Deuteronomy 28 25

Deuteronomy 28:25 kjv

The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

Deuteronomy 28:25 nkjv

"The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Deuteronomy 28:25 niv

The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.

Deuteronomy 28:25 esv

"The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Deuteronomy 28:25 nlt

"The LORD will cause you to be defeated by your enemies. You will attack your enemies from one direction, but you will scatter from them in seven! You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 25 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:25 pronounces a severe consequence for Israel's disobedience to the covenant: divine intervention would lead to overwhelming military defeat. Instead of victoriously conquering their enemies, the Israelites would suffer a complete rout, fleeing in panic in multiple directions after initiating a battle in an organized manner. This would cause them to become an object of fear and horror to surrounding nations, not because of their strength, but because of their demonstrable weakness and the catastrophic judgment inflicted upon them.

Deuteronomy 28 25 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 28 presents a stark contrast between blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the covenant established between the LORD and Israel at Sinai. Verses 1-14 detail abundant blessings, while verses 15-68 describe increasingly severe curses. Verse 25 falls squarely within the "curses" section (specifically vv. 15-46), emphasizing military defeat as a direct consequence of covenant infidelity. Historically, this address by Moses prepares the Israelites for their entry into the Promised Land, serving as a solemn warning that their possession and prosperity in the land were entirely contingent upon their faithful adherence to God's commands. The pronouncement of military defeat and becoming a "terror" stands in direct opposition to God's original intention for Israel to be a mighty and respected nation among the surrounding peoples, a beacon of His power and blessing.

Deuteronomy 28 25 Word analysis

• The LORD: (יְהוָה, Yehovah). This is the personal, covenant name of God, YHWH. Its use here emphasizes that these consequences are not random misfortunes but are specifically ordained and executed by the sovereign God of Israel. It highlights divine agency in bringing about judgment, rather than mere adverse circumstances.
• will cause you to be defeated: (יִתְּנְךָ֙ נִגָּף֙, yittenkhá niggâf). Literally, "He will give you struck down." The Hebrew verb natan (to give/place) indicates God's active, intentional action in bringing about Israel's defeat. Niggâf (smitten, defeated) is a Niphal participle, conveying a state of being struck down or afflicted. It signifies a profound, crushing defeat that emanates from divine appointment.
• before your enemies: (לִפְנֵ֥י אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ, lifnei oyeveicha). This phrase signifies an open, humiliating defeat. It's not a hidden failure but a public demonstration of Israel's vulnerability and God's displeasure, witnessed by those who oppose them. This public disgrace magnifies the judgment.
• you shall go out one way: (בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו, bederekh echad tetze eilev). This describes a disciplined, organized military advance. Israel would still engage their foes, initiating battle with proper formation. It suggests initial confidence or strategy.
• and flee seven ways: (וּבְשִׁבְעָה֙ דְרָכִ֣ים תָּנ֣וּס לִפְפְיהֶ֔ם, uvisheve'a derakhim tanus lifneihem). This is a stark contrast and hyperbole. "Seven" denotes completeness or multitude. It vividly portrays total, chaotic rout, absolute panic, and utter disorganization. After one path of advance, there are seven paths of desperate retreat, scattering in every conceivable direction, signaling total disarray and an overwhelming defeat that leaves no hope of rallying. This directly reverses the blessing in Deut 28:7 where enemies flee seven ways from Israel.
• before them: (לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם, lifneihem). Reinforces the humiliating public display of their panicked retreat in front of their enemies.
• And you shall be a terror: (וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ לְזַֽעֲוָ֔ה, vehayitah leza'avah). The word za'avah means "a shaking," "a horror," "a dismay," or "a consternation." It refers to something that inspires dread and revulsion. Israel, instead of being a nation feared for its divine backing and strength (Deut 2:25; Josh 2:9-11), would become an object of dreadful astonishment—not due to its power, but due to the spectacular nature of its judgment and misfortune.
• to all the kingdoms of the earth: (לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃, lekhol mamlekhiot ha'aretz). This indicates the widespread notoriety of Israel's fallen state. Their suffering would become a horrifying object lesson or a dreadful spectacle to all surrounding nations, highlighting the severity of God's judgment upon a disobedient covenant people.

Deuteronomy 28 25 Bonus section

This verse powerfully demonstrates the chiastic structure often found in biblical poetry and covenant texts, reversing the blessing described earlier in Deut 28:7 ("The LORD will cause your enemies... to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways"). The inversion of the military outcome highlights the stark consequence of covenant breach, turning their former divine advantage into profound disadvantage. It underscores a key biblical truth: God, not military might, determines national success or failure for His people based on their obedience to Him. The phrase "flee seven ways" also evokes the imagery of an arrow scattered or an utterly broken host, incapable of regrouping or effective resistance.

Deuteronomy 28 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:25 stands as a chilling prophecy within the conditional covenant presented by Moses. It asserts the LORD's active role in Israel's downfall should they abandon His statutes. The initial, organized advance ("one way") only serves to amplify the shame of the subsequent, total collapse ("flee seven ways"). This vivid imagery is not merely about losing a battle, but about utter military and social disintegration. The nation meant to be blessed above all others becomes a shocking warning, an "object of horror" to the world. Their disgrace serves as a testimony to God's holiness and His unwavering commitment to upholding His covenant, whether through blessings for obedience or curses for rebellion. This curse underscored the gravity of their choice and the direct correlation between their national fate and their fidelity to God's law. For the church, while not experiencing literal military defeat for spiritual disobedience, the principle endures: compromise with God's truth can lead to internal disarray, loss of spiritual influence, and even becoming a reproach in the world rather than a beacon of God's light.