Deuteronomy 28 40

Deuteronomy 28:40 kjv

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:40 nkjv

You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off.

Deuteronomy 28:40 niv

You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.

Deuteronomy 28:40 esv

You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off.

Deuteronomy 28:40 nlt

You will grow olive trees throughout your land, but you will never use the olive oil, for the fruit will drop before it ripens.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 40 Meaning

This verse pronounces a severe curse upon Israel for covenant disobedience: despite investing diligent effort and toil into planting and maintaining vineyards, they will derive no benefit from their labor. The produce, both the wine and the grapes themselves, will be consumed by a destructive "worm" or pestilence, rendering all human exertion futile and stripping away the expected harvest and joy.

Deuteronomy 28 40 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 28 is a pivotal chapter within the book of Deuteronomy, serving as the capstone to Moses' exhortations regarding the covenant between the Lord and Israel. It dramatically sets forth a comprehensive list of blessings that would follow national obedience to God's commandments (verses 1-14) and, conversely, an extensive list of curses that would befall them for disobedience (verses 15-68). This structure presents the Israelites with a clear choice and consequence, underscoring the conditional nature of their well-being in the promised land.

Verse 40 specifically falls within the lengthy curse section (Deu 28:15-68), emphasizing the economic and agricultural devastation that would plague a disobedient Israel. In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, success in farming and animal husbandry was paramount for survival and prosperity. The land's fertility was viewed as a direct gift and blessing from the Lord. Therefore, curses relating to agricultural failure, like the one described in Deu 28:40, struck at the very heart of their livelihood and challenged their perceived security. This curse serves to directly counter the pagan fertility gods, such as Baal, whom the surrounding nations worshipped for good harvests, demonstrating that Yahweh alone has sovereignty over the land's yield and the forces of nature.

Deuteronomy 28 40 Word analysis

• You shall plant (וְכֶרֶם תִּטָּע - vekerem titta'):
  • וְכֶרֶם (vekerem) means "and a vineyard" or "even a vineyard." The presence of the definite article highlights a specific and valuable agricultural undertaking.
  • תִּטָּע (titta') from נָטַע (nata') means "you shall plant." This signifies deliberate human effort, investment, and hope for future produce. It indicates that the failure is not due to idleness or lack of initial work but a supernatural intervention frustrating diligent labor.
• vineyards (כְּרָמִים - keramim): This plural form reinforces the general nature of this agricultural curse. Vineyards were vital for the Israelite economy and culture, providing wine for sustenance, celebration, and worship, as well as fresh fruit. The cultivation of a vineyard was a long-term investment, signifying a family's hope and prosperity.
• and dress them (וְעָבַדְתָּ - ve'avadta):
  • From עָבַד ('avad), meaning "to work," "to serve," "to labor meticulously." This word denotes significant and ongoing toil, pruning, weeding, and protecting the vines to ensure optimal yield. It emphasizes that the cultivators expended substantial effort and care.
• but you shall neither drink of the wine (וְיַיִן לֹא תִשְׁתֶּה - veyayin lo tishteh):
  • וְיַיִן (veyayin) means "and wine." This is the primary and expected product of a vineyard, essential for cultural practices and sustenance.
  • לֹא תִשְׁתֶּה (lo tishteh) means "you shall not drink." This highlights the total deprivation of the primary fruit of their labor, indicating a direct frustration of purpose and severe loss.
• nor gather the grapes (וְלֹא תֶאֱסֹף - velo te'esof):
  • וְלֹא תֶאֱסֹף (velo te'esof) means "nor shall you gather" (grapes are implied from "vineyards" and "wine"). This signifies a complete loss of the raw material itself, preventing even the casual enjoyment or the secondary uses of grapes.
• for the worm shall eat them (כִּי הַיָּצָא יֹאכְלֶנּוּ - ki hayyatza yochlenu):
  • כִּי (ki) means "for" or "because," introducing the reason for the futility.
  • הַיָּצָא (hayyatza): This is a significant and debated term. It literally means "that which goes out" or "that which comes forth" (from יָצָא - yatsa, to go forth, to come out). In this agricultural context, it is understood as a destructive agent or pest that "comes forth" to destroy crops. While not specifically identifying a "worm" in the biological sense, commentaries and ancient translations often associate it with types of devouring insects like caterpillars, grubs, or specific locust stages (e.g., stripping locusts or voracious larvae), or a more general blight or mildew. It represents God's sovereign hand in allowing or sending such a destructive force to ruin the harvest.
  • יֹאכְלֶנּוּ (yochlenu) means "it shall eat them" (from אָכַל - 'akhal, to eat, consume). This emphasizes the complete destruction and consumption of the grapes and the vineyard's yield.

• "You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes": This phrase captures the essence of labor's futility. It paints a vivid picture of hard work yielding absolutely no benefit. The effort, hope, and investment associated with establishing and maintaining vineyards are completely nullified, leading to profound disappointment and deprivation. It speaks to a divine withholding of blessing upon the natural fruits of human exertion.
• "for the worm shall eat them": This segment provides the direct, divinely ordained cause of the agricultural failure. The "worm" or "devourer" is not merely a random natural occurrence but an instrument of the Lord's judgment. It signifies the removal of divine protection, allowing destructive forces to prevail and directly consume the very source of livelihood and joy that was so painstakingly produced. This underlines God's ultimate sovereignty over creation and its ability to bless or curse human endeavors.

Deuteronomy 28 40 Bonus section

• This curse specifically highlights God's unique power in contrast to the Baal worship of Canaan. Baal was considered the storm god who provided rain and fertility. The Lord demonstrates His complete control over crops and pests, proving His supremacy over false deities who could not bring such judgment.
• The emphasis on losing the expected fruit despite diligent effort makes this curse particularly poignant. It's not about idleness but about diligent work rendered meaningless by divine judgment.
• The curse suggests a cycle of continuous failure, implying that year after year, the struggle and loss would persist as long as disobedience continued, creating a pervasive sense of despair.
• The loss of grapes meant the absence of wine, a symbol of joy and celebration in the Bible. This curse implies not only material hardship but also a significant diminution of joy and gladness within the community.

Deuteronomy 28 40 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:40 provides a stark and practical illustration of God's covenant curses, focusing on the economic consequences of disobedience in an agrarian society. The core message is the absolute futility of human labor without the Lord's blessing. Israelites would expend immense effort—planting new vines, carefully cultivating them, pruning, and protecting—only for their hoped-for yield to be consumed by a "worm," a divinely sent or permitted destructive pestilence. This specific curse emphasizes several key spiritual truths. First, it highlights God's absolute sovereignty over the natural world; even "natural" occurrences like pests are instruments in His hand to effect His purposes. Second, it profoundly links spiritual fidelity with material prosperity. The absence of the expected blessing of harvest is a direct consequence of covenant breaking, serving as a constant, tangible reminder of their alienation from God. Third, it strikes at the psychological and communal level, as the effort without reward brings not just material lack but also deep discouragement and loss of joy, as wine was central to their celebrations and well-being. This verse therefore underscores that true prosperity is not merely a result of human diligence but hinges fundamentally on divine favor derived from faithful obedience.