Deuteronomy 29 23

Deuteronomy 29:23 kjv

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

Deuteronomy 29:23 nkjv

'The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and His wrath.'

Deuteronomy 29:23 niv

The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur?nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.

Deuteronomy 29:23 esv

the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath ?

Deuteronomy 29:23 nlt

They will exclaim, 'The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his intense anger.'

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 23 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:23 vividly describes the terrifying desolation awaiting the land of Israel if the people break their covenant with the LORD and turn to idolatry. It foretells a landscape utterly ravaged, transformed into a barren waste scorched by sulfur and salt, resembling the ancient destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. This portrays a judgment so complete that the land becomes infertile, unable to sustain plant life or be cultivated, manifesting the fierce anger and wrath of God against disobedience.

Deuteronomy 29 23 Context

Deuteronomy 29:23 is a stark warning delivered by Moses as part of the covenant renewal speech in the plains of Moab. This address, occurring just before Israel is to enter the Promised Land, reiterates the terms of the covenant God established at Mount Sinai. Chapter 29 specifically emphasizes the solemn oath the people are entering into, binding them and future generations to God’s laws. Moses reminds them of God's mighty acts on their behalf—delivering them from Egypt and sustaining them in the wilderness—and warns against the extreme consequences of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The verse itself depicts the dire outcome if they forsake the LORD and worship other gods, detailing how their very land will suffer a catastrophic and irreversible judgment, much like the famous cities of the plain. This imagery serves as a powerful historical precedent and a severe deterrent, demonstrating God's consistent nature in punishing widespread, deep-seated rebellion.

Deuteronomy 29 23 Word analysis

• "and that the whole land" (וְהָיְתָה כָל־אַרְצָהּ, v'hayta chol-artza): "Chol" (whole, all) emphasizes the pervasive nature of the judgment, not just isolated pockets. "Artzah" (its land) specifically refers to the land of Israel, the covenant inheritance.
• "is a burning waste of salt and sulfur" (גָּפְרִית וָמֶלַח בָּרָה סְרֵפָה, gofrit u'melakh barah serepha):
  • "burning waste" (בָּרָה סְרֵפָה, barah serepha): "Serepha" (burning) indicates intense heat and consumption by fire. "Barah" is related to "barrenness" or "desolation," implying the state after the burning, an unfertile void. This suggests a land ravaged by a consuming fire, leaving behind a sterile environment.
  • "salt" (מֶלַח, melakh): Salt renders soil barren and infertile, unsuitable for cultivation (cf. Judg 9:45 where Abimelech sowed Shechem with salt). It symbolizes permanent desolation, a curse upon agricultural productivity.
  • "sulfur" (גָּפְרִית, gofrit): Associated directly with divine judgment and consuming fire, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24). It speaks to a supernaturally inflicted devastation. The combination of salt and sulfur signifies complete, lasting, and divinely ordained infertility and destruction.
• "unconquerable and unsown, and no grass grows there" (לֹא תִזָּרַע וְלֹא תַצְמִיחַ וְלֹא־יַעֲלֶה בָהּ כָּל־עֵשֶׂב, lo tizarra v'lo tatzmiakh v'lo ya'aleh vah kol-eisev): This triplet of negations ("not sown," "not spring up," "no grass grows") highlights the utter futility of any human attempt to make the land productive. It signifies an enduring curse beyond natural recovery, resulting in complete ecological collapse and uninhabitable conditions.
• "like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim" (כְּמַהְפֵּכַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה אַדְמָה וּצְבֹויִם, k'mahpekhat Sedom v'Amorah Admah u'Tseboyim):
  • "overthrow" (מַהְפֵּכַה, mahpekhat): Refers to a catastrophic overturning or destruction, often involving divine intervention and fire (Gen 19:29).
  • "Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim": These four cities of the plain were annihilated by God for their extreme wickedness. By citing all four, Moses emphasizes the extensive and widespread nature of the judgment. These serve as archetypal examples of total divine annihilation. Admah and Zeboiim (also mentioned in Hos 11:8) underscore that the judgment extended beyond the two most famous cities, emphasizing the comprehensive scope of God's prior wrath.
• "which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath" (אֲשֶׁר הָפַךְ יְהוָה בְּאַפּוֹ וּבַחֲמָתוֹ, asher hafakh YHWH b'appo u'vakhchamato):
  • "the LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant God, explicitly identified as the author of this judgment, reinforcing divine sovereignty and justice.
  • "in his anger and wrath" (בְּאַפּוֹ וּבַחֲמָתוֹ, b'appo u'vakhchamato): "Aph" (anger) literally means "nose" or "nostrils," metaphorically referring to hot breathing and fierce indignation. "Chemah" (wrath) signifies fierce, burning rage. These terms emphasize the righteous and intense displeasure of God against sin and covenant rebellion, highlighting the punitive nature and the full force of divine judgment.

Deuteronomy 29 23 Bonus section

• The naming of Admah and Zeboiim alongside Sodom and Gomorrah indicates a comprehensive judgment that wiped out a cluster of cities, not just the two most famous. This suggests a thoroughness to God's wrath when provoked.
• The absence of Zoar from this list (the city Lot fled to) indirectly highlights God's sovereign prerogative and discretion in judgment, choosing to spare some while destroying others based on His perfect will.
• The imagery of the land becoming infertile parallels the spiritual barrenness and fruitlessness that comes from rebellion against God, where spiritual life and blessings cease.
• This prophetic curse over the land indeed found partial fulfillment in various periods of Israel's history, especially during the Babylonian exile, when the land lay desolate for many years (cf. Jer 25:11-12, Dan 9:2).

Deuteronomy 29 23 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:23 is a profoundly vivid and terrifying warning, articulating the ultimate earthly consequence for covenant apostasy, particularly the embracing of idolatry. Moses draws on the most famous and devastating historical act of divine judgment—the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah, extended to include Admah and Zeboiim—to underscore the certainty and severity of God's future judgment on Israel's land if they prove unfaithful. The imagery of a "burning waste of salt and sulfur" portrays an irreparable desolation, a landscape transformed by divine fire into something utterly unproductive and uninhabitable, signifying God's complete rejection of the land due to the people's pervasive sin. This curse goes beyond simple barrenness; it is a permanent blight that defies any human attempt at reclamation. It serves as a stark polemic against the pagan fertility cults prevalent in Canaan, contrasting the supposed blessings of other gods with the curse of the one true God. The verse’s primary intent is not just to frighten, but to impress upon Israel the holiness of God and the seriousness of their covenant with Him, reminding them that while He is merciful, He is also righteous and just in His anger against sin.