Deuteronomy 28 39

Deuteronomy 28:39 kjv

Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

Deuteronomy 28:39 nkjv

You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

Deuteronomy 28:39 niv

You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.

Deuteronomy 28:39 esv

You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.

Deuteronomy 28:39 nlt

You will plant vineyards and care for them, but you will not drink the wine or eat the grapes, for worms will destroy the vines.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 39 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:39 vividly portrays a curse of futility and despair that would befall the disobedient nation of Israel. Despite diligent human labor in cultivating vineyards—planting and dressing them—they would gain no benefit or enjoyment from their toil. Neither wine nor grapes would be available for their consumption because a plague of "worms" or pests would destroy the harvest. This signifies a complete absence of blessing, joy, and sustenance, demonstrating the direct consequence of departing from God's covenant.

Deuteronomy 28 39 Context

Deuteronomy 28 is a pivotal chapter in the book, outlining the comprehensive blessings for obedience to the covenant (verses 1-14) and the severe curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). This chapter acts as a summary of the Mosaic Law's consequences, deeply emphasizing the direct connection between Israel's faithfulness and their prosperity or suffering in the land. Verse 39 falls within the specific agricultural and economic curses, following descriptions of foreign oppressors devouring the produce of the land and children being led into captivity. It highlights how even the most basic and anticipated returns from their labor, crucial for an agrarian society, would be denied as a consequence of their sin, leading to a profound state of deprivation and hopelessness. The focus here is on the Lord directly sending destructive agents to ensure the curses materialize, leaving no doubt that it is divine judgment at work.

Deuteronomy 28 39 Word analysis

• You shall plant vineyards (וְכֶרֶם תִּטַּע, ve'kherem tiṭa)

  • Plant (תִּטַּע, tiṭa, from נָטַע naṭa): Implies significant effort, investment, and future expectation. This word highlights the human action of preparing for future sustenance and joy.
  • Vineyards (כֶרֶם, kherem, pl. כְּרָמִים k'ramim): Symbolized prosperity, joy, and fruitfulness in ancient Israel. A healthy vineyard was a sign of God's blessing and a staple of the economy and culture, producing the element of celebration (wine).

• and dress them (וְעָבַדְתָּם, ve'avadetam)

  • Dress them (וְעָבַדְתָּם, ve'avadetam, from עָבַד `avad): Indicates meticulous, continuous labor, cultivating the land and caring for the vines (pruning, weeding, supporting). It's the same root as "to serve" or "to work," underscoring diligent effort.

• but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes (וְיַיִן לֹא תִשְׁתֶּה וְלֹא תֶאֱסֹף, ve'yayin lo tishteh ve'lo te'esof)

  • Neither drink... nor gather: Denotes total deprivation. Despite all the effort, there is no physical or celebratory enjoyment. This is a profound frustration of purpose.
  • Wine (יַיִן, yayin): Signifies joy, feasting, and blessing. Its absence points to a state of mourning and lack of divine favor.
  • Grapes (עֲנָבִים, anavim): The direct, raw produce, signifying sustenance and basic provision.

• for the worms shall eat them (כִּי תֹאכְלֶנּוּ הַתּוֹלָע, ki tokhlenu ha'tola`)

  • Worms (הַתּוֹלָע, ha'tola`): This specific term often refers to the scarlet worm, but in agricultural contexts, it refers to a destructive larva or caterpillar. It implies a slow, insidious, yet comprehensive destruction from within or by persistent, small agents. This is God using nature's destructive power to execute His judgment.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "You shall plant vineyards and dress them": Emphasizes the significant human investment, effort, and hopeful expectation put into their agricultural endeavors. This highlights the painful irony of the ensuing curse – great labor with absolutely no return. It shows a typical aspect of Israelite agrarian life, establishing the direct impact of the curse.
  • "but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes": This phrase succinctly states the devastating consequence: complete futility. All effort results in absolutely no benefit, sustenance, or joy. It directly undermines the very purpose of agriculture and living in a fruitful land. The pairing of "wine" (joy, celebration) and "grapes" (sustenance) shows that both the ceremonial and practical aspects of their harvest are nullified.
  • "for the worms shall eat them": This specifies the mechanism of the curse. It's not a complete drought or immediate fire but a slow, persistent, and inevitable destruction by small, pervasive creatures, emphasizing God's sovereign control over even the minute aspects of nature to fulfill His judgment. The "worms" represent a form of decay and slow spoilage that undermines the harvest before it can even be enjoyed.

Deuteronomy 28 39 Bonus section

This curse serves as a profound polemic against any notion that a nation's prosperity is solely due to human effort or a deterministic cycle of nature. Instead, it asserts divine sovereignty over all natural processes and agricultural yields. The specific curse of pests was deeply frightening to an ancient agricultural people, as they relied heavily on their harvests for survival. The emphasis on "worms" highlights God's ability to use even seemingly small, insignificant creatures as instruments of large-scale destruction and judgment. This curse highlights the theological principle that divine retribution for sin often manifests in areas where a people place their trust or derive their identity, here, their agriculture and a promised fruitful land.

Deuteronomy 28 39 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:39 powerfully illustrates the severe consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. It describes a curse of agricultural futility, a bitter inversion of the promised blessings of abundance and security. In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, the vineyard represented life, sustenance, and joy. To put in the extensive labor required to plant and cultivate a vineyard, only to have the fruit consumed by pests before harvest, struck at the heart of their livelihood and cultural celebrations.

This specific curse signifies that God, who grants the fertility of the land and the ability to work it, can also withdraw His blessing and send natural calamities. The "worms" are not random occurrences but agents of divine judgment, revealing God's active hand in their suffering. The verse conveys a sense of despair: human effort, however diligent, becomes pointless without God's enabling favor. It underscores that true prosperity comes not merely from labor but from labor blessed by God through obedience to His commands. Without this divine protection and favor, life becomes an endless, fruitless toil.