Deuteronomy 32:30
New International Version
How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

New Living Translation
How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

English Standard Version
How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up?

Berean Standard Bible
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

King James Bible
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

New King James Version
How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them?

New American Standard Bible
“How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?

NASB 1995
“How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?

NASB 1977
“How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?

Legacy Standard Bible
How could one pursue one thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And Yahweh had handed them over?

Amplified Bible
“How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?

Christian Standard Bible
How could one pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

American Standard Version
How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?

Contemporary English Version
How could one enemy soldier chase a thousand of Israel's troops? Or how could two of theirs pursue ten thousand of ours? It can only happen if the LORD stops protecting Israel and lets the enemy win.

English Revised Version
How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had delivered them up?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How could one person chase a thousand or two people make ten thousand flee? Their rock used these people to defeat them and the LORD gave them no help.

Good News Translation
Why were a thousand defeated by one, and ten thousand by only two? The LORD, their God, had abandoned them; their mighty God had given them up.

International Standard Version
How can one person chase a thousand of them and two put a myriad to flight, unless their Rock delivers them and the LORD gives them up?

Majority Standard Bible
How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

NET Bible
How can one man chase a thousand of them, and two pursue ten thousand; unless their Rock had delivered them up, and the LORD had handed them over?

New Heart English Bible
How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had delivered them up?

Webster's Bible Translation
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

World English Bible
How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and Yahweh had delivered them up?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
How does one pursue a thousand, "" And two cause a myriad to flee, "" If not that their Rock has sold them, "" And YHWH has shut them up?

Young's Literal Translation
How doth one pursue a thousand, And two cause a myriad to flee! If not -- that their rock hath sold them, And Jehovah hath shut them up?

Smith's Literal Translation
How shall one chase a thousand; And two shall cause ten thousand to flee, If that their Rock had not sold them, And Jehovah delivered them up?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
How should one pursue after a thousand, and two chase ten thousand? Was it not, because their God had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?

Catholic Public Domain Version
How is it that one pursues a thousand, and two chases ten thousand? Is it not because their God has sold them, and because the Lord has enclosed them?

New American Bible
“How could one rout a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, Unless it was because their Rock sold them, the LORD delivered them up?”

New Revised Standard Version
How could one have routed a thousand, and two put a myriad to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, the LORD had given them up?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Mighty One had delivered them to their enemies, and the LORD had hemmed them in?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
One would have chased a thousand and two would have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Mighty One had handed them over and LORD JEHOVAH had shut them in.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had given them over And the LORD had delivered them up?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
How should one pursue a thousand, and two rout tens of thousands, if God had not sold them, and the Lord delivered them up?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of Moses
29If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate. 30How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up? 31For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies concede.…

Cross References
Leviticus 26:8
Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.

Joshua 23:10
One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.

Judges 2:14
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.

Isaiah 30:17
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.

Psalm 44:12
You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale.

2 Kings 18:25
So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

2 Chronicles 24:24
Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

Jeremiah 19:7
And in this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.

Lamentations 2:7
The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has delivered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Hebrews 11:34
quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 18:27
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”


Treasury of Scripture

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

one chase

Leviticus 26:8
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

Joshua 23:10
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

Judges 7:22,23
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath…

sold them

Judges 2:14
And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Judges 3:8
Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

Psalm 44:12
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

shut them

Job 11:10
If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

Job 16:11
God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

Psalm 31:8
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

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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














How could one man pursue a thousand,
This phrase highlights the miraculous nature of Israel's victories when they were obedient to God. In the context of ancient warfare, such a feat would be impossible without divine intervention. The imagery recalls the blessings promised in Leviticus 26:8, where God assures Israel that five of them will chase a hundred, and a hundred will chase ten thousand. This hyperbolic language emphasizes God's power working through His people.

or two put ten thousand to flight,
The escalation from one to two men suggests exponential divine empowerment. This reflects the principle found in Ecclesiastes 4:12, where two are stronger than one. The phrase underscores the idea that when God is with His people, their strength is multiplied beyond natural capabilities. It also serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience leads to divine favor and protection.

unless their Rock had sold them,
The term "Rock" is a metaphor for God, symbolizing strength, stability, and faithfulness. In Deuteronomy 32, God is contrasted with the false gods of the nations. The idea of God "selling" His people implies a judicial act of giving them over to their enemies due to their disobedience, as seen in Judges 2:14. This reflects the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28, where turning away from God results in defeat and subjugation.

unless the LORD had given them up?
This phrase indicates God's sovereign control over the fate of nations. The LORD's decision to "give them up" is a response to Israel's unfaithfulness, as seen throughout the book of Judges. It serves as a warning that security and victory are contingent upon faithfulness to God. This concept is echoed in Romans 1:24, where God gives people over to their desires as a consequence of their rejection of Him. The passage ultimately points to the necessity of reliance on God for true success and protection.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering his final song to the Israelites before his death.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom Moses is speaking, reminding them of God's power and their dependence on Him.

3. The Rock
A metaphor for God, symbolizing strength, stability, and protection.

4. Enemies of Israel
The nations that opposed Israel, whom God allowed to overpower them due to their disobedience.

5. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is sovereign over the fate of nations.
Teaching Points
Dependence on God
The verse highlights the futility of human strength without God's support. Believers must recognize their need for God's presence and power in their lives.

Consequences of Disobedience
The Israelites' defeat serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God. Obedience to God is crucial for His protection and blessing.

God's Sovereignty
The passage underscores God's control over the affairs of nations. Trusting in His sovereignty brings peace and assurance, even in challenging times.

The Power of Unity in God
The exponential increase in power when two are united in God’s purpose illustrates the strength found in Christian fellowship and unity.

Spiritual Warfare
The imagery of battle reminds believers of the spiritual warfare they face. Victory comes through reliance on God, prayer, and the armor of God.(30) How should one (of their enemies) chase a thousand (of them).--Comp. the verse in Deuteronomy 28:25, and more especially Leviticus 26:8; Leviticus 26:17; Leviticus 26:36.

Had sold them.--Here first used of Jehovah. It is a common expression in the book of Judges (Deuteronomy 2:14; Deuteronomy 3:8; Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 10:7; 1Samuel 12:9). . . .

Verse 30. - If Israel were wise, they could easily overcome all their foes through the help of the Almighty (Leviticus 26:8); but having forsaken him, they were left by him, and so came under the power of the enemy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
How
אֵיכָ֞ה (’ê·ḵāh)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

could one man
אֶחָד֙ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

pursue
יִרְדֹּ֤ף (yir·dōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

a thousand,
אֶ֔לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

or two
וּשְׁנַ֖יִם (ū·šə·na·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

put ten thousand
רְבָבָ֑ה (rə·ḇā·ḇāh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7233: Multitude, myriad, ten thousand

to flight,
יָנִ֣יסוּ (yā·nî·sū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

unless
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

their Rock
צוּרָ֣ם (ṣū·rām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6697: A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge

had sold them,
מְכָרָ֔ם (mə·ḵā·rām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4376: To sell

unless the LORD
וַֽיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

had given them up?
הִסְגִּירָֽם׃ (his·gî·rām)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 32:30 How could one chase a thousand (Deut. De Du)
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