Deuteronomy 11 17

Deuteronomy 11:17 kjv

And then the LORD's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

Deuteronomy 11:17 nkjv

lest the LORD's anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:17 niv

Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:17 esv

then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:17 nlt

If you do, the LORD's anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the LORD is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:17 articulates a severe divine warning: if Israel turns away from the LORD to serve other gods, His fierce wrath will ignite against them. This will manifest directly as a supernatural cessation of rain, leading to crop failure and a barren land, culminating in their rapid perishing and expulsion from the rich land God graciously bestows upon them. This verse underscores the conditional nature of their inheritance and prosperity, directly linking their national well-being to their fidelity to the covenant with Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 11 17 Context

Deuteronomy 11:17 is situated within Moses' lengthy exhortation to the Israelites just prior to their entry into the Promised Land. This particular verse forms part of a pivotal section (11:8-17) that emphasizes the conditional nature of their continued possession and prosperity in Canaan. It immediately follows the promise of abundant blessing (rain and bountiful produce) that will result from their faithful obedience (11:13-15) and serves as the stark counter-warning to the temptation of idolatry mentioned in verse 16.

Within the broader context of Deuteronomy, Chapter 11 acts as a powerful summary and concluding appeal to Moses' second great discourse (Deut 4:44-28:68), which details the stipulations of the covenant. It reiterates the fundamental choice presented to Israel: a life of blessing rooted in obedience or a life of curse resulting from disobedience. Historically, the Israelites, having journeyed through the wilderness where God provided manna and water, were now entering a land agriculturally dependent on rainfall. This context makes the warning of withheld rain particularly potent and comprehensible. Culturally, this direct statement about the LORD's control over the heavens and earth served as a powerful polemic against the surrounding Canaanite fertility cults, especially the worship of Baal, who was wrongly believed to control rain and agricultural bounty. Moses emphatically teaches that it is Yahweh, the God of Israel, and He alone, who has sovereignty over all creation, thereby underscoring the exclusivity and power of their covenant God.

Deuteronomy 11 17 Word analysis

• And then (Hebrew: אַף - ap): This conjunction implies a direct and certain consequence. Often translated "also" or "even," but here, "then" or "surely then," it adds emphasis to the subsequent unfolding of God's action, signaling the inevitability and immediacy of the judgment.
• the LORD's wrath (Hebrew: אַף יְהוָה - ap Yahweh): The term ap literally means "nose" or "nostril," and metaphorically, the "flaring of nostrils" signifies intense anger. Yahweh is God's personal covenant name, highlighting that this is the holy indignation of the covenant-keeping God against covenant infidelity. This is not arbitrary temper but a righteous, judicial response.
• will burn against you (Hebrew: יְחָרָה בָכֶם - yeharah bakem): From the root חרה (charah), meaning "to burn" or "to be kindled." This vivid imagery describes the fierce and consuming nature of God's anger, indicating its seriousness and intensity.
• and he will shut up the heavens (Hebrew: וְעָצַר אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם - ve'atsar et-hashamayim): The verb 'atsar means "to restrain," "hold back," or "withhold." This signifies God's direct, deliberate, and sovereign control over meteorological phenomena. It's a supernatural act, challenging the very source of their promised blessings (v. 13-14) and explicitly countering the false notion that Baal or any other pagan deity controls the rain.
• so that it will not rain (Hebrew: וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה מָטָר - velo yihyeh matar): The simple and stark outcome of God shutting up the heavens. For an agrarian society like ancient Israel, rain was the literal lifeblood of their economy and existence, especially in Canaan.
• and the ground will yield no produce (Hebrew: וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת-יְבוּלָהּ - veha'adamah lo titten et-yevulah): Yevul refers to the fruit or yield of the earth. The lack of rain leads to a barren earth, demonstrating a clear chain of consequence from divine action in the heavens to material conditions on earth. It shows God's complete control over fertility, not the localized deities of Canaan.
• and you will soon perish (Hebrew: וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה - va'avadtem meherah): 'Avadtem (from 'abad) means "to be lost," "to perish," or "to be destroyed." Meherah means "quickly" or "swiftly." This conveys the rapid and complete destruction that will befall them—not merely discomfort, but existential threat leading to societal collapse and demise.
• from the good land (Hebrew: מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה - me'al ha'aretz hatovah): "The good land" is a key Deuteronomic motif, representing God's gracious gift and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Being expelled from it is the ultimate reversal of blessing and covenant violation, emphasizing the conditional nature of their inheritance.
• the LORD is giving you (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה נֹתֵן לָכֶם - asher Yahweh noten lakem): This concluding phrase re-emphasizes that the land is not Israel's by right, but a gift from Yahweh, the faithful covenant God. Their continued tenure in it remains solely dependent on their ongoing obedience to the Giver.

Deuteronomy 11 17 Bonus section

• This verse served as a foundation for understanding divine judgment throughout Israel's history, frequently referenced by prophets when explaining periods of drought and national distress. It connects a nation's spiritual health directly to its physical well-being.
• The phrase "shut up the heavens" is not just about a lack of natural rain; it signifies God's direct, active, and personal intervention to bring about judgment, leaving no room for attribution to chance or pagan deities.
• The rapidity indicated by "soon perish" ("meherah") emphasizes the dire and urgent nature of the warning, implying that the consequences of severe apostasy are swift and overwhelming.
• While the immediate application is national and agricultural, the underlying theological principle of spiritual barrenness and being cut off from God's provision due to unfaithfulness resonates throughout both Old and New Testaments.

Deuteronomy 11 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:17 powerfully encapsulates the covenantal principle of divine retribution for disobedience, specifically apostasy. It presents a terrifying consequence of turning away from Yahweh to idolatry, particularly in a context heavily influenced by Canaanite polytheism and fertility cults. God directly challenges the claims of Baal by asserting His exclusive and absolute control over rain, agricultural productivity, and ultimately, Israel's very existence in the land He graciously provided. His wrath, far from being arbitrary, is a righteous and predictable response to covenant infidelity, manifested through devastating natural judgments—drought, famine, and expulsion. This severe warning serves not only as a deterrent but also as a profound pedagogical tool, intending to instill reverential fear and a profound understanding of the LORD's unparalleled sovereignty and the conditional nature of their blessings in the Promised Land. The verse teaches that fidelity to God brings life and abundance, while rebellion brings rapid decay and perishment.