Deuteronomy 28 61

Deuteronomy 28:61 kjv

Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:61 nkjv

Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:61 niv

The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:61 esv

Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the LORD will bring upon you, until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:61 nlt

The LORD will afflict you with every sickness and plague there is, even those not mentioned in this Book of Instruction, until you are destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 61 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:61 states that in the event of Israel's sustained disobedience, the Lord would bring upon them not only the specific diseases and plagues already enumerated in the curses of the covenant, but also every other imaginable form of sickness and affliction that was not explicitly detailed within the book of the Law. The ultimate and inevitable outcome of these comprehensive and relentless divine visitations would be the utter destruction of the nation, emphasizing the exhaustive nature of God's judgment against apostasy and His complete sovereignty over all forms of calamity.

Deuteronomy 28 61 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 28 presents a pivotal moment in Moses' discourse, immediately before Israel's entry into the Promised Land. It stands as a comprehensive summary of the covenantal blessings for obedience (verses 1-14) and, far more extensively, the curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). This rhetorical emphasis on the curses serves to vividly impress upon the people the dire consequences of forsaking their covenant obligations. Verse 61, situated within the long section of escalating curses (v. 15-68), specifically follows a general introduction to widespread plagues (v. 58-59) and a reference to the specific "diseases of Egypt" (v. 60). Its function is to broaden the scope of divine judgment even further, ensuring the people understood that God's retribution for their rebellion would not be limited to what was explicitly known or forewarned, but would encompass all possible and unforeseen calamities, ultimately leading to their complete national ruin and displacement from the land.

Deuteronomy 28 61 Word analysis

• Also: Reinforces that this consequence is an addition to the already severe curses listed.
• every sickness (Heb. kol choliy - כָּל חֳלִי): The term choliy signifies physical illness, disease, or ailment. In a broader sense, it can also refer to pain, grief, sorrow, or distress that debilitates a person. The prefix "every" emphasizes the universal and exhaustive nature of this affliction; no type of illness, whether physical or existential, would be excluded from God's punitive hand.
• and every plague (Heb. v'chol makkah - וְכָל מַכָּה): The word makkah means "a blow," "stroke," "wound," or "defeat." It is frequently used in the Bible to describe divine judgments or pestilences, notably the "plagues" brought upon Egypt (Exodus). Its pairing with "sickness" covers a spectrum from debilitating illness to sudden, impactful, divinely ordained disasters or defeats. The use of "every" indicates no form of striking calamity would be omitted.
• which is not written (Heb. asher lo ketuvim - אֲשֶׁר לֹא כְתוּבִים): This phrase is critical. It implies that God's judgmental capacity and methods are not constrained by human understanding or finite human articulation. It highlights the divine sovereignty, stating that God's punishment would not be limited to pre-cataloged woes, but would extend to unknown, novel, or entirely unforeseen calamities, underscoring the absolute and limitless nature of divine judgment. This element served as a warning against any complacency stemming from a feeling that only explicitly stated curses would apply.
• in the book of this law (Heb. b'sefer ha-Torah ha-zeh - בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה): This refers to the covenant stipulations, commands, statutes, and judgments revealed to Moses and contained within the Pentateuch, especially Deuteronomy itself. It emphasizes that the judgment stems from deviation from the very foundation of their covenant with God.
• the Lord will bring on you (Heb. Adonai ya'aleh aleikha - יְהוָה יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ): This unequivocally establishes the divine authorship of these calamities. It's not a matter of chance, natural disaster, or human misfortune, but a direct, deliberate, and purposeful act of YHWH Himself. This underscores His justice and active involvement in fulfilling His covenantal warnings.
• until you are destroyed (Heb. ad hishamdechakh - עַד הִשָּׁמְדְךָ): This phrase denotes ultimate and complete annihilation or utter ruin. It is a severe term indicating the end of their national existence, the cutting off of their presence from the land, often culminating in exile or demographic decimation. It means the judgment will persist and intensify until the stated objective – their undoing as a people – is fully accomplished.

• every sickness and every plague which is not written: This phrase powerfully communicates the boundlessness of divine judgment. It indicates that the full measure of consequences for sustained rebellion is beyond human prediction or comprehension, demonstrating God's sovereign control over every form of human suffering and calamity. It is a comprehensive threat of unprecedented affliction.
• the Lord will bring on you until you are destroyed: This establishes both divine agency and the telos (purpose/end) of the judgment. God actively executes judgment, and its goal is nothing less than the utter destruction or annihilation of the disobedient party, leaving no room for escape or evasion until that end is achieved.

Deuteronomy 28 61 Bonus section

This verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty, not only in blessing but also in judgment. The "not written" aspect ensures that divine judgment is not restricted by human foresight, emphasizing that God's power to afflict for sin is exhaustive and unpredictable, revealing forms of distress never before experienced. Historically, this prophecy finds grim echoes in the destructions of both the Northern (Assyrian exile) and Southern (Babylonian exile) Kingdoms of Israel, where unparalleled calamities and desolations, including new forms of siege warfare, famine, and displacement, swept away the nation. The New Testament similarly warns against the fearful prospect of God's unmitigated judgment for those who willfully disregard Christ's atoning sacrifice, echoing the "no escape" principle evident in this verse for those outside God's redemptive covenant.

Deuteronomy 28 61 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:61 serves as a stark warning within the comprehensive covenant curses, extending the scope of divine judgment beyond any conceivable human limitation or prediction. It ensures that no form of suffering—known or unknown, minor or catastrophic—is outside God's means of correction and punishment for persistent rebellion. This verse dispels any notion that Israel could avoid specific punishments by fulfilling parts of the law, or that some calamities would be random chance occurrences; rather, it attributes all comprehensive adversity directly to God's will. The severity and thoroughness of the threatened judgment, culminating in utter destruction, underscores God's absolute holiness, His unyielding justice against sin, and the grave implications of covenant disobedience. It speaks to an overwhelming, inescapable divine response when His people fully forsake His ways.