Deuteronomy 28 4

Deuteronomy 28:4 kjv

Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Deuteronomy 28:4 nkjv

"Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:4 niv

The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock?the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:4 esv

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

Deuteronomy 28:4 nlt

Your children and your crops
will be blessed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
will be blessed.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 4 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:4 pronounces a blessing from the Lord, indicating that when Israel obeys God's commandments, there will be abundant prosperity in every sphere of life directly related to their survival and future. This divine favor will result in fruitfulness in children, plentiful agricultural harvests, and prolific animal offspring. It promises comprehensive and sustained provision from God for His obedient people.

Deuteronomy 28 4 Context

Deuteronomy 28 is central to the covenant renewed between the Lord and Israel on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. This chapter details a lengthy list of blessings for obedience (vv. 1-14) and an even longer list of curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68). Deuteronomy 28:4 falls within the initial section of blessings, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's favor for His people when they live in covenant faithfulness. The historical context is Israel on the cusp of transitioning from wilderness wandering to settling in an agrarian society, making blessings of fertility for land, livestock, and family of paramount importance for their survival, sustenance, and continuation as God's chosen nation. These promises were a direct contrast to the fertility cults of the surrounding Canaanite nations, affirming YHWH alone as the true source of all life and abundance.

Deuteronomy 28 4 Word analysis

• Blessed (בָּרוּךְ - barukh): This is a passive participle, meaning "one who is blessed." It signifies that the blessing comes from an external, higher power – God Himself. It implies divine favor and empowerment that results in prosperity, protection, and well-being. This contrasts with man's "blessing" God, which means to praise Him. Here, God is the subject who bestows blessing.
• shall be (תֶּהְיֶה - tehiyeh): Future tense, emphasizing the certainty of this outcome as a result of obedience. It is not a wish, but a declarative promise.
• the fruit (פְּרִי - peri): Literally "fruit," indicating produce, yield, or offspring. It is a broad term encompassing the outcome or result of production. In the ancient world, productivity was directly linked to God's favor or curse.
• of your body (בִטְנְךָ - bitnekha): Refers to the womb and its produce; i.e., children. In ancient Near Eastern culture, numerous offspring were considered a primary blessing, a sign of God's favor, and essential for lineage and societal continuity. Barrenness was often seen as a curse or divine displeasure.
• the fruit (פְּרִי - peri): Repeated for emphasis, showing the similar nature of divine blessing across different categories.
• of your ground (אַדְמָתֶךָ - admathekha): The land or cultivated earth belonging to the people. This refers to agricultural produce—crops like grain, oil, and wine. Essential for food and economic stability in an agrarian society.
• and the fruit (וּפְרִי - uphri): Continues the pattern of blessings.
• of your animals (בְהֶמְתֶּךָ - behemtekha): Refers to domesticated livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.)—those used for food, clothing, labor, and sacrifice. Their fertility was vital for the household's wealth and survival.
• the increase (שְׁגַר - shegar): Specific term for the "increase" or "offspring" of quadrupeds. Emphasizes growth in numbers.
• of your cattle (אֲלָפֶיךָ - alafecha): Refers specifically to bovine animals (cattle, oxen), often symbolizing great wealth and strength.
• and the offspring (וְעַשְׁתְּרוֹת - ve'ashtarot): Another specific term for "increase" or "offspring," particularly used for sheep and goats.
• of your flock (צֹאנֶךָ - tzonekha): Refers to smaller livestock like sheep and goats, which were a cornerstone of Israelite economy.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Blessed shall be the fruit of your body: Directly speaks to fertility in bearing children. This was the foundational promise in the Abrahamic covenant and remains a core blessing in the Bible, signifying hope, continuation of lineage, and God's favor upon a family. It stands as a powerful polemic against any belief that human procreation relies on fertility rituals or deities other than the One true God.
• the fruit of your ground: Promises agricultural abundance and rich harvests. For an agricultural society entering a land previously controlled by other cultures often linked to specific deities for rain and crops (like Baal), this blessing strongly affirms YHWH's exclusive control over nature and providence.
• and the fruit of your animals—the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock: Specifies the prosperity of their livestock. This comprehensive promise covers all major sources of material wealth and sustenance in the Israelite economy: children, crops, and animals. The repetition and specificity highlight the completeness of God's promised provision, demonstrating that every aspect of their productive life would thrive under His blessing.

Deuteronomy 28 4 Bonus section

The blessings in Deuteronomy 28:4, while literal and material for ancient Israel, also hold broader spiritual significance. The concept of "fruitfulness" in the New Testament (e.g., fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5) extends this idea to spiritual qualities and actions that result from obedience and abiding in Christ. Just as physical fruitfulness was a sign of God's favor in the Old Covenant, spiritual fruitfulness indicates God's work in a believer's life under the New Covenant. The emphasis on children ('fruit of your body') can also connect to the 'offspring' or 'seed' promises made to Abraham, pointing to a spiritual lineage in Christ, where believers are numerous not just by physical birth but through spiritual rebirth and faith. The principle of cause (obedience) and effect (blessing/fruitfulness) is a timeless biblical truth found across both testaments.

Deuteronomy 28 4 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:4 succinctly outlines three vital categories of blessing for covenant obedience: human fertility, agricultural abundance, and livestock proliferation. This verse emphasizes God’s holistic and all-encompassing provision for His obedient people. It is a declaration of comprehensive favor from the Lord that touches every productive aspect of their existence, guaranteeing sustenance, prosperity, and the perpetuation of their community. This was particularly significant for Israel as they transitioned to an agrarian society in the Promised Land, challenging the common Canaanite belief that local deities were responsible for fertility of land and livestock. The verse proclaims YHWH as the exclusive source of all fruitfulness. The consistent theme of "fruit" throughout underscores God's ability to make all things yield bountifully when His people walk in His ways, turning labor into reward and sustaining the family, community, and nation. The promised increase in these areas ensures not just survival but flourishing and influence among nations, fulfilling the divine promise for a blessed people.