Deuteronomy 28 45

Deuteronomy 28:45 kjv

Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Deuteronomy 28:45 nkjv

"Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.

Deuteronomy 28:45 niv

All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

Deuteronomy 28:45 esv

"All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you.

Deuteronomy 28:45 nlt

"If you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and to obey the commands and decrees he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 45 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:45 pronounces that the full array of covenant curses will inevitably come upon, pursue, and ultimately destroy the nation of Israel if they persist in their disobedience. The verse clearly establishes that this severe devastation is a direct consequence of their failure to truly hearken to the voice of the LORD their God, by neglecting to keep His commandments and statutes which He had given them.

Deuteronomy 28 45 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 28 presents a stark dichotomy between the blessings that will follow Israel's obedience to God's covenant and the curses that will befall them for disobedience. Verse 45 is deeply embedded within the curses section, which describes escalating forms of divine judgment. This chapter concludes Moses' extensive oration on the plains of Moab, just before Israel's entry into the Promised Land. The entire chapter functions as a critical component of the covenant renewal ceremony, vividly illustrating the conditional nature of Israel's prosperous dwelling in the land. The historical context positions these words as a prophetic warning to a generation about to face the temptations of paganism and apostasy within Canaan. The emphasis is on Israel's singular covenant with the LORD (YHWH) and the dire consequences of deviating from His revealed will, setting a historical precedent for later judgments, including the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.

Deuteronomy 28 45 Word analysis

• Moreover: (Hebrew: גַם gam) Indicates an additive and cumulative effect. It signals that this specific curse is part of an ongoing progression or summation of all previous curses mentioned in the chapter, intensifying the gravity of the statement.
• all these curses: (Hebrew: כָּל־הַקְּלָלוֹת הָאֵלֶּה kal-haq'lalot ha'elleh)
  • all (כָּל־ kal-): Emphasizes totality; none will be withheld. It conveys the exhaustive nature of God's judgment, suggesting that every consequence previously described will come to fruition.
  • curses (הַקְּלָלוֹת haq'lalot): Derived from קָלַל (qalal), to be light, swift, trifle, implying scorn or disparagement. A "curse" in this context is a divinely pronounced word of detriment or calamity, opposite to blessing, representing a breach of a sacred agreement or oath. These are not mere misfortunes, but the direct, enacted will of God.
• shall come upon thee: (Hebrew: וּבָאוּ עָלֶיךָ u'va'u 'aleykha) From בוא (bo), to come, go in. It denotes inevitability and direct impact, signifying the active imposition of these judgments onto the nation, with no possibility of evasion.
• and shall pursue thee: (Hebrew: וְרָדְפוּךָ v'radphukha) From רדף (radaph), to pursue, chase, hunt. This suggests relentless tracking; the curses are not passive but actively follow Israel, making escape impossible.
• and overtake thee: (Hebrew: וְהִשִּׂיגֻךָ v'hissigukha) From נשג (nissag), to reach, attain, overtake, catch up to. It signifies the successful conclusion of the pursuit. The curses will not merely follow but will ultimately apprehend and encompass the people.
• till thou be destroyed: (Hebrew: עַד הִשָּׁמְדֶךָ 'ad hishshamedkha)
  • till (עַד 'ad): Defines the terminal point or duration of the curses' action.
  • destroyed (הִשָּׁמְדֶךָ hishshamedkha): From שמד (shamad), meaning to utterly destroy, annihilate, or exterminate. In the context of a nation, this implies existential ruin, the loss of national identity, sovereignty, land, and cultural cohesion, often manifested through exile or assimilation. It signifies a profound and complete end to their previous way of life.
• because: (Hebrew: כִּי ki) A crucial causal conjunction. This particle definitively states the reason and justification for the preceding judgment. There is a direct, undeniable link between the disobedience and the curses.
• thou hearkenedst not: (Hebrew: לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ lo shamata) From שמע (shama), meaning to hear, listen, perceive, and, crucially in covenantal contexts, to obey. The negative ("not") indicates a profound failure in the very core requirement of the covenant: active, responsive obedience, not just passive hearing. This is the essence of their failure.
• unto the voice of the LORD thy God: (Hebrew: בְּקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ b'kol YHWH Eloheyka)
  • voice (קוֹל kol): The authoritative utterance, command, or direct revelation from God.
  • LORD thy God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ YHWH Eloheyka): Employs God's personal, covenantal name (YHWH) and His general name for deity (Elohim) linked with the possessive "thy" (your). This stresses the intimate, relational aspect of the covenant they disregarded. It was their God, who had chosen and redeemed them, whose voice they ignored.
• to keep his commandments and his statutes: (Hebrew: לִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו lishmor mitzvotav v'huqqotav)
  • to keep (לִשְׁמֹר lishmor): From שמר (shamar), meaning to guard, preserve, diligently observe, perform. This is the practical aspect of obedience: acting upon what has been heard.
  • commandments (מִצְוֹתָיו mitzvotav): Direct orders, precepts, specific instructions.
  • statutes (חֻקֹּתָיו huqqotav): Fixed ordinances, decrees, or regulations, often seen as foundational laws. This pair signifies the comprehensive scope of God's law.
• which he commanded thee: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר צִוָּךְ asher tzivak) From צוה (tzavah), to command, appoint. This phrase further emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the ignored instructions, reiterating that these were direct, imperative orders from God Himself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed": This progression describes the comprehensive, relentless, and devastating nature of God's judgment. The curses are depicted as active, tracking agents that will infallibly reach their target, culminating in complete ruination. It conveys a sense of inescapable destiny stemming from their actions.
• "because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee": This part unequivocally states the root cause of the catastrophic outcome. It highlights a profound failure in their covenant relationship, emphasizing not just passive hearing, but an active refusal to listen and obey the clear, authoritative, and divinely issued instructions of the God who specifically chose and guided them. It pinpoints human culpability as the sole determinant of their doom.

