Neville Goddard on Deuteronomy 32:39

Executive Summary

According to Neville Goddard's teachings, the scripture “I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal” is not the declaration of an external deity, but the voice of your own imagination. This verse reveals that there is only one creative power in the universe, and that power is synonymous with the human imagination. It is responsible for all of creation, including both the desirable and undesirable aspects of life, eliminating any concept of a secondary or opposing power like a devil.

Key Concepts

• The “I” in Deuteronomy 32:39 is identified as your own human imagination.
• God and the human imagination are presented as synonymous terms.
• There is only one creative power, which is responsible for all conditions, including life and death, sickness and health, blessings and curses.
• This interpretation negates the existence of a devil or any external evil force; the same power creates both weal and woe.
• As the operant of this power, you have the choice to create lovely or unlovely things by what you imagine and assume.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard interprets the voice speaking in Deuteronomy 32:39 as the voice of your own inner being, which he identifies as your human imagination. The statement, “I, even I, am He, and there is no God beside me,” is not coming from a being outside of you, but from the creative power that you truly are. This power, your imagination, is the one and only God.

This interpretation establishes that there is a single creative power responsible for every aspect of existence. This power both “kills and makes alive,” and “wounds and heals.” It creates light and darkness, weal and woe. By this logic, there can be no separate creator for unlovely things and no conflicting power such as a devil. The same power that blesses is the one that curses, and it is all housed within the individual's imagination.

Because you are the wearer of this power, you are its operant. You have the privilege and the responsibility to choose what you create. While your imagination can conjure unlovely things if you dwell upon them, you are urged to choose life and focus on the lovely. The verse serves as a reminder of your imagination's absolute power to create any reality, compelling you to become conscious of its use.

Important Quotes

“I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. “(Deuteronomy 32:39)

— Secret Of Imagination

That’s your own wonderful human imagination.

— Secret Of Imagination

This is not a being outside of you speaking; this is the Being that you really are, speaking within you, trying to persuade Himself of His own wonderful power to create.

— The Secret Of Imagining

Related Concepts

• I AM: The verse begins “I, even I, am He,” which is a declaration of the creative power of being, or I AM. Neville equates this I AM with your imagination.
• Imagination: The entire interpretation rests on the principle that human imagination is the one and only creative power, synonymous with God.
• Law of Assumption: Because you are the sole creative power, you have the privilege to assume anything—good, bad, or indifferent—and see it created in your world.
• States: The verse describes the creation of opposite states: life and death, sickness (wound) and health (heal). Your imagination is the power that moves you into these various states of experience.

Common Misunderstandings

• It's about an external God: The teaching clarifies that the voice in this scripture is not an external being acting upon you, but is the voice of your own imagination, the being you truly are.
• There is a separate power of evil: This interpretation directly refutes the idea of a devil or a second creator responsible for evil. The same power that creates good is responsible for the unlovely things, based on how it is used.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you must accept that your imagination is the one and only creative power in your life. This means taking full responsibility for all circumstances, recognizing that both blessings and curses originate from your own consciousness. The practical step is to consciously choose what you imagine. Instead of dwelling on unlovely things, you must choose to imagine and assume the lovely, knowing that you are the sole operant of the power that brings all things into being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the 'I' speaking in Deuteronomy 32:39, according to Neville?

Neville teaches that the 'I' is not an external God, but is your own wonderful human imagination. It is the creative Being that you truly are, speaking from within you.

Does this interpretation mean God is responsible for evil and suffering?

It means there is only one creative power—your imagination—which creates everything. It can conjure 'unlovely things' if you dwell upon them, just as it creates lovely things. There is no other creator to blame or credit.

How does this teaching address the concept of a devil?

This interpretation eliminates the idea of a devil or any opposing power. The same power that 'makes alive' is the one that 'kills,' and the one that blesses is the one that curses. It is all one power operated by man.