!

New Revised Standard Version
who ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their libations? Let them rise up and help you, let them be your protection!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them now rise up and help you, let them be your protection.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For they were eating the fat of their sacrifices and they were drinking the wine of their drink offerings; let them arise now and let them help you and they shall be protectors over you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who did eat the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let him rise up and help you, Let him be your protection.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
the fat of whose sacrifices ye ate, and ye drank the wine of their drink-offerings? let them arise and help you, and be your protectors.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of Moses
37He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, 38which ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them give you shelter! 39See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 2:28
But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.

Judges 10:14
Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

Isaiah 46:7
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

Hosea 13:2
Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

Isaiah 44:17
From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

Isaiah 45:20
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

Isaiah 46:1-2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. / The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Romans 1:22-23
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.


Treasury of Scripture

Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

eat the fat

Leviticus 21:21
No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

Psalm 50:13
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Ezekiel 16:18,19
And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them…

let them

Judges 10:14
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

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Arise Ate Drank Drink Drink-Offering Drink-Offerings Eat Help Hiding Hiding-Place Libation Offering Offerings Protection Rise Sacrifices Salvation Shelter Wine
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Arise Ate Drank Drink Drink-Offering Drink-Offerings Eat Help Hiding Hiding-Place Libation Offering Offerings Protection Rise Sacrifices Salvation Shelter Wine
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














who ate the fat of their sacrifices
This phrase refers to the pagan gods that the Israelites turned to, abandoning the one true God. In ancient Israelite culture, the "fat" of sacrifices was considered the best part and was reserved for God alone (Leviticus 3:16). The Hebrew word for "fat" is "חֵלֶב" (chelev), symbolizing richness and abundance. By attributing the consumption of the fat to false gods, Moses highlights the futility and absurdity of idol worship. Historically, this reflects the practices of surrounding nations, where offerings were made to idols in hopes of receiving favor. Theologically, it underscores the betrayal of Israel, who gave what was meant for God to lifeless idols.

and drank the wine of their drink offerings?
The "drink offerings" were libations poured out as part of worship rituals, symbolizing dedication and joy. The Hebrew word for "wine" is "יַיִן" (yayin), often associated with celebration and covenantal blessings. In this context, it is a sarcastic indictment of the Israelites' misplaced trust. The act of pouring out wine to idols was a common practice among pagan cultures, signifying allegiance and hope for divine intervention. Moses uses this imagery to emphasize the emptiness of such acts, as these gods neither consume nor respond. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship with Yahweh, who alone is worthy of worship and capable of responding to His people's needs.

Let them rise up and help you
This phrase is a rhetorical challenge, highlighting the impotence of idols. The Hebrew verb "קוּם" (qum) means "to rise" or "to stand up," often used in contexts of action or intervention. Moses is mocking the false gods, suggesting that if they truly had power, they should demonstrate it by aiding their worshippers. Historically, this reflects the common belief in the ancient Near East that gods could be summoned to act on behalf of their devotees. However, the Bible consistently portrays idols as powerless (Psalm 115:4-8). This challenge serves to contrast the living God, who actively intervenes in history, with the inert idols that cannot respond.

let them give you shelter
The concept of "shelter" in Hebrew, "סֵתֶר" (seter), conveys protection, refuge, and safety. In the ancient world, deities were often invoked for protection against enemies and natural disasters. Moses sarcastically suggests that these false gods should provide the security that the Israelites seek. This highlights the absurdity of relying on anything other than Yahweh for true protection. Scripturally, God is frequently depicted as a refuge and fortress for His people (Psalm 91:1-2). The verse serves as a poignant reminder of the futility of idolatry and the exclusive reliability of God as the protector and sustainer of Israel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
which
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

ate
יֹאכֵ֔לוּ (yō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the fat
חֵ֤לֶב (ḥê·leḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2459: Fat, richest, choice part

of their sacrifices
זְבָחֵ֙ימוֹ֙ (zə·ḇā·ḥê·mōw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2077: A slaughter, the flesh of an animal, a sacrifice

and drank
יִשְׁתּ֖וּ (yiš·tū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

the wine
יֵ֣ין (yên)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

of their drink offerings?
נְסִיכָ֑ם (nə·sî·ḵām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5257: Something poured out, a libation, a molten image, a prince

Let them rise up
יָק֙וּמוּ֙ (yā·qū·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and help you;
וְיַעְזְרֻכֶ֔ם (wə·ya‘·zə·ru·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5826: To surround, protect, aid

let them give you
יְהִ֥י (yə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

shelter!
סִתְרָֽה׃ (siṯ·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5643: A covering, hiding place, secrecy


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 32:38 Which ate the fat of their sacrifices (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 32:37
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