Deuteronomy 28 33

Deuteronomy 28:33 kjv

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labors, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

Deuteronomy 28:33 nkjv

A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually.

Deuteronomy 28:33 niv

A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce, and you will have nothing but cruel oppression all your days.

Deuteronomy 28:33 esv

A nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually,

Deuteronomy 28:33 nlt

A foreign nation you have never heard about will eat the crops you worked so hard to grow. You will suffer under constant oppression and harsh treatment.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 33 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:33 details a severe consequence of Israel's disobedience to God's covenant: their land's produce and all their painstaking labor will be consumed by a foreign, unknown nation. The people themselves will experience constant oppression and unrelenting spiritual and physical devastation, signifying a complete loss of sovereignty, economic stability, and well-being. This describes a state of total subjugation and humiliation.

Deuteronomy 28 33 Context

Deuteronomy 28 stands as a pivotal chapter in the book, outlining the comprehensive blessings for obedience to the Mosaic Covenant (vv. 1-14) and the severe curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68). This chapter represents a climactic moment in Moses' farewell address, delivered on the plains of Moab as Israel stood poised to enter the Promised Land. The purpose was to re-present the terms of the covenant and impress upon the new generation the gravity of their commitment to the Lord. Verse 33 falls within the latter, much longer, section of curses. Specifically, it details the economic and personal devastation that would befall the Israelites due to their idolatry and abandonment of God's statutes. The historical context reflects ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, where the covenant God, Yahweh, acts as the sovereign King, establishing the terms of loyalty with His vassal people, Israel, with clear consequences for faithfulness or rebellion. The threats of foreign oppression were not abstract; they foretold the historical subjugation of Israel by Assyria, Babylon, and later empires.

Deuteronomy 28 33 Word analysis

• The fruit of your ground (יְבוּל אֲדָמָתְךָ, yevul adamatecha): This refers to the produce, the agricultural yield. It signifies the primary source of their sustenance and wealth in an agrarian society. The curse implies the loss of economic foundation.

• and all your labors (וְכָל־יְגִיעֲךָ, v'kol-yegia'acha): This phrase extends beyond just farm produce to encompass all earnings, all hard-won income, and effort. It underscores that every aspect of their productive work would be futile, its benefit stolen. "Labors" here signifies expended energy and sweat.

• a nation (גּוֹי, goy): This word denotes a foreign, gentile nation, distinct from Israel. It emphasizes the alienation and the loss of covenant protection, as God's chosen people would be subjugated by those outside the covenant.

• whom you have not known (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדַעְתָּ, asher lo-yada'ta): This signifies that the oppressor would be unfamiliar, unexpected, or culturally alien. This lack of prior acquaintance means no existing relationship, no potential for mercy, and a stark realization of God's severe judgment by instruments completely foreign to them. It intensifies the sense of terror and powerlessness.

• shall eat up (יֹאכְלֶנּוּ, yokhlenu): This verb implies consumption, devouring. It is a predatory action, indicating that the foreign nation will wholly consume their wealth without sharing or compensation. It speaks to a complete stripping of resources.

• and you shall be only oppressed (וְהָיִיתָ רַק עָשׁוּק, v'hayita rak 'ashuq): "Oppressed" ('ashuq) describes being crushed, exploited, or defrauded. The word "only" (rak) highlights the singular state of being continually exploited, without respite or hope for justice. Their existence would be defined by this state of suffering.

• and crushed continually (וּמְרֻצָּץ תָּמִיד, u'merutzatz tamid): "Crushed" (merutzatz) means shattered, ground into powder, or bruised. It conveys total breaking and hopelessness, implying both physical and spiritual decimation. The term "continually" (tamid) indicates the relentless and unending nature of this suffering, emphasizing that relief would not come easily, if at all, while in this state of disobedience.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The fruit of your ground and all your labors": This combination comprehensively covers all economic activity and output. It paints a picture of utter destitution where all productivity yields nothing for the producers, but feeds their enemies.
  • "A nation whom you have not known": This phrase underlines the terrifying and unexpected nature of the foreign invaders. They would not be neighboring peoples with whom some familiarity existed, but utterly foreign powers, like the distant Assyrians and Babylonians who would indeed later fulfill these very prophecies.
  • "Oppressed and crushed continually": This pairing vividly describes the ceaseless physical and emotional torment inflicted upon the people. It's a double blow: their means of survival are taken, and their very spirit and bodies are relentlessly tormented, demonstrating the profound despair that accompanies such divine judgment.

Deuteronomy 28 33 Bonus section

This verse powerfully illustrates the principle that faithfulness to God leads to blessings, while unfaithfulness leads to a stripping away of those very blessings. It demonstrates God's sovereignty over nations, using even pagan empires as instruments of His judgment against His own people when they stray from His path. The detailed nature of the curses in Deuteronomy 28 also serves as a pedagogical tool, educating Israel about the holistic implications of their covenant relationship. It teaches them that their national prosperity, physical safety, and even psychological well-being are intrinsically tied to their obedience to the one true God, setting them apart from surrounding nations who attributed success or failure to their many deities or sheer human effort. The curses, though severe, were ultimately a call to repentance and restoration, not merely an end-state of destruction.

Deuteronomy 28 33 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:33 succinctly captures a terrible consequence of covenant breach: the inversion of blessing into curse. The very blessings promised for obedience – abundance from the land and security in their labor – are turned into the means of their affliction. Their produce becomes plunder, and their toil enriches foreign oppressors. This specific curse anticipates the historical exiles of Israel, where nations like Assyria and Babylon did indeed overrun their land, seize their produce, and lead their people captive, leaving them utterly destitute and without power. It highlights God's sovereign justice; His warnings are not empty threats but certain pronouncements against deliberate rebellion. The repeated nature of the "continually" emphasizes a persistent state of misery, illustrating that the consequences of severe disobedience would be a sustained period of hardship and exploitation, leaving no room for respite outside of repentance and divine intervention.