Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 32:40
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever.
40. lift up, etc.] Cp. Gen 14:22, Exo 6:8, Num 14:30 and many instances in Ezekiel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 40. For I lift up my hand to heaven] See concerning oaths and appeals to God in Clarke’s note on “De 6:13“.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I lift up my hand to heaven, i.e. I solemnly swear that I will do what here follows, that as I will deliver my people, so I will fully avenge myself upon all mine enemies, whom I have used as rods to scourge my people.
I live for ever, i.e. As sure as I live. Compare Jer 4:2; Heb 6:13; Rev 10:5,6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For I lift up my hand to heaven,…. Which is a gesture used in swearing, Ge 14:22, and is ascribed to a divine Person, Eze 20:5; and particularly to Christ the angel, that is so wonderfully described, Re 10:1; though sometimes it is used, as Aben Ezra observes, to excite the attention of hearers, but here it signifies swearing; and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it,
“I have lift up my hands with an oath to heaven;”
and to the same sense is the Septuagint version:
and say, I live for ever; which is the form of an oath; when men swear, they are to swear, the Lord liveth, or to swear by the living God, and him only, Jer 4:2; and when the Lord swears in this manner, he swears by his life, by himself, because he can swear by no greater; and his form of swearing is, “as truly as I live, saith the Lord”, Nu 14:21; so the above angel is said to swear by him that liveth for ever and ever, Re 10:6; and since Christ is the living God, without beginning of days, and end of life, and lives for evermore, he may be thought to swear by himself, by his own life, which is for ever; and as the oath of the Lord is used in condescension by him, to confirm the faith of his people in the immutability of his counsel and promises, and to ascertain unto them the sure performance of them; so it is also used to assure wicked men of the certain performance of his threatenings; and it is as if Christ here said, as sure as I am the living God, and do and shall live for ever, I will most certainly do the things which next follow.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
40. For (293) I lift up my, hand to heaven. Others render it, “When I shall have lifted up my hand,” and read it connectedly with the foregoing verse, that God’s power in destroying and preserving will be manifest, if He raises up His hand to heaven. I do not doubt, however, but that it is the beginning of a new sentence, and that God thus commences, in order to affirm more strongly what He immediately adds respecting the future destruction of their enemies. If, however, any prefer the adverb of time “when,” I have no great objection to offer, provided these clauses are connected, “As soon as I shall have lifted up my hand to heaven, I will put to confusion the enemies of my Church.”
To lift up the hand is explained in two ways; for some suppose it to be a manifestation of power, as men are wont, by the uplifting of their hand, to glow, when they are confident in their strength, and despise their enemies. Others, however, more correctly state it to be a form of adjuration God, who is exalted above all heavens, cannot, indeed, be literally said to lift His hand; but it is no new thing for Him to borrow modes of expression taken from men’s common habits and customs, especially when He suddenly rises again to sublimity, after having appeared for a while to sink below the level of His greatness. Certainly the words which follow contain in them an oath, “I live for ever;” and hence it is probable (294) that the elevation of His hand was expressive of His taking the oath.
God swears by His life in a very different sense from men. Sometimes, indeed, He adopts our common modes of speaking, as when He is said to swear by His soul; but here, “I live,” is tantamount to His swearing by Himself, or by His eternal essence.
(293) Lat., certe; Fr. , car; V. , cum.
(294) I hardly understand the hypothetical form in which this sentence is put, after what C. has already said on this point on Exo 6:8 ( vol. 1, p. 131,) and on Num 14:30 (ante, p. 81.) Perhaps he merely meant that the coincidence of the adjuration with the uplifting of the hand fixed the sense of the latter expression in this place.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(40, 41) For I lift up my hand.This is the form in taking an oath. (Comp. Rev. 10:5.) The two verses may be connected thus: For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, As I live for ever, if I whet my lightning sword, and my hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and repay them that hate me.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
40. I live forever The formula of an oath was, “The Lord liveth.” Comp. Num 14:21; 1Sa 14:39; Jer 5:2.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 40. For I lift up my hand to heaven, &c. If this verse is to be understood in connection with the foregoing, the meaning is, “For it is mine, and mine alone, (contrary to all those base idols, and false gods, whose vanity you approve,) to lift up my hand to heaven, i.e. in the most solemn manner to attest, that I live for ever, am the only self-existent and eternal God.” If the words are to be taken in connection with the next verse, the meaning is, “If I lift up my hand to heaven and say, I live for ever; i.e. if I solemnly swear by myself, and by my own existence, to this purpose, that if I whet my glittering sword, &c. then I will render vengeance to mine enemies; no power shall be able to stop my proceedings. im, rendered if, If I whet, &c, may be rendered when.” See Noldius. What we render glittering sword, is in the Hebrew the lightning of my sword, which expresses the swiftness, power, and terror of God’s judgments. Zec 9:14. Eze 21:10. See Lowth, Prael. 17: p. 110.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
When Moses had finished his song, which he delivered not only in the hearing of the people, but particularly of Joshua, his successor, as if that he might be a witness both for the LORD and for himself, he makes a short observation upon the whole: and as a dying pastor, again, and again, affectionately entreats them to be wise unto salvation after his departure. See a beautiful example of this kind in Paul. Act 20:28-37 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Ver. 40. And say, I live forever. ] God can swear by no greater than himself. Heb 6:13
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I lift up My hand = I swear. The lifting of the hand being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the thing signified by it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 14:22, Exo 6:8, Num 14:28-30, Jer 4:2, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18, Rev 10:5, Rev 10:6
Reciprocal: Num 14:21 – as truly Jdg 2:15 – had sworn 2Sa 22:47 – Lord Psa 106:26 – lifted Isa 3:7 – swear Isa 62:8 – sworn Jer 22:5 – I Jer 44:26 – I have sworn Eze 20:5 – lifted up mine hand Eze 20:23 – lifted Eze 36:7 – I have lifted Eze 44:12 – therefore Dan 12:7 – he held 1Ti 6:16 – only
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 32:40-42. I lift up my hand to heaven I solemnly swear I will do what here follows. It was the custom to stretch out the hand in swearing, Gen 14:22. And say, I live for ever As surely as I live for ever, I will whet my sword, &c. If I whet If once I begin to prepare for war, and for the execution of my sentence. Mine hand take hold on judgment The instruments of judgments, the weapons of war. A metaphor from warriors that take their weapons into their hands when they intend to fight. Glittering sword Hebrew, the lightning of my sword. A similitude which shows Gods judgments to be swift, powerful, and terrible, Eze 21:10; Zec 9:14. I will render vengeance to mine enemies No power shall be able to stop or hinder my proceedings. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood I will execute vengeance upon them to the full. A strong poetical figure, implying the abundance of blood that should be shed. The blood of the captives Whom my sword hath sorely wounded, though not utterly killed. The beginning of revenges When once I begin to revenge myself and people upon mine and their enemies, and will go on and make a full end.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32:40 For I {t} lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
(t) That is, I swear, read Gen 14:22.