Deuteronomy 28 60

Deuteronomy 28:60 kjv

Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

Deuteronomy 28:60 nkjv

Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.

Deuteronomy 28:60 niv

He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.

Deuteronomy 28:60 esv

And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.

Deuteronomy 28:60 nlt

He will afflict you with all the diseases of Egypt that you feared so much, and you will have no relief.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 60 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:60 declares that if Israel disobeys the covenant, the LORD will reverse His past act of deliverance, inflicting upon them "all the diseases of Egypt," which they once feared. These diseases, reminiscent of the plagues and endemic illnesses they witnessed or experienced in Egypt, would not be temporary but would persistently cling to them, signifying an inescapable and continuous divine judgment.

Deuteronomy 28 60 Context

Deuteronomy 28 is the culmination of Moses' covenant renewal message to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. It starkly presents the blessings for obedience (vv. 1-14) and the severe curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68). This chapter acts as a formal "blessing and curse" section, a common feature in Ancient Near Eastern treaties and suzerainty covenants. These curses were not arbitrary punishments but detailed warnings intended to motivate faithful adherence to the LORD's commands.

Verse 60 specifically falls within the escalating list of judgments that intensify with continued rebellion. The mention of "the diseases of Egypt" harks back to Israel's foundational narrative: their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, a land riddled with pestilence from which God had explicitly promised to protect them if they obeyed (Ex 15:26; Deu 7:15). Thus, this curse is a direct reversal of divine favor, signifying that God would turn their salvation history on its head, using the very instruments He once used against their oppressors, or from which He delivered them, now against them. This particular curse underscores the covenant's absolute nature and the dire consequences of forsaking the God who liberated them.

Deuteronomy 28 60 Word analysis

• Moreover: (Hebrew: wĕgam - וְגַם). This conjunctive adverb signifies an addition or continuation, indicating that this curse is yet another layer or intensification following previous pronouncements of judgment within the expansive list of Deuteronomy 28. It emphasizes the comprehensiveness and cumulative nature of the impending afflictions for covenant breach.
• he will bring upon you: (Hebrew: hešîb YHWH - יָשִׁ֤ב יְהוָה֙). Literally "the LORD will turn back" or "return" onto you. This highlights direct divine agency in the infliction of the diseases. It is not mere consequence or natural disaster, but God's deliberate act of judgment. The verb "turn back" also subtly echoes God's past actions in Egypt, hinting at a reversal of His protective hand.
• all the diseases: (Hebrew: kol-ḥolîê - כָּל־חֳלִ֥יֵי). Kol means "all," denoting totality or comprehensiveness. Ḥolî (plural ḥolîm or ḥolîê) refers to sickness, illness, disease, or affliction. The term encompasses a wide range of physical maladies. The use of "all" underscores that no malady would be spared from their suffering.
• of Egypt: (Hebrew: miṣrayim - מִצְרָֽיִם). Referring specifically to the land of Egypt. This connection is profoundly significant. It references both the specific plagues (boils, pestilence) inflicted upon Egypt during the Exodus, as well as the chronic, widespread diseases endemic to that region (skin conditions, fevers, eye ailments) that the Israelites had witnessed or contracted during their long sojourn there. It recalls their vivid memories of suffering and deliverance.
• of which you were afraid: (Hebrew: mêʼăšer yārēʼtā - מֵאֲשֶׁר֙ יָרֵ֔אתָ). This phrase adds a psychological dimension to the curse. The diseases would be those that struck fear into their hearts when they were slaves or witnessing God's judgments upon their captors. This brings an element of dread and past trauma into the present punishment, intensifying the terror of the afflictions.
• and they will cling to you: (Hebrew: wĕdāvqû vākh - וְדָֽבְקוּ־בָֽךְ). Dāvqû comes from the root dāvaq, meaning to cling, stick, adhere, or pursue closely. It implies a persistent, incurable, and inescapable nature. Unlike the temporary afflictions they might have known, these diseases would not easily leave; they would become a permanent, integral part of their suffering, symbolizing a relentless pursuit of judgment.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "Moreover, he will bring upon you": This initial phrase sets a tone of continued, intentional divine action. It is not an isolated event but a consistent, escalating pattern of judgment, confirming God's sovereignty over affliction and health. The subject "he" (the LORD) firmly places responsibility for the impending disaster squarely on God's judicial will, making it clear that these are covenant consequences.
• "all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid": This grouping is powerful as it directly links present curses to past salvation history. It specifically targets what was once a source of terror and then divine triumph. The "diseases of Egypt" carry the weight of both the supernatural plagues and the common debilitating ailments of that land, familiar to the Israelites. Adding "of which you were afraid" underscores the deep-seated psychological impact these particular afflictions held, reintroducing the dread they felt when helpless. It is a reversal of Exodus 15:26 and Deu 7:15 where God promised to keep those diseases far from them.
• "and they will cling to you": This final clause denotes the tenacious, chronic, and unyielding nature of the curses. It conveys a sense of inescapable misery, indicating that recovery would be impossible under this divine judgment. This clinging signifies not just a temporary bout of illness, but a permanent state of suffering that reflects the breaking of a lasting covenant. This particular phrase suggests a contrast to their experience in the wilderness where God sustained and healed them, demonstrating an absence of that former protection.

Deuteronomy 28 60 Bonus section

The structure of curses in Deuteronomy 28, especially verse 60, bears strong resemblance to curse formulations found in ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, where a powerful king (suzerain) dictates terms to a vassal (subject nation). These treaties often included vivid descriptions of physical, social, and environmental disasters that would befall the vassal upon breach of covenant. The unique aspect here is that Yahweh, Israel's God, acts as the Divine Suzerain, distinguishing Him from pagan deities and asserting His absolute control over all aspects of creation, including disease. This specific curse serves as a potent theological reversal: the plagues, once instruments of deliverance from an oppressive empire, become tools of judgment against the very people delivered if they themselves act rebelliously. This recontextualizes their foundational historical experience (the Exodus) into a covenantal warning, underscoring the serious implications of their relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 28 60 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:60 is a grim warning, part of the extensive list of curses for disobedience to the Mosaic covenant. It asserts that if Israel deviates from God's commands, the very deliverer who saved them from the hardships and diseases of Egypt would now inflict those same afflictions back upon them. This curse is particularly potent because it directly targets Israel's collective memory and core identity as a liberated people. The "diseases of Egypt" refers not only to the specific plagues used against Pharaoh, which dramatically demonstrated God's power and justice, but also to the endemic illnesses prevalent in that ancient land. By specifying diseases they "were afraid" of, the verse compounds physical suffering with psychological torment, leveraging their past trauma. The phrase "they will cling to you" emphasizes the inescapable and persistent nature of this divine judgment, suggesting these are not temporary visitations but chronic, inescapable conditions, highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty over health and sickness, blessing and curse, life and death. This signifies the profound severity of breaking covenant with the living God who had redeemed them.