Deuteronomy 29 18

Deuteronomy 29:18 kjv

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

Deuteronomy 29:18 nkjv

so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood;

Deuteronomy 29:18 niv

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.

Deuteronomy 29:18 esv

Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit,

Deuteronomy 29:18 nlt

I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you ? no man, woman, clan, or tribe ? will turn away from the LORD our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 18 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:18 serves as a solemn warning against any individual, family, or tribe within Israel whose heart would deviate from their loyalty to the Lord their God and turn instead to worship the pagan deities of the surrounding nations. This deviation is likened to a "root" planted among them, which, despite its initial hidden nature, will inevitably yield "gall and wormwood," powerful metaphors for extreme bitterness, spiritual poison, and the resultant affliction and judgment that would affect the entire covenant community. The verse underscores the critical danger of apostasy stemming from internal spiritual disloyalty and its widespread destructive consequences.

Deuteronomy 29 18 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 29 forms a pivotal part of Moses' farewell addresses to the Israelite nation on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter functions as a renewal and expansion of the Mosaic Covenant established at Horeb (Mount Sinai). Moses gathers all the people – from leaders to the humblest members – to remind them of God's mighty acts, their covenant obligations, and the severe consequences of disobedience. Verse 18 is a specific, strong warning embedded within this solemn covenant renewal. It addresses the internal threat of apostasy, a person or group choosing to deviate from loyalty to Yahweh and embracing the idolatry of the surrounding Canaanite nations. This was a critical issue as they were about to enter a land saturated with pagan worship. The "oath" they were entering (v.12) bound them all to this covenant, making the warning about internal corruption all the more vital for the nation's spiritual survival and well-being. This passage stands as a direct polemic against syncretism and polytheism prevalent among the Gentiles, explicitly demanding exclusive devotion to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 29 18 Word analysis

• Lest (פֶּן - pen): A strong prohibitory particle indicating a warning or fear of a negative outcome. It implies concern for what might happen and the need to prevent it.
• there should be among you (יֵשׁ בָּכֶם - yesh bakhém): Highlights the internal nature of the threat. The danger resides within the community itself, not solely from external forces.
• man (אִישׁ - 'ish), or woman (אוֹ אִשָּׁה - 'o 'ishah), or family (אוֹ מִשְׁפָּחָה - 'o mishpakhah), or tribe (אוֹ שֶׁבֶט - 'o shévet): This comprehensive list emphasizes that the warning applies to every single member and every societal unit within Israel. No one is exempt, and spiritual defection, even if initiated by one individual, impacts the collective.
• whose heart (אֲשֶׁר לְבָבוֹ - 'ashér levavó): Hebrew "levav" signifies the innermost being, the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral choice. It indicates that apostasy begins with an internal turning away, a spiritual decision or inclination, before any outward action.
• turneth away (פֹנֶה - ponéh): From the root "פנה" (panah), meaning "to turn, to face." Here, it implies a deliberate deviation or turning one's back from the true path of loyalty to God. It is a fundamental reorientation of one's allegiance.
• this day (הַיּוֹם - hayyóm): Reinforces the immediacy and gravity of the moment of covenant renewal. The decision to commit to God or turn away is a present, urgent one.
• from the Lord our God (מֵעִם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - me'ím Adonái Elohénu): Clearly identifies the true God, Yahweh, and emphasizes the relational aspect ("our God") that is being betrayed. The turning away is from the unique, personal God who has delivered them.
• to go and serve (לָלֶכֶת לַעֲבֹד - lalékhet la'avód): "To go" suggests a direction, a pathway taken. "To serve" (from 'avad) means to worship, minister to, or be enslaved to. This clarifies the ultimate purpose of the heart turning away: to enter into idolatrous worship and servitude to false deities.
• the gods of these nations (אֶת־אֱלֹהֵי הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה - 'ét 'elohéi hagoyím ha'élleh): Refers to the local deities of the Canaanites and other peoples surrounding Israel, notorious for their abhorrent practices (e.g., child sacrifice, temple prostitution). This clarifies the alternative choice and its spiritual danger.
• a root (שֹׁרֶשׁ - shóresh): A powerful metaphor for the hidden, fundamental source or origin of something. It suggests that the problem may be unseen or underestimated initially, but its effects are inevitable and pervasive, much like the spread of plant roots.
• that beareth (פֹּרֶה - poréh): "To bear fruit," implying that the root, once established, will certainly produce its characteristic output or consequences.
• gall (רֹאשׁ - ró'sh): Often identified as a poisonous or bitter herb, possibly hemlock. It represents a virulent, corrupting, and destructive bitterness, moral corruption, and intense suffering.
• and wormwood (וְלַעֲנָה - vla'anah): A plant known for its extreme bitterness. Symbolizes grief, sorrow, affliction, and the bitter taste of divine judgment. Its strong bitterness implies severe and devastating consequences.
• a root that beareth gall and wormwood: This entire phrase creates a vivid image of hidden corruption leading to pervasive spiritual poison and suffering. The hidden internal "root" of disloyalty will produce openly destructive, bitter, and judgmental "fruit" that infects and harms the entire community. It underscores the danger of silent spiritual compromise which inevitably surfaces with destructive power.

