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Deuteronomy 32:17

“They sacrificed to demons, who are not Eloah, to gods they had not known, new ones who came from nearby, whom your fathers did not dread.”

Deuteronomy 32:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

17

Allusion · 1 Corinthians 10:20

Go to 1 Corinthians 10:20

Both texts say that they sacrificed to demons and not to God.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • יִזְבְּחוּyizbjuH2076θύουσινthyousinG2380“sacrifice”
  • שֵּׁדִיםshedimH7700δαιμονίοιςdaimonioisG1140“demon”

Deuteronomy 32:17, word by word

They sacrificedיִזְבְּחוּyizbchu

sacrifice

To kill an animal as a gift to God or other gods.

Where else “yizbchu” appears
to demonsשֵּׁדִיםshedim

demons

Demons: evil spirits to which some peoples offered sacrifices.

Where else “shedim” appears
Eloahאֱלֹהַeloha

Eloah, god

Eloah: a name of God, the singular form of Elohim; also any god. It is used mostly in poetry.

Where else “eloha” appears
to godsאֱלֹהִיםelohim

gods

The gods of other peoples.

Where else “elohim” appears
knownיְדָעוּyedau

know

To know something, realize.

Where else “yedau” appears
new onesחֲדָשִׁיםchadashim

new

New.

Where else “chadashim” appears
who cameבָּאוּbau

come

To come, arrive: "days are coming".

Where else “bau” appears
from nearbyקָּרֹבkarov

near

Close by, or having access to YHWH.

Where else “karov” appears
your fathersאֲבֹתֵיavote

forefather

Ancestors, those who came before in the family.

Where else “avote” appears
dreadשְׂעָרוּsearu

bristle

To have one's hair stand on end in horror.

Where else “searu” appears

Translation note

Paul recalls this verse when he speaks of sacrifices to idols (1 Corinthians 10:20).

The context

16They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.

17 · This verse (above)

18The Rock that bore you you neglected, and you forgot El who gave you birth.

Read all of Deuteronomy 32

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