He will say: ‘Where are their gods, The rock in which they sought refuge?
Parallel translations
- WEB He will say, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge;
- KJV And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
- BSB He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
- NASB “And He will say, ‘Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge?
- NLT Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God asks where the idols are, the 'rock' in which the people took refuge. It matters because it exposes the impotence of the false gods Israel trusted.
Overview
In their distress, the question mocks the powerless idols that cannot help. The contrast with the true Rock, established earlier, is unmistakable. This unmasking of false refuges calls the people back to the only sure refuge, ultimately pointing to Christ, in whom alone there is salvation and security.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Jer 2:28“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
- Judg 10:14Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”
- 2 Kgs 3:13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 32:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.