SEV Biblia, Chapter 32:33
Veneno de dragones es su vino, y ponzoña cruel de áspides.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 32:33
Verse 33. Their wine] Their system of doctrines and teaching, is the poison of dragons, &c., fatal and destructive to all them who follow it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 33. Their wine [is] the poison of dragons , etc.] Of these creatures, both land and sea dragons, (see Gill on “ Micah 1:8”); (see Gill on “ Malachi 1:3”); Pliny says the dragon has no poison in it; yet, as Dalechamp, in his notes on that writer observes, he in many places prescribes remedies against the bite of the dragon; but Heliodorus f613 expressly speaks of some archers, whose arrows were infected with the poison of dragons; and Leo Africanus says, the Atlantic dragons are exceeding poisonous: and yet other writers besides Pliny have asserted that they are free from poison. It seems the dragons of Greece are without, but not those of Africa and Arabia; and to these Moses has respect, as being well known to him. The Targum of Jerusalem is, “the poison of this people is like the poison of dragons as they drink wine;” and the Targum of Jonathan, “as the poison of dragons, when they are at or from their wine;” that is, after and as soon as they have drank it; for, according to natural historians, serpents, though they need and use but little drink, yet are very fond of wine: and it seems that thereby their poison becomes more sharp and intense, as Bochart observes; wherefore the allusion is very proper and pertinent, and denotes the wine of fornication of the apostate church of Rome, frequently spoken of ( Revelation 14:8 17:2 18:3); which is no other than her corrupt doctrines, intoxicating, enticing, and leading to idolatry and superstition; and as the true Gospel of Christ is sometimes compared to wine, so the false doctrines of this church; but then it is such that is not only loathsome and abominable, but poisonous and pernicious to the souls of men, damnable and ruinous, and brings upon them swift destruction, ( 2 Peter 2:1-3 Revelation 14:9-11); and may well be compared to the poison of dragons for such reasons; as also because they are doctrines of devils, and come from the great dragon, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, ( 2 Timothy 4:1 Revelation 12:3,9); and the cruel venom of asps ; which, of all kind of serpents, Pliny says is the least curable; nay, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions of this clause, it is incurable; and so Aristotle says there is no remedy for it; and so says Aelianus f619 , who also observes f620 , that the mark it makes is so small, that it is scarcely discerned by the sharpest eye. Pliny represents it as a most revengeful creature; when its mate is killed by any, it will pursue the slayer, flee where he will, and as far and fast as he can: it breaks through all difficulties, and is not to be stopped by rivers, or any obstacles, and will attack the person, whom it presently knows, let him be in ever such a crowd: and therefore it and its poison may well be called cruel; and as the poison of this creature lies under its tongue, this is a fit simile to express the poisonous and pernicious doctrines of the apostate church.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 26-38 - The idolatry and rebellions of Israel deserved, and the justice of God seemed to demand, that they should be rooted out. But He spared Israel and continues them still to be living witnesses of the truth of the Bible, and to silence unbelievers. They are preserved for wise and holy purposes and the prophecies give us some idea what those purposes are The Lord will never disgrace the throne of his glory. It is grea wisdom, and will help much to the return of sinners to God, seriousl to consider their latter end, or the future state. It is here mean particularly of what God foretold by Moses, about this people in the latter days; but it may be applied generally. Oh that men woul consider the happiness they will lose, and the misery they wil certainly plunge into, if they go on in their trespasses! What will be in the end thereof? Jer 5:31. For the Lord will in due time bring dow the enemies of the church, in displeasure against their wickedness When sinners deem themselves most secure, they suddenly fall int destruction. And God's time to appear for the deliverance of his people, is when things are at the worst with them. But those who trus to any rock but God, will find it fail them when they most need it. The rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish nation, is the continuance of their ancient idolatry, apostacy, and rebellion. They shall be brough to humble themselves before the Lord, to repent of their sins, and to trust in their long-rejected Mediator for salvation. Then he wil deliver them, and make their prosperity great.
Original Hebrew
חמת 2534 תנינם 8577 יינם 3196 וראשׁ 7219 פתנים 6620 אכזר׃ 393
