Deuteronomy 29 27

Deuteronomy 29:27 kjv

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:

Deuteronomy 29:27 nkjv

Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book.

Deuteronomy 29:27 niv

Therefore the LORD's anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book.

Deuteronomy 29:27 esv

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book,

Deuteronomy 29:27 nlt

That is why the LORD's anger has burned against this land, bringing down on it every curse recorded in this book.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 27 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:27 describes God's severe judgment upon the disobedient Israelites, specifically His forceful removal of them from their promised land and their dispersion into a foreign territory. It highlights the divine action ("the Lord uprooted them," "cast them") driven by intense righteous anger, a direct consequence of their covenant infidelity, fulfilling the previously warned curses. The phrase "as it is this day" indicates the observed reality and historical fulfillment of this prophetic warning.

Deuteronomy 29 27 Context

Deuteronomy 29 begins with Moses reaffirming the covenant between YHWH and the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter Canaan. This is distinct from the Sinai covenant, highlighting its present application to their entry and possession of the land. Moses reminds them of God's mighty acts, both His deliverance and His past judgments, to impress upon them the seriousness of keeping the covenant. Verses 22-28 detail the terrifying curses that would befall the land and its inhabitants if they turn away from YHWH to serve other gods. It predicts desolation, foreign invasion, and exile as divine judgment. Deuteronomy 29:27 is a powerful summation of these curses, framing them as a divine act ("the Lord uprooted them"), not merely a consequence, and referencing its observed fulfillment ("as it is this day"). Historically, this passage, composed much later in its final form, looks back at the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles as evidence of the curses' fulfillment, warning subsequent generations and explaining the reasons for the nation's suffering.

Deuteronomy 29 27 Word Analysis

• "and the Lord": וַיהוָה (waYHWH) - The Hebrew Tetragrammaton, indicating God's personal covenant name. This emphasizes that the judgment is a direct, deliberate act by Israel's own covenant God, not a random occurrence. His agency and sovereignty are central to the consequence.

• "uprooted them": נְתָשָׁם (nəṯāšām) - From the verb נתשׁ (natash), meaning "to tear up, pull out, pluck up, uproot." It vividly describes a forceful and violent removal, much like pulling a plant from the ground, severing its life source from the soil. This imagery signifies complete dispossession and alienation from the land that was promised as a place of rest and blessing. It counters any assumption that their inheritance of the land was unconditional.

• "from their land": מֵעַל אַדְמָתָם (meʿal ʾaḏmāṯām) - Literally, "from upon their ground/soil." This is the land given to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7), the symbol of their covenant relationship and a core element of their national identity and security. Being "uprooted" from it represents the ultimate reversal of God's blessings and promises for occupation.

• "in anger": בְּאַף (bəʾap̄) - Literally "in nose" or "nostril," implying heat and the rapid breathing associated with intense passion or fury. This indicates God's righteous indignation and displeasure over Israel's rebellion.

• "and in fury": וּבְחֵמָה (ūḇəḥemāh) - From חֵמָה (chemah), meaning "heat, rage, venom." This intensifies "anger," suggesting a burning, fierce, and fervent outpouring of divine wrath.

• "and in great wrath": וּבְקֶצֶף גָּד֖וֹל (ūḇəqeṣep̄ gāḏôl) - From קֶצֶף (qetsep̄), meaning "rage, outburst, indignation," combined with גָּדוֹל (gadol), meaning "great." This signifies a comprehensive, severe, and devastating manifestation of God's righteous indignation, demonstrating the gravity of Israel's offenses. The escalation of these three terms ("anger," "fury," "great wrath") highlights the profoundness of God's displeasure.

• "and cast them": וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֞ם (wayyašləḵēm) - From the verb שׁלך (shalakh), meaning "to throw, cast away, abandon." This depicts a violent and decisive expulsion, implying they were forcefully discarded, not gently removed. It emphasizes the complete removal of the people, mirroring the "uprooting" of their connection to the land.

• "into another land": אֶל־אֶרֶץ אַחֶרֶת (ʾel-ʾereṣ ʾaḥerĕṯ) - "To a different, distinct, or foreign land." This contrasts sharply with the "Promised Land" they were entering, highlighting the penalty of being exiled to pagan territories, where they would be exposed to foreign cultures and religious practices, contrary to God's original intent for them to be set apart.

• "as it is this day": כַּיּ֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (kayyôm hazzeh) - This crucial phrase has multiple layers of meaning. For the original audience of Moses, it could signify the certainty of the prophecy – "as sure as if it were happening today." However, in its final form, likely written much later, it points to the historical reality of the exiles that occurred, particularly the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, confirming that the curses prophesied by Moses had indeed come to pass and were observable realities. It validates the divine origin of the warning by referencing its eventual fulfillment.

Deuteronomy 29 27 Bonus Section

• The passage, including Deut 29:27, belongs to what scholars call the "Deuteronomic History" (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings), which interprets Israel's history through the lens of covenant obedience or disobedience, explaining prosperity by faithfulness and disaster by unfaithfulness.
• God's "anger," "fury," and "wrath" here are not capricious emotions but righteous responses to gross sin and covenant breaking, demonstrating His holiness and justice.
• The severity of this prophecy, even before entering the land, serves to instill deep fear of God and a strong incentive for covenant obedience, reinforcing the sanctity of the relationship.
• The contrast between God "uprooting" and Jeremiah being called to "uproot and to plant" (Jer 1:10) is significant. God is sovereign over both destruction and restoration, which gives hope beyond the judgment expressed in Deut 29:27.

Deuteronomy 29 27 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:27 functions as a pivotal declaration within the Mosaic Covenant, serving as both a dire prophetic warning and a subsequent historical explanation for Israel's experience of exile. The verse succinctly captures God's direct involvement in Israel's judgment. The Lord, Israel's covenant God, actively "uproots" and "casts" His people, using potent agricultural and physical action verbs. This signifies not just a consequence but a divinely orchestrated removal from the very land given as a covenant promise. The progression of divine wrath described—"anger," "fury," and "great wrath"— underscores the profound offense caused by Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience. This intensity conveys the justice and righteousness of God in response to a broken covenant, emphasizing that God's covenant is not one-sided but demands faithfulness. The phrase "into another land" marks the tragic fulfillment of the curses of dispersion, sending them from a land of divine promise to one of foreign captivity and suffering. Finally, "as it is this day" retroactively affirms the truth and power of Moses's warnings, confirming to later generations that God had indeed kept His word concerning the curses, just as He keeps His promises of blessing. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the conditional nature of their residency in the land and the ultimate sovereignty of YHWH over His people and their destiny.