Deuteronomy 7 13

Deuteronomy 7:13 kjv

And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Deuteronomy 7:13 nkjv

And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 7:13 niv

He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land?your grain, new wine and olive oil?the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

Deuteronomy 7:13 esv

He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 7:13 nlt

He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land he swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 13 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:13 outlines the comprehensive and reciprocal blessings God promises to grant His chosen people, Israel, should they diligently obey His commands. These blessings stem from God's steadfast covenant love for them and encompass familial prosperity, abundant agricultural yield, and flourishing livestock, all within the Promised Land He swore to their ancestors. The verse emphatically asserts God as the singular source of all well-being and fertility, a direct counterpoint to the polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations.

Deuteronomy 7 13 Context

Deuteronomy 7 forms part of Moses' second speech to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. The chapter is a fervent call to maintain a distinct separation from the pagan nations within Canaan, explicitly forbidding intermarriage, idol worship, and covenant with them. The warnings in verses 1-5 underscore the danger of foreign influence, which could lead Israel astray. Verse 6 establishes Israel's unique status as a holy people chosen by God. Verse 12 is pivotal, setting up a conditional framework: if Israel heeds and keeps God's statutes, then God will "keep with you the covenant and the loyalty which He swore to your fathers." Verse 13 directly follows this, elaborating on the tangible blessings that God will pour out as a result of this covenant faithfulness and obedience. The historical context is a nomadic people about to become settled farmers and city dwellers, inheriting a fertile land that their God has promised them, directly challenging their impulse to rely on pagan deities of fertility and prosperity.

Deuteronomy 7 13 Word analysis

• He will love you (וַאֲהֵבְךָ wa'aḥaveḵā):

  • Word: אהב (aḥav) - to love.
  • Significance: Reciprocal nature of God's hesed (covenant love/loyalty) mentioned in Deut 7:9 and Deut 7:12. It's a divine affection preceding the blessings, not a reward for their initial love, but a responsive love to their obedience to the covenant.
  • Implication: God's action here is an extension of His sovereign choice and steadfast devotion to Israel as His treasured possession.

• and bless you (וּבֵרַכְךָ ūḇērakḵā):

  • Word: ברך (barak) - to bless.
  • Significance: To endow with divine favor, leading to prosperity, fruitfulness, and overall well-being. It is a comprehensive blessing, not limited to one aspect.
  • Context: Connected to the blessings promised to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) in Genesis, ensuring continuity of God's plan.

• and multiply you (וְהִרְבְּךָ wəhirbekḵā):

  • Word: רבה (rabah) - to be or become many, great, multiply.
  • Significance: Fulfillment of the promise of numerous descendants, crucial for building a strong nation and filling the land (Gen 12:2, 17:6). Directly links to national strength and survival.

• He will also bless the fruit of your womb (וּפְרִי בִטְנְךָ ūfərî biṭnəḵā):

  • Phrase: Focuses on human procreation. פְּרִי (perî) means "fruit" or "offspring," and בִטֶן (biṭen) means "womb."
  • Significance: Children were considered a primary blessing in ancient Israel (Ps 127:3). This ensures continuity of family lines and the growth of the nation. Directly challenges the surrounding cultures' child sacrifices and beliefs about fertility deities.

• and the fruit of your ground (וּפְרִי אַדְמָתֶךָ ūfərî 'admāteḵā):

  • Phrase: Refers to agricultural produce. אֲדָמָה ('adama) means "ground" or "land."
  • Significance: Essential for sustenance and economic prosperity of an agrarian society. Demonstrates God's sovereignty over the land and its productivity, directly countering the Canaanite god Baal's claimed control over rain and fertility.

