Deuteronomy 28 17

Deuteronomy 28:17 kjv

Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Deuteronomy 28:17 nkjv

"Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Deuteronomy 28:17 niv

Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.

Deuteronomy 28:17 esv

Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Deuteronomy 28:17 nlt

Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be cursed.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 17 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:17 pronounces a specific divine judgment upon basic sustenance and economic activity, stating, "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl." This signifies that the very means by which a household gathers, prepares, and consumes its daily food and provisions will be afflicted. It represents a comprehensive and intimate curse on one's economic livelihood and the ability to find nourishment, directly impacting the fundamental aspects of daily life and well-being as a consequence of covenant disobedience.

Deuteronomy 28 17 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 28 is a pivotal covenant document outlining the profound consequences of obedience and disobedience for the nation of Israel as they stand on the precipice of entering the Promised Land. Moses delivers this address, presenting a clear choice: either great blessings will follow covenant faithfulness (Deut 28:1-14), or severe curses will ensue from covenant disloyalty (Deut 28:15-68). Verse 17 specifically falls within the extensive list of curses, illustrating that disobedience would affect even the most fundamental and intimate aspects of their daily survival, directly contradicting God's promise of abundant provision in the land. This historical and literary context underscores the seriousness of the covenant and the holistic nature of God's blessings and judgments.

Deuteronomy 28 17 Word analysis

• Cursed (Hebrew: אָרוּר, arur):

  • This is a strong theological term indicating a state of divine condemnation, active displeasure, and separation from blessing. It is the antonym of baruch (blessed).
  • It's not merely bad luck, but a direct, divinely enacted judgment. It implies the removal of God's favor and protection, leading to decay, frustration, and failure in whatever it afflicts.
  • This term resonates with the primeval curse in Gen 3:17-19 upon the ground and human toil due to sin, indicating a reversal of creational blessing and a return to struggle and futility.

• shall be:

  • A strong declaration of future certainty. It implies that this outcome is a guaranteed consequence, not a possibility.

• your basket (Hebrew: סַל, sal):

  • A common container used for gathering produce from the fields or marketplace (fruits, grains).
  • Symbolically, it represents the incoming livelihood, the fruits of one's labor, the successful collection of goods, or the initial stage of provision. It speaks of a successful harvest and the gathering of food for storage and future use.
  • It implies the entire economic output and the abundance (or lack thereof) derived from agricultural or commercial endeavors. Its curse means no usable yield or no successful gathering.

• and your kneading bowl (Hebrew: מִשְׁאֶרֶת, mish'ereth):

  • A trough or bowl specifically used for kneading dough and preparing bread, a staple of life in the ancient world.
  • Symbolically, it represents the prepared daily sustenance, the ability to process raw goods into edible food, and the fundamental provisioning within the home. It is an intimate and domestic item, signifying that the curse affects not just what is gathered but what is brought into the very heart of the household for consumption.
  • It points to a failure at the level of consumption and satisfaction—food might be gathered, but it will not sustain or satisfy. (Exo 8:3 shows frogs entering kneading bowls, highlighting its commonality).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Cursed shall be": This phrase underlines the sovereign power of God behind the judgment. It's not a natural disaster in isolation, but a direct consequence sanctioned by the divine covenant, actively reversing any blessing.
  • "your basket and your kneading bowl": This pairing covers the entire spectrum of food acquisition and consumption. "Basket" represents the means of income and harvest (what you bring in from your efforts), and "kneading bowl" represents the prepared provision for the household (what sustains your daily life). The curse targeting both means that Israel's efforts to provide for themselves—from the field to the kitchen—would be entirely frustrated, leading to perpetual scarcity and hunger. It illustrates the pervasive nature of the curse, affecting not just large-scale disasters but intimate, daily realities.

Deuteronomy 28 17 Bonus section

This seemingly small verse underscores the Old Testament principle that God's covenant with Israel encompassed all areas of life, including the mundane and domestic. Divine blessing meant abundance and the full enjoyment of the fruits of their labor (Deut 28:1-14); conversely, disobedience would lead to the very opposite – a turning of life's fundamental provisions into sources of frustration and want. This intimate detail serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over every aspect of existence, from the largest harvest to the smallest loaf of bread. It also foreshadows a deeper reality: true nourishment and blessing ultimately come from spiritual obedience, while spiritual disobedience (sin) carries a "curse" that even Christ Himself had to bear (Gal 3:13) to restore humanity's access to true life and blessing. The failure of the "basket" and "kneading bowl" ultimately points to a more profound spiritual hunger caused by separation from God.

Deuteronomy 28 17 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:17 highlights the deeply personal and inescapable nature of the covenant curses for Israel's disobedience. By specifically naming the "basket" and "kneading bowl," the verse paints a vivid picture of the curse permeating the very core of daily existence. It’s a direct assault on the fundamental security and nourishment of every individual and family. The curse signifies that even when work is performed (symbolized by the potential for a "basket" to be filled), or food prepared (symbolized by the "kneading bowl"), it would yield no true satisfaction or provision. This speaks to a holistic famine – not just an absence of food, but a divine decree ensuring that efforts are futile and sustenance is either unattainable or unable to truly nourish. This underscores that prosperity is a blessing from God, and its withdrawal signifies divine disfavor over a broken covenant. For example, a farmer might see a harvest, but pests or rot destroy it before it fills the basket, or the bread baked from it may offer no sustenance, symbolizing deep spiritual dissatisfaction.