Deuteronomy 28 63

Deuteronomy 28:63 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deuteronomy 28:63 nkjv

And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.

Deuteronomy 28:63 niv

Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.

Deuteronomy 28:63 esv

And as the LORD took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the LORD will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

Deuteronomy 28:63 nlt

"Just as the LORD has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the LORD will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Deuteronomy 28 verses

Deuteronomy 28 63 Meaning

Deuteronomy 28:63 declares that just as the Lord previously delighted in bringing prosperity and increase to His people, so too He will delight in bringing about their destruction and ruin, plucking them from the land they are to inherit if they disobey His covenant commands. This verse underscores the certainty and direct divine agency behind both the promised blessings and the severe curses of the covenant.

Deuteronomy 28 63 Context

Deuteronomy 28 outlines the extensive covenant between the Lord and Israel, presented as a choice between blessings for obedience (verses 1-14) and severe curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). Verse 63 falls within the latter section, reaching a climax of dire warnings. The curses progressively detail consequences ranging from disease and famine to military defeat, siege, and ultimately, exile and destruction. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the binding nature of the covenant, emphasizing God's sovereign hand in bringing about both prosperity and calamity based on Israel's faithfulness. The historical context is Moses' final address to Israel before they enter the promised land, reiterating the law and the profound implications of covenant keeping for their future.

Deuteronomy 28 63 Word analysis

• וְהָיָה (ve'haya) - "and it shall come to pass"; Emphasizes certainty and inevitability. Introduces a solemn declaration.
• כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka'asher) - "just as," "as"; Establishes a direct correlation. The action that follows will perfectly parallel the previous action.
• שָׂשׂ (sas) - "He rejoiced," "He delighted"; This verb denotes deep pleasure and satisfaction. Its application to God's act of bringing blessing signifies His joy in covenant fidelity. Its repeated use for bringing destruction is a stark and difficult theological point, indicating His resolute determination to fulfill His Word and uphold justice.
• יהוה (YHWH) - The Lord, the covenant name of God; Emphasizes the personal, relational, and sovereign nature of the God who enters into and enforces the covenant.
• עֲלֵיכֶם (aleichem) - "over you," "upon you"; Indicates direct divine action toward Israel.
• לְהֵטִיב (le'hetiv) - "to do good," "to cause good," "to prosper you"; Refers to the Lord's beneficent acts of blessing and provision under the covenant of obedience.
• וּלְהַרְבּוֹת (ul'harbot) - "and to multiply you," "to increase you"; Part of the original blessing, echoing the promise to Abraham. Signifies fertility, growth, and population increase.
• כֵּן (ken) - "so," "thus"; Reaffirms the correspondence initiated by ka'asher, ensuring a parallel outcome.
• יָשִׂישׂ (yasis) - "He will rejoice," "He will delight" (future tense); This identical verb powerfully states that God's disposition towards judgment will be the same as His disposition towards blessing—absolute, deliberate, and fulfilling His word. This is not arbitrary cruelty but unwavering commitment to justice and His established covenant terms.
• לְהַאֲבִיד (le'ha'avid) - "to cause to perish," "to destroy"; The polar opposite of "doing good" and "multiplying." Signifies complete ruin and cessation of existence for the nation as a corporate entity in the land.
• וּלְהַשְׁמִיד (ul'hashmid) - "and to exterminate," "to annihilate"; An even stronger term for destruction, emphasizing complete eradication or devastation.
• וְנִסַּחְתֶּם (venisachtem) - "and you shall be uprooted," "plucked up"; Imagery derived from plants, suggesting a forceful, violent removal from their native soil. This highlights the loss of connection to the land given by God.
• מֵעַל הָאֲדָמָה (me'al ha'adamah) - "from above the land," "from the land"; Specifically refers to the Promised Land, which was central to Israel's identity, covenant promises, and national existence. Uprooting from it means loss of inheritance and place.

Words-group analysis:

• כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׂשׂ יְהוָה עֲלֵיכֶם לְהֵטִיב וּלְהַרְבּוֹת ("just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do good and to multiply you"): This phrase establishes the divine precedent. God's pleasure was genuinely in Israel's welfare when they walked in His ways. It sets up the solemn comparison that follows.
• כֵּן יָשִׂישׂ עֲלֵיכֶם לְהַאֲבִיד וּלְהַשְׁמִיד ("so will He rejoice over you to cause you to perish and to destroy you"): This is the shocking parallel. It emphasizes divine resolve, not a malicious joy. God delights in fulfilling His just and righteous word, whether in blessing or in judgment. His commitment to His promises extends to the consequences of disobedience.
• וְנִסַּחְתֶּם מֵעַל הָאֲדָמָה ("and you shall be uprooted from the land"): This outcome is the culmination of the curses. It speaks to the existential threat and ultimate consequence: loss of the promised inheritance and dispersion, a direct reversal of the blessing of inhabiting the land. This contrasts with the nations' beliefs that their gods were confined to specific regions, showcasing YHWH's sovereignty everywhere.

Deuteronomy 28 63 Bonus section

• The stark contrast of "multiply" with "destroy" and "exterminate" showcases the dramatic reversal of Israel's covenant destiny. The initial blessing was about becoming numerous and flourishing in the land; the curse reverses this into national decline and expulsion.
• This verse counters any potential polytheistic notion that other gods might protect Israel if YHWH forsook them; it asserts YHWH's exclusive sovereignty and the all-encompassing nature of His judgment.
• The severity of this curse emphasizes the value God places on obedience and the seriousness of breaking covenant. It serves a didactic purpose, urging utmost fidelity.
• From a theological perspective, God's "delight" in executing judgment reflects His immutability—He does not change His mind or retract His words. His promises (both positive and negative) are sure.

Deuteronomy 28 63 Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:63 presents one of the Bible's most stark and profound statements regarding divine justice. The repetition of the verb "delight" (Hebrew śāś) for both God's acts of blessing and judgment highlights His absolute commitment to His covenant. This is not an indication of God finding sadistic pleasure in human suffering. Rather, it signifies His unwavering resolve and righteous satisfaction in executing His decrees and upholding His word. When God acts in judgment, He is upholding His holiness, justice, and the sanctity of His covenant. His "delight" is in the consistency of His character and the faithfulness with which He fulfills what He has declared, whether in prosperity or in punishment. The imagery of being "plucked up" from the land underscores the definitive nature of this divine action and the complete reversal of the foundational promise to Israel. This verse powerfully conveys the severe consequences of chronic disobedience and the Lord's active role in bringing them to pass.