• your grain and your new wine and your oil (דְּגָנְךָ וְתִירוֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ dəḡāneḵā wətîrôšḵā wəyiṣhārəḵā):

  • Words: דָּגָן (dagān) - grain; תִּירוֹשׁ (tîrôš) - new wine; יִצְהָר (yiṣhār) - oil.
  • Significance: This triad represents the foundational staples of agricultural life in Canaan, symbolic of material abundance and a thriving economy. These specific terms were often invoked in Canaanite rituals to Baal as the one who provides them, thus God explicitly states His ultimate ownership and provision.

• the increase of your herds and the young of your flock (עַשְׁתְּרֹת בְּקָרֶךָ וְעַשְׁתְּדֹת צֹאנֶךָ 'ashtǝrôt bǝqārekā wǝ'ashtǝrôt ṣōnəḵā):

  • Phrase: Refers to the productivity and young offspring of livestock. בָּקָר (baqar) - cattle/herd; צֹאן (tson) - flock. עַשְׁתְּרֹת ('ashtǝrôt) relates to the productivity or breeding stock, particularly in relation to the pagan deity Ashtoreth, a goddess of fertility.
  • Significance: Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) were vital for food, clothing, trade, and sacrifice. The proliferation of livestock was a major indicator of wealth and divine favor. The specific mention serves as a potent polemic against any notion that pagan gods (like Asherah/Ashtoreth) are the source of animal fertility. God emphatically declares Himself the sole giver of all life and abundance.

• in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you (עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לָתֶת לָךְ 'al hā'ădāmāh 'ăsher nišbaʿ la'ăvoteḵā lāteth lāk):

  • Phrase: Reiteration of the divine oath and covenant promise of the land. נִשְׁבַּע (nishba') - to swear/take an oath; אֲבֹתֶיךָ ('ăvoteḵā) - your fathers (patriarchs).
  • Significance: These blessings are intrinsically tied to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The land is not merely a geographic location but a stage for the manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness and the reception of His physical blessings, contingent on Israel's obedience.

Deuteronomy 7 13 Bonus section

The detailed list of blessings in Deuteronomy 7:13—specifically mentioning "grain, new wine, and oil," alongside "herds" and "flocks"—was not merely a casual listing. These very items were considered the specific domains of control for the Canaanite storm god Baal and his consort, the fertility goddess Asherah. For ancient Israel, who lived amidst societies attributing agricultural and human fruitfulness to these deities, God's explicit promise to provide these exact items directly challenged and deconstructed the foundational beliefs of Canaanite religion. It was a clear declaration of God's supremacy, ensuring Israel understood that their prosperity originated solely from their covenant relationship with Yahweh, and not through adopting the pagan practices of the surrounding cultures. This serves as a constant reminder that Israel's true source of blessing and stability was God Himself, conditional upon their unique devotion to Him.

Deuteronomy 7 13 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:13 powerfully encapsulates the nature of the Mosaic Covenant blessings. It emphasizes that God's actions toward Israel flow from His hesed, His unwavering covenant love, contingent upon their faithfulness in obeying His commands. The verse details a holistic picture of prosperity—encompassing the most vital aspects of ancient life: children, agricultural produce (grain, wine, oil), and healthy livestock. This comprehensive list of blessings serves not only as a promise of material well-being but also as a direct polemic against the polytheistic fertility cults prevalent in Canaan. By promising abundant "fruit of the ground" and "increase of herds" (often linked to Baal and Asherah), God asserts Himself as the sole and supreme provider, demonstrating that it is He, the one true God, who governs creation and bestows life and fertility, not pagan deities. This underscores Israel's distinctiveness and God's absolute sovereignty over every aspect of their physical existence in the promised land, guaranteeing their prosperity so long as they remained devoted to Him alone.

For example, imagine a family experiencing abundant harvests year after year, their fields rich with grain and their presses flowing with oil. Simultaneously, their herds multiply, and their home is filled with many healthy children. This prosperity would be a visible testament to God's blessing on their obedience, contrasting sharply with the often fickle and morally corrupt practices of the pagan peoples around them who might seek fertility through rites to idols.