Deuteronomy 29 24

Deuteronomy 29:24 kjv

Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

Deuteronomy 29:24 nkjv

"All nations would say, 'Why has the LORD done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?'

Deuteronomy 29:24 niv

All the nations will ask: "Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?"

Deuteronomy 29:24 esv

all the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?'

Deuteronomy 29:24 nlt

"And all the surrounding nations will ask, 'Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why was he so angry?'

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 24 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:24 describes the reaction of surrounding nations to the devastated land of Israel, ravaged due to the Israelites' disobedience to God's covenant. These nations, witnessing the unprecedented desolation, will be so astounded that they will question the cause, acknowledging that the God of Israel, the Lord, is responsible for such a powerful and fierce display of anger and judgment. It highlights the public, undeniable nature of divine judgment and the testimony it provides to God's justice and sovereignty among the peoples.

Deuteronomy 29 24 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 29 forms part of Moses' final covenant address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately before they enter the Promised Land. This particular section (Deut 29:18-29) focuses on the severe curses and consequences that will befall Israel if they turn to idolatry and abandon their covenant with the Lord. The passage emphasizes a "hidden sin" which leads to widespread ruin and a visible judgment, so dramatic that even the surrounding Gentile nations will take notice. Verse 24 specifically projects forward to a future state of extreme desolation that puzzles and horrifies foreign observers, who recognize it as an act of the God of Israel. It reinforces the seriousness of the covenant obligations and warns against individual apostasy affecting the entire nation and land.

Deuteronomy 29 24 Word analysis

• And all the nations:
  • Hebrew: vəḵol-hagōyim (וְכָל-הַגּוֹיִם) - və (and, indicating continuation); kol (all, emphasizes universality); hagōyim (the nations, referring to Gentile peoples, distinct from Israel). This highlights the external, global recognition of God's work. It's significant because it implies the Gentile nations will not attribute the desolation to random fate or the triumph of their own deities, but to the sovereign hand of Israel's God. This functions as a polemic against the regional gods of other nations; Israel's desolation isn't due to their God's weakness, but His overwhelming power and wrath.
• will say,
  • Hebrew: yōʾməru (יֹאמְרוּ) - to say, to speak. It implies an open declaration, not merely an internal thought. This public pronouncement underscores the visibility and undeniable nature of the judgment.
• 'Why has the Lord done this to this land?
  • Hebrew: Maddaʿ lā-YHWH ʿaśāh kāzōṯ lāʾāreṣ hazōʾṯ? (מַדּוּעַ לַיהוָה עָשָׂה כָזֹאת לָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת)
  • Maddaʿ (מַדּוּעַ) - "Why?" A question of cause and reason. It indicates profound perplexity.
  • lā-YHWH (לַיהוָה) - "the Lord" (specifically to the tetragrammaton YHWH). Crucially, the nations use Israel's covenant name for God. This acknowledges the distinct identity and supreme power of Israel's God, contrasting with their own pantheon of deities. They recognize the divine agency behind the devastation is specific to Israel's God.
  • ʿaśāh kāzōṯ (עָשָׂה כָזֹאת) - "has done this (so/thus)." Refers to the severe devastation mentioned in the preceding verses (Deut 29:22-23), indicating volcanic brimstone, salt, burning, barrenness – extreme desolation.
  • lāʾāreṣ hazōʾṯ (לָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת) - "to this land." The specific, unique land of Israel, promised to Abraham's descendants. The focus is on the geographical location experiencing the curse, demonstrating the covenantal connection between people, land, and obedience.
• What is the meaning of all this fierce anger?'
  • Hebrew: mah charon haʾaf hagādol hazzeh? (מַה חֲרוֹן הָאַף הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה)
  • mah (מַה) - "What?" Another question, but now concerning the nature and intensity of the judgment. It expresses utter shock.
  • charon haʾaf (חֲרוֹן הָאַף) - Literally "burning of the nose/anger," a vivid Hebrew idiom for intense, furious wrath. "Fierce anger" conveys devastating, overwhelming rage. It’s an anthropomorphic expression, signifying extreme divine displeasure. This isn't mere disappointment, but destructive, burning wrath.
  • hagādol hazzeh (הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה) - "this great/fierce." Emphasizes the immense scale and severity of God's wrath, making it uniquely terrifying and astounding.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And all the nations will say": This phrase emphasizes the global reach and undeniable nature of the future judgment. It’s a prophecy not just of Israel’s internal collapse, but of its transformation into a visible, confounding example for the entire world. The land itself becomes a testimony to God's covenant justice.
• "Why has the Lord done this to this land?": This question highlights a fundamental perplexity. The nations, who might otherwise attribute such events to their own gods or natural causes, are compelled to acknowledge YHWH as the sole, deliberate agent. The devastation is clearly supernatural and purposive, demanding an explanation rooted in the God of Israel. It serves to vindicate God's justice, showing He is not unjust or arbitrary.
• "What is the meaning of all this fierce anger?": This follow-up question expresses the utter astonishment at the intensity and extent of God's wrath. It's not just that God acted, but how severely. It indicates that the judgment goes far beyond ordinary desolation, revealing an extraordinary display of divine displeasure, shocking even to those who do not worship Him. The devastation is so comprehensive that it prompts inquiries into the very character of the powerful deity who wrought it.

Deuteronomy 29 24 Bonus section

The scene described in Deut 29:24 carries strong didactic intent for the Israelites. By portraying the astonished reactions of pagan nations, Moses not only underscores the severity of the warned-against apostasy but also reminds Israel that their relationship with God has implications beyond their borders. Their faithfulness or unfaithfulness reflects on God's character to the outside world. This passage prefigures what happens multiple times in Israelite history, particularly the destructions by the Assyrians and Babylonians. In these historical fulfillments, the desolation of Judah and the exile of its people became observable events that prompted surrounding peoples to indeed ponder the "why" and "what" of such overwhelming divine judgment, validating Moses' prophecy.

Deuteronomy 29 24 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:24 paints a stark picture of future judgment and its profound implications. The verse reveals God's intent that His judgments, particularly on His own people for covenant infidelity, would serve as a public witness to His sovereignty and righteousness. The devastation of the Promised Land, contrary to what pagan observers might expect if their gods were powerful, is clearly identified by them as the direct, overwhelming action of Israel's God, YHWH. This judgment is not hidden; it’s an open display of divine anger so extreme that it generates bewildered inquiry from Gentile observers. This serves multiple purposes: it prevents other nations from attributing Israel's downfall to their own gods' strength; it magnifies God's glory even through judgment; and it underscores the inviolable nature of His covenant. The visible curse would thus inadvertently prompt a recognition, however grudging, of God's supreme authority among those who knew Him not. This public nature of judgment means that covenant breaking affects not just Israel, but has theological implications for God's reputation in the world.