Deuteronomy 28 55

Deuteronomy 28:55 kjv

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Deuteronomy 28:55 nkjv

so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.

Deuteronomy 28:55 niv

and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities.

Deuteronomy 28:55 esv

so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns.

Deuteronomy 28:55 nlt

He will refuse to share with them the flesh he is devouring ? the flesh of one of his own children ? because he has nothing else to eat during the siege and terrible distress that your enemy will inflict on all your towns.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 55 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:55 graphically describes the terrifying climax of the curses for disobedience within the Mosaic Covenant. It foretells a parent's extreme, unthinkable act of withholding portions of their own child's flesh from other family members during a severe siege. This ultimate horror arises from an absolute lack of any other food, highlighting a profound breakdown of natural affection, social order, and basic humanity, all brought about by prolonged starvation in God's judgment.

Deuteronomy 28 55 Context

Deuteronomy 28:55 is situated within the "Curses for Disobedience" section (Deut 28:15-68) of Moses' final discourse to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. This chapter, foundational to the Mosaic Covenant, contrasts the profound blessings awaiting obedience (Deut 28:1-14) with escalating and horrific judgments for covenant breaking. Verses 52-57 describe the dreadful reality of a prolonged military siege. Specifically, verse 55 depicts the ultimate consequence of this siege: utter starvation leading to cannibalism, a violation of the deepest human taboos. It portrays a society plunged into unimaginable depravity and destitution, where natural parental love gives way to a brutal, self-preserving hunger due to God's severe chastisement, designed to demonstrate the horrific outcome of rejecting His covenant.

Deuteronomy 28 55 Word analysis

• so that he will not give to any of them: The Hebrew phrase is וְעֵינוֹ רָעָה (v'eino ra'ah), literally "and his eye evil" or "his eye will be bad." This implies a malicious, grudging, or covetous gaze, even in such dire circumstances. It signifies profound selfishness and a breakdown of familial love, suggesting that even in cannibalizing their child, the parent would begrudge sharing a morsel with a spouse or other surviving children. This indicates an extreme form of moral decay and depravity beyond mere survival.
• of the flesh of his children whom he eats: The phrase is מִבְּשַׂר בָּנָיו אֲשֶׁר יֹאכֵל (mi'bassar banav asher yokhel). "Flesh of his children" refers specifically to their sons (though applicable to daughters also by extension, as mentioned in v.53), highlighting the utter degradation. The verb "eats" (יֹאכֵל, yokhel) is active, emphasizing the horrifying act of consumption by the parent, not merely finding dead flesh. This act is the ultimate violation of humanity and the sacred parent-child bond.
• because he has nothing else left to him: The Hebrew phrase כִּי אֵין־לֹוֹ כֹּל (ki ein-lo kōl) means "for there is not to him all" or "because nothing at all is left to him." This underscores the complete and absolute destitution, leaving no other recourse for survival. It describes the extreme point of deprivation, a total and utter lack.
• in the siege and the distress: Hebrew בַּמָּצוֹר וּבַמָּצוֹק (bammatzor u'bammatzok). "Siege" (מָצוֹר, matzor) refers to a military blockade, cutting off a city. "Distress" (מָצוֹק, matzok) conveys the tightness, pressure, or straitness experienced within the confined, starving city. These words paint a picture of inescapable suffering.
• with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates: The "enemy" (אֹיְבֶךָ, oyvekha) here is God's instrument of judgment. "Distress" (יָצִיק, yatzik) is related to the word for "distress" above, meaning to press upon or afflict severely. "In all your gates" refers to all the cities of Israel that would be fortified and besieged. This signifies the widespread nature of the judgment across the land, leaving no safe haven and ensuring complete overwhelming by the external foe.

Deuteronomy 28 55 Bonus section

This verse underscores the "shock and awe" pedagogical style within the Mosaic Law, designed to instill profound fear of God's judgments and, thereby, prompt faithful obedience. The graphic nature was not for sensationalism but to etch the severity of covenant disloyalty into the collective Israelite psyche. The horrifying imagery also serves as a polemic against the fertility cults of Canaan, where even child sacrifice was practiced. By depicting a scenario where Israelites would consume their own children due to divine curse, it powerfully highlights the vast difference between Yahweh's life-giving covenant and the death-dealing practices of the surrounding pagan cultures. It starkly reveals that the true consequences of straying from God's wisdom far surpassed any perceived benefits or pleasures offered by other spiritual paths.

Deuteronomy 28 55 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:55 portrays the nadir of Israel's descent into depravity and suffering if they abandoned their covenant with God. This verse is not merely a hypothetical scenario but a dreadful prophetic warning that later saw chilling historical fulfillments, such as the siege of Samaria by Aram (2 Kgs 6:28-29) and the several sieges of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (Lam 2:20, Lam 4:10, Eze 5:10) and later by the Romans. It reveals that God's judgment, though severe, perfectly fits the offense of rejecting Him as the sole Provider and Protector. When the ultimate Giver of life is forsaken, life itself degrades to its most base and horrific forms. The emphasis on the parent withholding a portion, even in this unimaginable act, highlights the profound moral corruption that arises when societal bonds, love, and humanity are stripped away by famine and fear. It is a stark reminder that disobedience to God can lead to such severe consequences that it fundamentally alters human nature itself.