Deuteronomy 11:26 kjv
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
Deuteronomy 11:26 nkjv
"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:
Deuteronomy 11:26 niv
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse?
Deuteronomy 11:26 esv
"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:
Deuteronomy 11:26 nlt
"Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!
Deuteronomy 11 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 30:19 | "I call heaven and earth to witness... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life..." | Directly reiterates the choice. |
| Lev 26:3-13 | "If you walk in My statutes... I will give your rains... food... safety..." | Detailed description of blessings for obedience. |
| Lev 26:14-39 | "But if you will not listen to Me... I will set My face against you... plague..." | Detailed description of curses for disobedience. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | "If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings shall come upon you..." | Elaborates on blessings from obedience. |
| Deut 28:15-68 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these curses shall come upon you..." | Elaborates on curses from disobedience. |
| Josh 24:15 | "choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | The same call to choose, issued by Joshua. |
| Ps 1:1, 6 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked... for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." | Illustrates the two paths (righteous vs. wicked). |
| Prov 10:27 | "The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened." | Consequence of wisdom/foolishness. |
| Isa 1:19-20 | "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword..." | Echoes the binary choice and its consequences. |
| Jer 21:8 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'" | Similar choice presented to Jeremiah's audience. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." | Jesus speaks of two paths with distinct ends. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | New Testament parallel to consequences of sin and obedience (in Christ). |
| Gal 3:13 | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." | Highlights the New Covenant resolution to the curse of the Law. |
| Heb 12:28-29 | "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." | Emphasizes seriousness of worship, reflecting covenant obligation. |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | "And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile..." | Reinforces God's impartial judgment based on actions. |
| 1 John 3:21-22 | "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." | Blessing linked to obedience in the NT. |
| Ps 119:30 | "I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set your rules before me." | An individual choosing God's way. |
| Zech 1:3-4 | "Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Return to me... and I will return to you... Do not be like your fathers..." | Call to return to obedience to avoid the curse. |
| Deut 5:29 | "Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear Me and to keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!" | God's desire for Israel to choose blessing. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more." | Conditional blessing on specific obedience. |
| Rev 22:14-15 | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life... Outside are the dogs and sorcerers..." | Eternal blessing for righteousness, eternal curse for wickedness. |
Deuteronomy 11 verses
Deuteronomy 11 26 Meaning
Deuteronomy 11:26 states a foundational covenant principle: God directly places before His people two distinct paths – a path of divine favor and prosperity (blessing), and a path of divine judgment and adverse consequences (curse). This declaration underscores Israel's moral agency and responsibility to choose between obedience and disobedience to God's commandments, with clear and certain outcomes contingent on their decision. It is an urgent and timeless call to discern and commit to the covenant.
Deuteronomy 11 26 Context
Deuteronomy 11:26 is part of Moses' second major address to the Israelites as they stand on the threshold of the Promised Land. This chapter concludes a lengthy exposition of God's covenant laws, serving as a powerful exhortation to covenant faithfulness. Moses has just reminded the people of God's mighty acts, His steadfast love, and the comprehensive nature of His commandments (Deut 11:1-25).
Immediately following this verse, Moses outlines a symbolic ceremony where the blessings were to be pronounced on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal (Deut 11:29-30, and further detailed in Deut 27 and 28). Therefore, Deut 11:26 acts as a crucial thematic bridge, setting the stage for the dramatic reaffirmation of the covenant and its consequential nature, emphasizing that Israel's very future in the land depends on their obedience to God.
Deuteronomy 11 26 Word analysis
- See (רְאֵה - re'eh): This is a singular masculine imperative verb. It means "look," "behold," "pay attention." Its singular form emphasizes that this divine declaration is directed at each individual in Israel, demanding personal acknowledgment and conscious attention to the momentous choice presented. It is an urgent command to observe and comprehend the clear alternatives.
- I am setting before you (אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם - anokhi notēn lifnekhem):
- I (אָנֹכִי - anokhi): The pronoun for God Himself, Yahweh, emphasizing His personal agency and authority in presenting this choice. It is God who unilaterally lays down the terms of the covenant.