Deuteronomy 28 45 Bonus section

• Covenantal Language: This verse is deeply embedded in ancient Near Eastern treaty format, where a sovereign king would outline obligations for his vassal, with severe consequences (curses) for disloyalty. God, as the Great King, established His terms with Israel, underscoring His sovereignty and their accountability.
• Prophetic Foretelling: Historically, this verse served as a stark prophecy of the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and later the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, demonstrating the literal fulfillment of God's word regarding His people's actions and consequences.
• Emphasis on Obedience: Deuteronomy repeatedly emphasizes "hearing" (shama) as more than just auditory perception; it demands listening with attention and a will to obey. The phrase "hearkenedst not" therefore indicates a profound spiritual failure of responsive obedience to the living God.
• Theological Balance: This verse, while dire, speaks to God's holiness (He cannot ignore sin) and His justice (there are consequences for rebellion), which balances His mercy and faithfulness highlighted elsewhere. It shows the conditional aspect of the Old Covenant's blessings on the land.

Deuteronomy 28 45 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:45 is a pivotal statement within the Mosaic covenant, encapsulating the gravity of disobedience. It paints a vivid picture of divine judgment not as an arbitrary act, but as an inexorable, self-enforcing consequence of covenant infidelity. The sequence of "come upon," "pursue," and "overtake" portrays the curses as relentless agents that will hunt down and utterly consume a disobedient Israel, leading to "destruction"—a total undoing of their national existence and privileges. The explicit reason, "because thou hearkenedst not," underscores that the essence of Israel's failure lay in a fundamental breakdown of the "Shema" principle—to hear and obey the very voice of the LORD who called them into a unique relationship. This was not a failure of understanding, but a failure of will and fidelity to observe the comprehensive body of God's laws (commandments and statutes). This verse prophetically explained the eventual exile and suffering of Israel when they deviated from God's ways, serving as a solemn warning against breaking the covenant with their deliverer and redeemer.