Deuteronomy 28 62

Deuteronomy 28:62 kjv

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 28:62 nkjv

You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28:62 niv

You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28:62 esv

Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28:62 nlt

Though you become as numerous as the stars in the sky, few of you will be left because you would not listen to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 62 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:62 prophesies a severe consequence of disobedience to God's covenant: the people of Israel will be significantly reduced in number. Despite having previously multiplied like the stars, they will be left few, specifically in the foreign lands where the LORD will scatter them due to their rebellion against His commands. This reduction is a direct judgment for rejecting His divine guidance and turning away from Him.

Deuteronomy 28 62 Context

Deuteronomy 28 is a pivotal chapter in the book of the law, presenting the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience to the Mosaic Covenant. Verses 1-14 detail abundant blessings for faithfulness, while verses 15-68 delineate severe curses for rebellion. Verse 62 falls within the extensive list of curses, specifically describing the consequences of national apostasy, which include defeat by enemies, exile, and suffering in foreign lands. The historical context is that of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, being warned by Moses about the foundational principles of their covenant relationship with God. The previous verses speak of being plundered, besieged, and having their children taken. This particular verse highlights the stark reversal of God's promise to Abraham of countless descendants, showing the devastating impact of their unfaithfulness on their population size, a deep insult to their identity and heritage. This context also implicitly warns against adopting the fertility cults prevalent among surrounding nations, whose gods promised progeny, whereas Israel's God, the true source of life, would diminish them if they disobeyed.

Deuteronomy 28 62 Word analysis

• Then (וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם - venish'artem): This conjunctive prefix "and" or "then" links directly to the preceding curses, signifying a direct consequence. The root sha'ar (שאר) means "to remain," "to be left over." Here it denotes a severe reduction, only a portion will remain.
• you (אַתֶּם - atem): The explicit second-person plural pronoun emphasizes the direct address to the people of Israel as a collective entity, indicating their collective responsibility and experience of this judgment.
• shall be left (נִשְׁאַרְתֶּם - nish'artem): Derived from the Niph’al stem of the verb שאר (sha'ar), implying a state of being left or remaining. In this context, it signifies a "remnant," but not one of blessing (as often in prophetic literature where a remnant is saved) but one of judgment, where only a few are left because many have perished or been carried away.
• few (מְתֵי - mete): This word, literally "men of" or "numbers of," often refers to a small count or small group. The connotation is "small in number," directly contrasting with the covenant promise of multitudinous offspring. This points to a drastic and significant depopulation.
• in number (מְתֵי מִסְפָּר - mete mispar): The phrase mete mispar (literally "men of number") means "a counted few," emphasizing the scarcity and measurability, in direct opposition to "as the dust of the earth," "as the stars of heaven," or "as the sand of the sea," which are expressions of innumerable quantity.
• wherever (שָׁם - sham): "There," referring to the specific places of their dispersion. It denotes any and all lands where God will scatter them.
• the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating that this judgment is not random misfortune but a direct, deliberate act by the sovereign God of Israel. It underscores His faithfulness to His word, even His warnings.
• will drive you (יְנַהֶגְךָ - yenahagka): The root נהג (nahag) means "to drive," "to lead," "to carry." In this context, it depicts God actively, powerfully, and inescapably causing their dispersion. It's not passive migration, but a divine expulsion. This term often carries a sense of violent displacement.
• group analysis:
  • "you shall be left few in number": This phrase starkly contrasts the numerous promises of multiplication made to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:2; 15:5; 22:17). The reversal of this core blessing is a devastating curse, implying a complete undoing of the foundational covenant promise concerning population growth. It suggests not just decline, but active divine reduction.
  • "wherever the LORD will drive you": This highlights the total absence of agency or control for Israel. They will not choose where they go but will be forced by divine power into scattered dispersion. The scattering (as mentioned in verse 64) is an act of God's judgment, a loss of national unity and sovereignty, forcing them into hostile or foreign environments.

Deuteronomy 28 62 Bonus section

The prophetic fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:62 is strikingly evident throughout Israel's history, from the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, which saw significant portions of the population deported or destroyed, to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, leading to the vast Jewish diaspora. During these periods, Jewish communities were indeed left as a "few in number" in various host nations, often persecuted and dwindled by calamities. The very existence of a dispersed, yet often small, Jewish population across the globe for centuries serves as a living testament to this curse. However, despite the numerical reduction, God also promised a remnant, a smaller number that would survive and eventually return (e.g., Jer 23:3, Eze 6:8). This balance between curse and enduring promise showcases God's justice coupled with His steadfast faithfulness to preserve His people, even through judgment. This verse also implicitly warns against national pride and complacency, reminding Israel that their prosperity and numerical strength were gifts from God, not inherent entitlements.

Deuteronomy 28 62 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:62 is a prophetic statement outlining a profound consequence of covenant unfaithfulness: the demographic devastation of the Israelite people. It serves as a grim fulfillment of the warning that the very blessing of multiplication, cornerstone of the Abrahamic covenant, would be rescinded. God had promised a people numerous as the stars, sand, or dust – literally beyond human counting (Gen 15:5, 22:17, 32:12; Deut 1:10). This verse predicts a total reversal: they will be reduced to a mere "counted few" (mete mispar), easily quantifiable because of their drastic decrease. The emphasis is on the active role of Yahweh in this dispersion and reduction ("wherever the LORD will drive you"), reinforcing His absolute sovereignty and justice. This wasn't just a natural consequence of war, but a divine decree, a severe act of disciplinary judgment for breaking faith with their Creator and Sustainer. This verse underscores the conditional nature of the blessings within the Mosaic Covenant; while God’s covenant with Abraham was unconditional concerning descendants, the flourishing and numerical strength of the nation of Israel within the land were contingent on obedience. Ultimately, this prophecy found fulfillment in multiple exiles, culminating in the Jewish diaspora, a historical reality observed throughout millennia. This severe judgment serves as a timeless reminder of the gravity of covenant betrayal.