Deuteronomy 28:66 kjv
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
Deuteronomy 28:66 nkjv
Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life.
Deuteronomy 28:66 niv
You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.
Deuteronomy 28:66 esv
Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life.
Deuteronomy 28:66 nlt
Your life will constantly hang in the balance. You will live night and day in fear, unsure if you will survive.
Deuteronomy 28 66 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:65 | The LORD will drive you... with anguish of mind, longing, and despair. | Immediate preceding context describing intense mental suffering. |
| Lev 26:16 | I will appoint over you a sudden terror... so that you shall sow your seed in vain. | Parallel curses, specifically linking terror to divine judgment and fruitlessness. |
| Lev 26:36 | And as for those of you who are left... a faintness in their hearts... and flee though no one pursues. | Echoes the psychological element of fear, even without external cause. |
| Job 24:17 | The morning is to them even as the shadow of death: for they know the terrors of the shadow of death. | Describes the pervasive presence of dread and a life consumed by the fear of death. |
| Psa 27:1 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | Direct contrast, emphasizing security and absence of fear when trusting in God. |
| Psa 91:5-6 | You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness... | Promise of protection from various threats, contrasting with constant fear. |
| Prov 1:33 | But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. | Proverbial wisdom offering security and freedom from fear through obedience. |
| Isa 30:31 | For at the voice of the LORD the Assyrian will be terrified; with his staff the LORD will strike him. | God's power instilling terror in enemies, reversing the experience for His people. |
| Jer 30:5 | For thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace. | Describes the cries of those facing severe judgment and lacking peace. |
| Jer 15:8-9 | Their widows will be more... I will bring against them destruction... shame... her light will grow dim. | Illustrates the consequences of judgment leading to existential decline and hopelessness. |
| Lam 2:17 | The LORD has done what he purposed... he has cast down without pity. | Acknowledgment of God's determined judgment, leaving no room for assurance. |
| Hos 13:13 | Pangs of childbirth come upon him... not come to the birth, is an unwise son. | Metaphor for a state of acute crisis where existence itself is imperiled and potentially lost. |
| Amos 9:4 | And though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea... there I will command the serpent. | Highlights the inescapability of judgment and thus the futility of seeking assurance outside God. |
| Heb 2:15 | ...free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. | Describes the human condition of living under the bondage of existential fear. |
| Rom 8:15 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption... | Contrasts the former state of fear under the law with the freedom from fear in Christ. |
| 2 Tim 1:7 | For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. | Affirms the Spirit's role in counteracting the very spirit of fear described in Deut 28:66. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation... present your requests to God... and the peace of God... will guard your hearts... | Gospel-based remedy for anxiety and lack of assurance through prayer and divine peace. |
| Jn 14:27 | Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. | Jesus' promise of inner peace, directly opposing the state of fear and troubled heart. |
| Mat 6:34 | Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. | Commands against anxious worrying, which reflects a lack of assurance in life. |
| Isa 26:3 | You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. | Assurance and perfect peace are found in trusting God, directly opposite to the state in Deut 28:66. |
| Eze 7:26 | Disaster after disaster will come... and they will seek a vision from the prophet, but the law will perish. | Portrays a time of continuous calamity and despair, with no source of assurance or divine guidance. |
Deuteronomy 28 verses
Deuteronomy 28 66 Meaning
This verse describes a profound state of relentless insecurity and psychological torment. As a consequence of covenant disobedience, one's existence is depicted as perpetually precarious, devoid of any certainty or safety. Life is perceived as hanging by a thread, under constant threat, leading to an unending internal dread day and night, without any peace or confidence in continued survival.
Deuteronomy 28 66 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 28 is the culmination of Moses' second speech to Israel, presenting a foundational covenant framework. It meticulously details the consequences of either obedience or disobedience to the LORD. Verses 1-14 outline magnificent blessings for faithfulness, while verses 15-68 delineate severe curses for apostasy and rebellion. Verse 66 falls within the most intense section of curses (vv. 47-68), which describe the profound and terrifying national judgment—including siege, famine, cannibalism, exile, and dispersal among the nations—leading to an absolute state of despair and terror. The verse highlights not only physical peril but the deeply ingrained psychological suffering that would plague a disobedient Israel. Historically, these curses foreshadowed and found partial fulfillment in various national calamities, notably the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and subsequent persecutions.
