King James Version

Deuteronomy 32:41

If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

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Hebrew

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אִםimoh thatאִםconjunction — “oh that”H518used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), t…שַׁנּוֹתִי֙shanotiprickשָׁנַןverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “prick”, a completed actionH8150to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcateprick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, whet.בְּרַ֣קberaqlightningבָּרָקnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “lightning”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1300lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing swordbright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.חַרְבִּ֔יcharbiknifeחֶרֶבnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “knife”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implementaxe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.וְתֹאחֵ֥זvetochezand holdאָחַזconjunction, verb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “and hold”, an unfinished actionH270to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)[phrase] be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).בְּמִשְׁפָּ֖טbemishpatin lawמִשְׁפָּטpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “in law”, the ordinary formH4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style[phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right,…יָדִ֑יyadihandיָדnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “hand”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, […אָשִׁ֤יבashivagainשׁוּבverb, hiphil, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “again”, an unfinished actionH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…נָקָם֙naqamquarrelנָקָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “quarrel”, the ordinary formH5359revenge[phrase] avenged, quarrel, vengeance.לְצָרָ֔יletsarayto narrowצַרpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “to narrow”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6862narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.וְלִמְשַׂנְאַ֖יvelimsanayand to hateשָׂנֵאconjunction, preposition, verb, piel, participle, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “and to hate”, a verb used as a describing wordH8130to hate (personally)enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly.אֲשַׁלֵּֽםashalemmake amendsשָׁלַםverb, piel, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “make amends”, an unfinished actionH7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] s…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine adversaries, and will recompense them that hate Me.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

If I whet my glittering sword, And my hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense them that hate me.

Young’s Literal Translation

If I have sharpened the brightness of My sword, And My hand doth lay hold on judgment, I turn back vengeance to Mine adversaries, And to those hating Me — I repay!

World English Bible

if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me.

Darby Translation

If I have sharpened my gleaming sword, And my hand take hold of judgment, I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense them that hate me.

Douay-Rheims

If I shall whet my sword as the lightning, and my hand take hold on judgment: I will render vengeance to my enemies, and repay them that hate me.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine adversaries, and will recompense them that hate Me.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For I will sharpen my sword like lightning, and my hand shall take hold of judgment; and I will render judgment to my enemies, and will recompense them that hate me.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι παροξυνῶ ὡς ἀστραπὴν τὴν μάχαιράν μου, καὶ ἀνθέξεται κρίματος ἡ χείρ μου, καὶ ἀποδώσω δίκην τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσί με ἀνταποδώσω.