- am setting (נֹתֵן - notēn): A present participle, indicating an active, ongoing presentation. It's not a past event or a future possibility but a current reality being presented to them now. It signifies God's deliberate and direct action in making these options available.
- before you (לִפְנֵיכֶם - lifnekhem): This phrase literally means "to your faces" or "in your presence." It conveys transparency and direct accessibility; the choice is openly displayed, not hidden or obscure. The plural "you" (כֶם - khem) here refers to the entire Israelite community, indicating a corporate decision and destiny.
- today (הַיּוֹם - hayyōm): This adverb signifies immediate relevance and urgency. While the covenant was made at Sinai, its terms and the resulting choices are not merely historical. They are present and vital for "this very day" and for every succeeding generation. It makes the decision pressing and existential for Israel's current and future experience in the land.
- a blessing (בְּרָכָה - b'rāḵāh): Derived from a root meaning "to kneel" (suggesting reverence or bestowal). In this context, it refers to divine favor, prosperity, life, abundance, security, and well-being. It encapsulates all good things that flow from God's hand when His people walk in faithfulness to His covenant.
- and a curse (וּקְלָלָה - u q'lālāh): From a root meaning "to be light," often implying being slighted or dismissed. It refers to divine judgment, misfortune, adversity, withdrawal of favor, and suffering. It encompasses all the negative consequences and calamities that naturally result from disobedience and covenant unfaithfulness.
Words-group by Words-group Analysis:
- "See, I am setting before you today": This opening segment emphasizes divine initiative and clarity. God is not distant but actively and directly presents a critical decision. The urgency of "today" highlights that this is a moment for decision that holds immediate and continuing consequences for the collective and individual Israelite.
- "a blessing and a curse": This phrase establishes a stark, dualistic outcome with no intermediate path. It signifies the absolute nature of God's covenant. Fidelity leads to life and prosperity; infidelity leads to decline and judgment. This binary framework permeates much of Old Testament theology regarding God's dealings with Israel.
Deuteronomy 11 26 Bonus section
- The emphasis on "today" (הַיּוֹם - hayyōm) in Deuteronomy is highly significant. It means the covenant demands ongoing, active observance and decision-making for each generation and each individual within it. It prevents the covenant from being merely a historical relic; instead, it is a living commitment.
- This verse serves as a crucial theological setup for the dramatic covenant renewal ceremony involving Mount Gerizim (blessings) and Mount Ebal (curses), detailed later in Deuteronomy. It establishes the reason for that dramatic visual aid.
- The clear presentation of a blessing and a curse highlights the ethical demands of Yahwism. Unlike some contemporary pagan cults where the divine realm might be seen as capricious or requiring arbitrary rituals for favor, Yahweh offers a just system where prosperity is explicitly tied to moral righteousness and loyalty to Him alone. This acts as a subtle but powerful polemic against such alternative belief systems.
- While initially for Israel, the underlying principle of cause and effect tied to spiritual choices remains a universal biblical truth, albeit understood through the lens of God's differing covenant administrations.
Deuteronomy 11 26 Commentary
Deuteronomy 11:26 presents the fundamental principle that would govern Israel's existence and experience in the Promised Land: their destiny hinges entirely on their response to God's commandments. It's a succinct distillation of Deuteronomic theology, which posits a direct, unmediated link between obedience and prosperity, and disobedience and suffering. This isn't about arbitrary divine whims, but predictable outcomes stemming from Israel's volitional choices. God, in His fairness and transparency, openly lays out the consequences of their adherence or deviation from the covenant. This principle acts as a constant moral compass, reinforcing individual and corporate responsibility. It challenges them to consider the eternal ramifications of their present-day decisions and serves as a powerful call to consistently choose the path of life through faithfulness to their covenant-making God. This divine framing is essential for understanding the cycles of blessing and hardship chronicled throughout Israel's history in the Old Testament.