Deuteronomy 29 18 Bonus section

• Corporate Accountability: This verse is a powerful illustration of the principle of corporate accountability in God's covenants. While individuals make choices, those choices have ramifications for the entire group, emphasizing the interconnectedness and mutual responsibility within the body of believers. A "root" of bitterness or idolatry in one can indeed defile "many" (Heb 12:15).
• Preventative Wisdom: The use of "lest there should be" indicates a proleptic warning, designed to prevent the issue rather than merely reacting to it. Moses provides spiritual foresight, teaching the Israelites (and later the church) to proactively guard against the insidious internal threats that compromise spiritual integrity and communal health.
• Spiritual Leaven: The concept of the "root of bitterness" aligns with the biblical theme of "leaven," where a small amount of a corrupting agent can spread and spoil the whole batch (Gal 5:9). An apostate heart, left unchecked, functions like spiritual leaven, corrupting the spiritual purity of the congregation.
• Relevance to Church Today: This verse resonates deeply within the Christian church. It calls believers to self-examination to ensure their hearts are not subtly turning away from Christ and towards worldly idols (money, power, entertainment, self). It also serves as a warning against allowing unrepentant sin or false teaching (spiritual gall and wormwood) to take root within the church community, as its bitter fruit can cause defilement and spiritual sickness among the brethren.

Deuteronomy 29 18 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:18 acts as a profound prophetic and cautionary word delivered by Moses as Israel stood on the precipice of their inheritance. It diagnoses the core spiritual sickness that threatened the covenant community: the turning away of the "heart." This passage is not primarily concerned with external enemies but with the insidious internal threat of apostasy, highlighting that deviation from God's commands often begins not with overt actions but with a subtle, yet fundamental, shift in allegiance at the core of one's being.

The verse emphasizes the corporate impact of individual sin. Even if "one man, or woman, or family" turns their heart from the Lord to serve other gods, it is akin to planting a "root that beareth gall and wormwood" within the collective. This metaphor illustrates several truths:

1. Hidden Nature: Like a root, apostasy may initially be hidden from view, unnoticed or unaddressed.
2. Poisonous Outcome: The "gall and wormwood" signify the bitter, toxic, and ultimately destructive fruits of idolatry—affliction, moral corruption, and divine judgment. This poison does not remain contained but spreads, polluting the entire community.
3. Inevitable Consequence: A root inevitably bears its fruit. Similarly, an idolatrous heart, if left unchecked, will inevitably lead to corrupt actions and severe repercussions, for both the individual and the corporate body.

Moses’ warning underscores the high stakes of their covenant with Yahweh, demanding exclusive loyalty. It preemptively addresses the syncretism that would later plague Israel's history. For the people of God, past and present, this verse is a perpetual call to vigilance over the state of the heart, recognizing that spiritual compromise, though seemingly minor at its inception, possesses the potent capacity to spread spiritual death and defilement through the entire fellowship. It reminds us that our personal commitment to God has communal implications, and protecting the spiritual purity of the whole requires diligence in the heart of each part.