Deuteronomy - 9:17



17 I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Deuteronomy 9:17.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.
I cast the tables out of my hands, and broke them in your sight.
And I seized the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.
'And I lay hold on the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and break them before your eyes,
And I let the stones go from my hands, and they were broken before your eyes.
I took hold of the two tablets, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.
I threw down the tablets from my hands, and I broke them in your sight.
Tunc apprehendi duas tabulas, et projeci eas e manibus meis, confregique in oculis vestris.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And I took the two tables, and cast them out Moses here accuses himself of no transgression; he does not, therefore, give us to understand that he was urged to break the tables by the impetuosity of excessive anger; but rather he again repeats what they had deserved, and consequently that he discharged the office of a herald,. so as to denounce, not by word of mouth only, but by a solemn rite also, that God's Covenant was broken and made void by their perfidiousness. For which reason also he cast down and broke the tables before their eyes, in order that being alarmed by so awful a punishment, they might more earnestly betake themselves to the expiation of their sins.

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands,.... In wrath and indignation at the sin they were guilty of:
and brake them before your eyes; as an emblem of their breach of them by transgressing them.

I took the two tables, . . . and broke them before your eyes--not in the heat of intemperate passion, but in righteous indignation, from zeal to vindicate the unsullied honor of God, and by the suggestion of His Spirit to intimate that the covenant had been broken, and the people excluded from the divine favor.

I brake them before your eyes - Not by an unbridled passion, but in zeal for God's honour, and by the direction of God's spirit, to signify to tine people, that the covenant between God and them contained in those tables was broken and they were now cast out of God's favour, and could expect nothing from him but fiery indignation.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Deuteronomy 9:17

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.