Deuteronomy 28:46 kjv
And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
Deuteronomy 28:46 nkjv
And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever.
Deuteronomy 28:46 niv
They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.
Deuteronomy 28:46 esv
They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever.
Deuteronomy 28:46 nlt
These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever.
Deuteronomy 28 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 28:15 | But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice... | Introduction to the curses for disobedience |
| Dt 28:37 | And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword... | Result of the curse, making Israel a public sign |
| Dt 29:24-25 | All the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land?’ | Explains how Israel becomes a "wonder" to nations |
| Lev 26:14-16 | But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these... | Parallel list of curses in the Mosaic Covenant |
| Lev 26:33 | And I will scatter you among the nations, and will draw out a sword... | Prophecy of dispersion, key part of the "sign" |
| 1 Kgs 9:7-8 | Then will I cut off Israel out of the land... and this house shall be... | Fulfillment of judgment on nation and Temple |
| 2 Chr 7:20-21 | I will pluck them up by the roots... and this house, which is high, shall.. | Parallel fulfillment in Chronicless |
| Jer 19:8 | And I will make this city a desolation, and a hissing; every one that... | Jerusalem becomes a vivid object lesson |
| Jer 25:9-11 | ...this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment... | Broader land judgment as a warning |
| Jer 44:2-3 | Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem... | Acknowledgment of curses fulfilled |
| Lam 1:8 | Jerusalem hath grievously sinned... all that honoured her despise her... | Highlights Israel's disgrace due to disobedience |
| Dan 9:11-12 | Yea, all Israel have transgressed... therefore the curse is poured upon... | Daniel's confession confirms Dt 28 fulfillment |
| Ezek 14:8 | And I will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off... | Individual judgment showing "sign" principle |
| Neh 9:32-35 | Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done.. | Nehemiah's prayer confirms the justice of the curses |
| Rom 11:7-10 | What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained.. | Explains spiritual hardening, part of the "wonder" |
| Rom 11:20-22 | Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith... | Warning to Gentiles, seeing Israel as a warning |
| 1 Cor 10:6 | Now these things happened as examples for us... | Old Testament events (judgments) serve as warnings |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written... | Direct instruction for believers from Israel's history |
| Luke 21:24 | And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away... | NT fulfillment of Israel's dispersion, a "sign" |
| Dt 30:1-3 | And when all these things come upon thee... then the LORD thy God will.. | Promise of eventual restoration, tempering "forever" |
Deuteronomy 28 verses
Deuteronomy 28 46 Meaning
The consequences for Israel's disobedience, as detailed in the preceding curses, would perpetually serve as a clear, visible warning and an astonishing example of divine judgment upon the nation and all future generations of its descendants. These judgments would make Israel a perpetual object lesson regarding the cost of rejecting God's covenant.
Deuteronomy 28 46 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 28 presents a pivotal covenant renewal message from Moses to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land. It lays out the blessings for obedience to God's commandments (verses 1-14) and, starkly, the far more extensive and severe curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). Verse 46 appears within the crescendo of these curses, detailing not merely the severity of the judgments but their lasting and public nature. The curses cover every aspect of life: personal, agricultural, national, and even psychological. The immediate historical context is Israel on the brink of nationhood, establishing its foundational relationship with Yahweh, warned explicitly of the consequences of apostasy.
Deuteronomy 28 46 Word analysis
- And they shall be (וְהָיוּ, v'hayu): This introductory phrase refers back directly to the exhaustive list of curses already detailed in the preceding verses. It denotes an assured future outcome or state. The divine decree ensures the curses' manifestation.
- upon thee (עָלֶיךָ, aleicha): "Thee" here is singular but represents the entire nation of Israel. It emphasizes that these consequences are a direct and personal infliction upon them as a corporate body, due to their collective actions.
- for a sign (לְאוֹת, l'ot): This word means a token, signal, emblem, or mark. In this context, it signifies that Israel's fate would become a public demonstration or visible evidence to all observers, serving as an ongoing reminder and warning. It distinguishes Israel from other nations due to its unique experience of divine judgment.
- and for a wonder (וּלְמוֹפֵת, u'l'mofet): This term typically denotes something extraordinary, marvelous, or a portent, often indicating a divine work or judgment. Here, it is not a positive miracle but an astonishing and terrifying display of God's righteous wrath. Israel's desolate state would be an awe-inspiring, fearful example of God's covenant faithfulness, even to His warnings.
- and upon thy seed (וְעַל־זַרְעֲךָ, v'al-zarcha): This extends the scope of the judgment beyond the generation that hears Moses' words. It emphasizes that the consequences would be inherited by future generations, ensuring the longevity and deep impact of the curses throughout Israel's history.
- for ever (עַד־עוֹלָם, ad-'olam): This Hebrew phrase implies an enduring duration, extending into the far future, or for a very long and indefinite period. It does not necessarily mean endless in an absolute sense but indicates a deep and profound longevity of these effects, persisting until God's sovereign intervention brings a change, as seen in prophecies of ultimate restoration.
Words-group analysis:
- "And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder": This phrase highlights the purpose of the curses: they are not just suffering but purposeful manifestations. Israel becomes an object lesson, unique in its suffering due to its unique covenant relationship. This distinguishes divine judgment from random misfortune.
- "and upon thy seed for ever": This emphasizes the generational and enduring nature of the curses. The impact transcends a single generation, affecting the nation's descendants throughout history. The "for ever" clause underscores the persistent historical plight of Israel, particularly their exiles and persecutions, serving as an ongoing testament to these covenant warnings until the "times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled (Lk 21:24) and God remembers His ultimate promises (Rom 11:25-27).
Deuteronomy 28 46 Bonus section
The fulfillment of this verse highlights God's justice, but also implicitly underscores His incredible patience. While the consequences endure "for ever" (ad-olam), God also promises future restoration (Dt 30), indicating that the "forever" signifies a long duration until His ultimate plan of mercy and grace unfolds. Thus, the very people who were meant to be a blessing to all nations became, through their disobedience, a powerful "sign and wonder" of divine judgment, yet paradoxically, their continued existence through millennia of persecution itself becomes another kind of "wonder," testifying to God's preserving power for a future purpose.
Deuteronomy 28 46 Commentary
Deuteronomy 28:46 is a profound summary statement within the list of covenant curses, declaring that the extreme consequences of Israel's disobedience would not merely be temporary afflictions but permanent, public monuments. Their national degradation, suffering, and dispersion would serve as a constant "sign" and an astounding "wonder" to themselves and all other nations. This isn't just about punishment, but about revelation – revealing God's absolute holiness, His faithfulness to His word, and the severe implications of covenant rebellion. Historically, this prophecy has found stark fulfillment in Israel's long and often tragic history: their exiles, diasporas, and persecutions have been viewed by many, both within and outside Jewish tradition, as an undeniable testimony to this very verse. It underscores the unique, chosen status of Israel; a people subject to unparalleled blessings for obedience and unparalleled judgment for disobedience, serving as an ongoing witness to the world about God's dealings with His chosen people.