John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 32:40

"For I lift up my hand to heaven, And say, As I live for ever," — Deuteronomy 32:40 (ASV)

For²⁹³ I lift up my hand to heaven. Others render it, “When I shall have lifted up my hand,” and read it in connection with the preceding 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, that it is the beginning of a new sentence, and that God thus begins in order to affirm more strongly what He immediately adds regarding the future destruction of their enemies. If, however, anyone prefers the adverb of time “when,” I have no strong objection, provided that these clauses are connected: “As soon as I shall have lifted up my hand to heaven, I will throw into 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 people are accustomed, by uplifting their hand, to exult when they are sure of 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 nothing new for Him to borrow ways of speaking taken from common human 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 that follow contain an oath, I live for ever; and therefore it is probable²⁹⁴ that the elevation of His hand indicated His taking the oath.

God swears by His life in a very different sense from humans. Sometimes, indeed, He adopts our common ways of speaking, as when He is said to swear by His soul; but here, I live, is equivalent to His swearing by Himself, or by His eternal essence.

²⁹³ Lat., certe; certe; Fr., car; ., car; V., cum.., cum.

²⁹⁴ I hardly understand the hypothetical form in which this sentence is put, after what C. has already said on this point on . has already said on this point on Exodus 6:8 ((vol. 1, p. 131,) and on ,) and on Numbers 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..) 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.