Deuteronomy 32:5

“They have acted corruptly toward him; they are not his children, because of their defect, a crooked and twisted generation.”
Deuteronomy 32:5 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

They have acted corruptlyשִׁחֵתtoward him;לוֹthey are notלֹאhis children,בָּנָיוbecause of their defect,מוּמָםa crookedעִקֵּשׁand twistedוּפְתַלְתֹּלgeneration.דּוֹר

Allusion · Philippians 2:15

Go to Philippians 2:15

Both texts speak of the children of God and of their “blemish” in the midst of a “crooked and perverse generation”; in Deuteronomy 32:5 the children are the corrupt ones.

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

דּוֹרdorH1755γενεᾶςgeneasG1074“generation”
עִקֵּשׁikeshH6141σκολιᾶςskoliasG4646“crooked”
פְתַלְתֹּלfetaltolH6618διεστραμμένηςdiestrammenēsG1294“perverse, twisted”
מוּמָmumaH3971ἄμωμαamōmaG299“defect”

Deuteronomy 32:5, word by word

They have acted corruptlyשִׁחֵתshichet

corrupt

To spoil: to stop being useful, or to turn from good and become wicked.

Where else “shichet” appears

his childrenבָּנָיbanay

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “banay” appears

because of their defectמוּמָmuma

stain

A moral fault, a stain on one's character.

Where else “muma” appears

a crookedעִקֵּשׁikesh

crooked

Crooked, not going straight.

Where else “ikesh” appears

and twistedפְתַלְתֹּלfetaltol

twisted

Twisted, tangled; crafty.

Where else “fetaltol” appears

generationדּוֹרdor

generation

The people of the same time.

Where else “dor” appears

Translation note

The Hebrew of the first half is very brief and difficult; it can be understood that the people, through their fault, stopped behaving as children. Paul recalls the second half in Philippians 2:15.

The context

4The Rock: his work is blameless, for all his ways are justice. An El of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is he.

5 · This verse (above)

6Is it to YHWH you repay this, foolish and unwise people? Is he not your father, who acquired you? He made you and established you.

Read all of Deuteronomy 32

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