Deuteronomy 28 30

Deuteronomy 28:30 kjv

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

Deuteronomy 28:30 nkjv

"You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes.

Deuteronomy 28:30 niv

You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:30 esv

You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:30 nlt

"You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will sleep with her. You will build a house, but someone else will live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will never enjoy its fruit.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 30 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:30 describes severe curses for Israel's disobedience to God's covenant, detailing a reversal of expected life blessings. It speaks of a man betrothing a wife but another taking her, building a home but not dwelling in it, and planting a vineyard but not enjoying its produce. These curses signify the complete futility of labor, the loss of personal security, and profound humiliation as the consequences of forsaking God's commands. It depicts a state where one's most cherished aspirations and investments are confiscated or usurped by others, leaving one with nothing.

Deuteronomy 28 30 Context

Deuteronomy 28 is a pivotal chapter in the Mosaic covenant, detailing the comprehensive blessings for obedience (vv. 1-14) and devastating curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68). Verse 30 falls within the initial list of curses, describing various forms of personal and national calamity. It specifically focuses on the reversal of fundamental aspects of ancient Israelite life: marriage, homeownership, and agricultural prosperity. These curses are not arbitrary but directly contradict the blessings God promised to bestow upon an obedient nation. The historical context is that of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, being warned by Moses about the solemn obligations of the covenant and the stark consequences of forsaking Yahweh for foreign gods or practices. The curses collectively paint a picture of loss, insecurity, degradation, and foreign oppression that would culminate in exile if Israel continually rejected God's commands.

Deuteronomy 28 30 Word analysis

• You shall betroth (וְאֵרַשְׁתָּ֣ Wə’êraštā): From the Hebrew root 'aras (אֵרַשׂ), meaning "to be betrothed, espoused." In ancient Israel, betrothal was a legally binding stage, almost equivalent to marriage, usually requiring a divorce to dissolve. It implied future consummation and starting a family. The curse hits at the very threshold of this deeply personal and societal foundation.
• a wife (אִשָּׁ֑ה ’iššāh): Hebrew for woman or wife. The curse highlights the seizure of what is legally and intimately one's own.
• but another man shall lie with her (וְאִישׁׁ אַחֵר יִשְׁכַּבְנָֽה׃ wə’îš ’aḥêr yišḵabnāh): Yishḵabnāh (יִשְׁכַּבְנָה) comes from shakhāv (שָׁכַב), meaning "to lie down," specifically used in a sexual context. This part of the curse is an extreme personal humiliation and a violation of the marriage covenant, undermining the purity and integrity of the family unit. It signifies foreign intrusion into the most private domain.
• You shall build (בָּנֶה֒ Bāneh): From bānâh (בָּנָה), meaning "to build, construct." Houses represented stability, permanence, and legacy.
• a house (בַ֙יִת֙ Bayiṯ): Hebrew for house or household. This was a significant investment and symbol of personal establishment and security.
• but you shall not dwell in it (וְלֹא תֵשֵׁ֖ב בֹּֽו׃ wəLō’ ṯêšêḇ bōw): Têšêḇ (תֵשֵׁב) from yasháv (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit, dwell, remain." The inability to dwell in one's own built house represents futility, displacement, and a lack of true possession or security.
• You shall plant (תִּטַּע֙ Tiṭṭa‘): From nāta‘ (נָטַע), meaning "to plant, establish." Agricultural endeavor was central to Israel's economy and livelihood in the promised land.
• a vineyard (כֶּ֔רֶם kerem): A long-term agricultural investment requiring years of cultivation before bearing fruit. Vineyards were symbols of prosperity, blessing, and enjoyment.
• but you shall not enjoy its fruit (וְלֹ֣א תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ wəLō’ ṯəḥallelennū): Təḥallelennū (תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ) from ḥālal (חָלַל), meaning "to profane, defile, pollute," but also, in agricultural contexts, "to make common, to enjoy for the first time" (referring to the first usage after the period of holy fruits, e.g., Lev 19:23-25). Here, it means to "initiate the common use" or simply "enjoy its fruits." The curse means the fruit will not be harvested or consumed by the planter, perhaps due to enemy seizure, desolation, or an inability to enjoy the bounty. This emphasizes the loss of the long-awaited benefit from one's hard work.

Words-group analysis:

• "You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her.": This phrase attacks the most sacred and intimate aspects of family life. It signifies utter humiliation, sexual violation, and the inability to establish a legitimate lineage, impacting deeply on personal honor and tribal continuity. It suggests societal breakdown and foreign conquest, where women are seized as spoil.
• "You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it.": This speaks to the futility of one's efforts and the loss of security and heritage. A home symbolized stability, protection, and continuity for generations. Not dwelling in one's own house implies forced displacement, confiscation by invaders, or a state of homelessness despite one's investment.
• "You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.": This highlights the loss of economic return, sustenance, and the pleasant fruits of one's long-term labor. Vineyards were vital for livelihood and celebratory wine. This implies economic devastation, either through the land's desolation or through invaders seizing the produce, leaving the rightful owners without sustenance or joy.

Deuteronomy 28 30 Bonus section

The nature of these curses aligns with ancient Near Eastern treaty formats, where disloyalty to the suzerain (the more powerful party) resulted in devastating punishments outlined in the treaty's curse section. Yahweh, as Israel's divine suzerain, established His covenant with stipulations and consequences mirroring but far surpassing those of human treaties. The specificity of these curses, targeting the core elements of Israelite domestic and economic life, ensured the audience would understand the severe and direct implications of unfaithfulness. The theme of building but not inhabiting, and planting but not enjoying, is echoed throughout prophetic literature as a sign of judgment, emphasizing that true enjoyment and security come only through God's favor, not through human effort alone. These curses serve as a prophetic warning that was indeed realized multiple times in Israel's history, especially during the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where foreigners literally took their land, homes, and people.

Deuteronomy 28 30 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:30 vividly illustrates the personal devastation resulting from Israel's national disobedience to God's covenant. The three examples given are not random; they represent fundamental aspirations and pillars of a stable and prosperous life in ancient society: marriage and family, secure dwelling, and economic well-being through land ownership and agriculture. The curse pronounces the total inversion of these blessings, leading to profound personal futility and shame.

This passage underscores God's sovereignty over every aspect of life. Blessings flow from His hand, enabling prosperity, peace, and security in one's relationships, home, and labor. Conversely, withdrawal of His blessing results in a cursed state where all human effort is nullified, and possessions are taken by others. The curses are a consequence, demonstrating that faithfulness to God is the prerequisite for enjoying the gifts He provides. This serves as a stark warning: violating the covenant means God's protective hand is withdrawn, leaving His people vulnerable to precisely the kind of exploitation and deprivation they were delivered from in Egypt. It portrays a deep humiliation and disinheritance, often fulfilled through foreign invasion and exile, where conquerors would indeed seize wives, houses, and harvests.