Deuteronomy 28 14

Deuteronomy 28:14 kjv

And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 nkjv

So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 niv

Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 esv

and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 nlt

You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 14 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:14 serves as a critical concluding stipulation for receiving covenant blessings, demanding absolute and unwavering loyalty from Israel to Yahweh. It emphatically prohibits any deviation from God's comprehensive commands, no matter how slight, and explicitly forbids adopting foreign deities or engaging in idolatrous practices. The verse underscores the exclusivity of Israel’s relationship with their God, stipulating that fidelity to Him involves a single, undeviating path of obedience and sole worship.

Deuteronomy 28 14 Context

Deuteronomy 28:14 stands as the final condition preceding the detailed list of covenant curses, immediately following the exhaustive promises of blessings in verses 1-13. It crystallizes the absolute loyalty required of Israel to maintain their privileged position as "the head and not the tail" (Deut 28:13). The entire chapter outlines the foundational conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant: perfect obedience leads to abundant blessings, while disobedience incurs severe curses. Historically, this echoes the suzerain-vassal treaties prevalent in the ancient Near East, where a lesser king (vassal, i.e., Israel) pledged exclusive allegiance to a dominant king (suzerain, i.e., Yahweh), forbidding any fealty to rival powers. Moses, in this discourse, reaffirms this covenant for a new generation poised to enter the Promised Land, setting clear parameters for their conduct within the promised inheritance and against the backdrop of pervasive Canaanite polytheism and immorality.

Deuteronomy 28 14 Word analysis

• "and you shall not turn aside" (לֹא תָסוּר - lo tasur): Tasur (from the root סוּר - sur) means "to turn away, depart, deviate, go astray." It implies a conscious act of veering from a prescribed course. This is not mere accidental straying but a deliberate act of unfaithfulness or rebellion against the established path of obedience. It underscores the active decision required to remain in covenant fidelity.
• "from any of the words" (מִכָּל־הַדְּבָרִים - mikkol-hadevarim): "Words" (devarim) refers comprehensively to God's entire body of commands, statutes, and ordinances given through Moses. This phrase emphasizes the absolute and universal nature of the law, demanding complete, not partial or selective, obedience. No command is trivial; all must be kept.
• "that I command you today": Highlights the immediate authority and present-day relevance of Moses' pronouncements, given as divine commands directly from God. "Today" also stresses the immediacy of their obligation and accountability, underscoring the urgency and freshness of the covenant stipulations to the generation on the brink of entering Canaan.
• "to the right hand or to the left" (יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול - yamin u'smol): This is an idiomatic expression signifying "in any direction," "to the slightest degree," or "to deviate in any manner." It underscores the precision and strictness required in obedience, leaving no room for personal interpretation, modification, or compromise, however minor. This phrasing is common in legal and wisdom literature of the ancient world to denote exactness.
• "to go after other gods" (לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים - lalekhet acharei elohim acherim): "To go after" (lalekhet acharei) implies pursuing, following, seeking, or being devoted to. It denotes an active act of allegiance or commitment. "Other gods" (elohim acherim) refers specifically to the numerous pagan deities of surrounding cultures (e.g., Baal, Asherah, Molech), emphasizing that Yahweh is the exclusive God of Israel. This phrase represents a direct polemic against the polytheism and syncretism prevalent in Canaan, which Israel was consistently tempted to embrace.
• "to serve them" (לְעָבְדָם - le'avdam): Avad means "to work, serve, worship." This denotes more than mere belief; it implies active engagement in the worship, rituals, and practices associated with these other deities. To serve them means to acknowledge their supposed authority, offer them devotion, and follow their customs, thus fundamentally violating the exclusive loyalty demanded by Yahweh.

Words-group analysis

• "and you shall not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today": This opening segment establishes the core injunction: strict adherence to God's complete, present word. It emphasizes the absolute nature of the Law, demanding total fidelity and rejecting any selective obedience or subjective reinterpretation of God’s expressed will. The totality implied by "any of the words" is crucial.
• "to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them": This clarifies the manner and the consequence of "turning aside." The "right or left" describes the meticulous and unwavering path of obedience, emphasizing that even minor deviations are forbidden. Such deviations are explicitly linked to the existential threat of "going after other gods to serve them," making it clear that any departure from Yahweh’s path inevitably leads to idolatry and apostasy, thereby breaking the very essence of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 28 14 Bonus section

• The phrase "to the right hand or to the left" serves as a military idiom for strict formation and adherence, reflecting the precision and discipline expected of Israel in following God’s commands, as if marching in divine order.
• This verse provides theological justification for the prophetic denunciations of Israel's later history, as their frequent turning "to the right or to the left" through idolatry and disobedience ultimately led to the curses foretold in this very chapter.
• The connection between "turning aside from the words" and "going after other gods" reveals a fundamental biblical understanding that practical disobedience to God's revealed will is always, at its core, a form of spiritual rebellion that enthrones something other than God—be it self-will, material desire, or false deities.
• In covenant renewal contexts throughout the Bible, the emphasis on this non-deviation from God's way is consistently reiterated, signifying its supreme importance for Israel's sustained well-being and their covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 28 14 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:14 stands as a critical hinge in Moses' covenant discourse, firmly shutting the door on any notion of partial allegiance to Yahweh. Having just delineated the glorious blessings contingent on absolute obedience, this verse sets the boundaries, emphasizing that a state of blessing can only be maintained by unswerving devotion to God's entire Law. The command "not to turn aside to the right hand or to the left" underscores the singular and narrow path of faithfulness. There is no middle ground or room for compromise; even slight deviations from God's "words" are equated with turning to forbidden paths. Crucially, the verse defines the ultimate outcome of such turning: active pursuit and worship of "other gods." This illustrates a profound biblical principle: any departure from the one true God’s way, whether through overt rebellion, neglect of His commands, or subtle compromise with worldly values, inherently substitutes God's authority with another (idolatry). It’s not merely about abstract obedience but exclusive worship of Yahweh, directly challenging the syncretism that continually threatened Israel’s purity. This command thus serves as a foundational declaration against all forms of idolatry and unfaithfulness.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • In ethics: Upholding biblical principles of justice and mercy in all situations, not deviating to compromise for personal gain or societal pressure.
  • In worship: Ensuring all acts of worship are directed solely to God according to His revealed will, not incorporating elements derived from secular entertainment or personal preference.
  • In daily decisions: Consulting scripture and prayer when making life choices, rather than relying on worldly wisdom or peer influence that "turn" one from God's will.