Word Analysis
And thy life: The conjunction "And" connects this deep personal and psychological suffering to the preceding, increasingly dire curses of the chapter, indicating a progression of judgment. "Thy life" translates the Hebrew word nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), which refers not just to physical existence but to one's soul, vitality, essence, and entire being. The threat is holistic, affecting one's very core.
shall hang in doubt: This translates the Hebrew telu'im (תְּלוּאִים), meaning "suspended" or "hanging." It vividly portrays a state of extreme precariousness and instability, like something dangling by a thread, constantly on the verge of falling or being severed. It suggests that one's existence is continually exposed to immediate and unseen perils, with no firm ground or stability.
before thee: This indicates an intense personal experience and perception of this precarious state. It is not just that one's life is objectively in danger, but that the individual continually feels, sees, and experiences this profound lack of security personally.
and thou shalt fear: The Hebrew word for fear, pachad (פָּחַד), denotes a deep, pervasive dread or terror. It is not a fleeting emotion but an abiding and overwhelming state of mind.
day and night: This emphasizes the relentless, unceasing nature of the fear and lack of assurance. There is no respite, no moment of peace or relief from this pervasive anxiety. It speaks to the psychological torment being perpetual.
and shalt have none assurance: The Hebrew phrase is welo ta'amin (וְלֹא תַאֲמִין), literally "and you shall not believe/trust." The root 'aman (אמן) is foundational for "faith," "trust," and "surety." Thus, "no assurance" means a complete lack of faith or confidence in one's future safety or continued existence. It signifies the absence of inner peace or stability concerning one's destiny.
of thy life: Reiteration of nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ). This repeats the object of this existential dread, reinforcing that the complete lack of assurance specifically concerns one's very existence and well-being.
Words-group analysis:
- "thy life shall hang in doubt before thee": This phrase captures the external precariousness and the internal, personal perception of an existence suspended precariously. It denotes an external threat that manifests as a constant, observed peril.
- "and thou shalt fear day and night": This highlights the profound, continuous, and all-consuming psychological toll. The internal terror is constant, consuming all hours and denying any peace.
- "and shalt have none assurance of thy life": This signifies the internal lack of conviction, trust, or certainty in one's continued well-being. It is the spiritual and psychological condition of being completely unmoored, without a firm foundation or hope for the future.
Deuteronomy 28 66 Commentary
Deuteronomy 28:66 profoundly illustrates the ultimate consequence of turning away from the LORD: a complete reversal of divine peace and security into perpetual dread and existential insecurity. This verse reveals that divine judgment extends beyond mere physical hardship to deep psychological and spiritual torment. Life becomes a constant struggle against an unseen axe ready to fall, and peace is eradicated, replaced by a ceaseless, pervasive fear that leaves no room for rest or hope. It paints a chilling picture of a life stripped of divine protection and assurance, forcing an individual or a nation to face a terrifying future where every moment is tenuous and without a firm foundation. This state of constant anxiety is far worse than temporary pain, as it gnaws at the soul, leaving no hope of relief.
Bonus Section
- This curse provides insight into the psychological aspects of judgment, revealing that punishment is not solely physical suffering but also includes profound internal distress and a sense of constant vulnerability.
- The use of nephesh ("life," "soul") twice emphasizes that the assault is total, affecting every aspect of one's being—both outer circumstances and inner state.
- This verse can be seen as a foreshadowing of the pervasive anxiety and lack of peace that characterize a life alienated from God, serving as a stark warning.
- In contrast to this verse, the New Testament offers the peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7) and a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not of fear (2 Tim 1:7), through Christ, emphasizing redemption from such a cursed state.