Deuteronomy 7 15

Deuteronomy 7:15 kjv

And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

Deuteronomy 7:15 nkjv

And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.

Deuteronomy 7:15 niv

The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

Deuteronomy 7:15 esv

And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.

Deuteronomy 7:15 nlt

And the LORD will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all your enemies!

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 15 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:15 conveys a specific promise from God to His chosen people, Israel: If they obey His covenant, He will protect them from all forms of sickness and, notably, from the severe plagues and diseases they experienced or witnessed in Egypt. Furthermore, this divine protection for Israel is juxtaposed with a declaration that these very ailments and judgments will be inflicted upon their enemies—those who hate the Lord and His people. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty over health and disease, demonstrating His power to both prevent illness as a blessing for faithfulness and inflict it as a curse upon His adversaries.

Deuteronomy 7 15 Context

Deuteronomy 7:15 is found within Moses' second discourse in the book of Deuteronomy, delivered on the plains of Moab as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land. This chapter focuses heavily on Israel's covenant relationship with God and the distinct separation required from the Canaanite nations. God emphasizes that Israel is chosen not because of their size or might, but solely out of His love and faithfulness to the covenant made with their patriarchs (Deut 7:6-8). To maintain this covenant, they must utterly destroy the Canaanites and their idols to avoid being lured into idolatry. Verse 15 appears amidst a list of specific blessings promised for obedience (Deut 7:12-16), following assurances of fertility and prosperity. Historically, the Israelites had direct, painful memories of the plagues in Egypt, God's judgments upon their oppressors. This verse directly invokes those experiences, reminding them of God's power to both deliver from and inflict such diseases. It served as a powerful polemic against the numerous local deities of Egypt and Canaan who were thought to control health, sickness, and the forces of nature; YHWH is affirmed as the sole, sovereign power over all these aspects, contrasting sharply with pagan uncertainty and the often cruel nature of their gods.

Deuteronomy 7 15 Word analysis

• And the Lord: (Hebrew: וְיָסִיר יְהוָה - vayasir YHWH). "The Lord" here is YHWH (the covenant name of God), emphasizing the personal, powerful, and faithful nature of Israel's God. It signifies that the source of this blessing is divine and steadfast, not a lesser deity.
• will take away from you: (Hebrew: יָסִיר מִמְּךָ - yasir mimmekha). Yasir means "will remove, will cause to depart." This signifies active, divine intervention to eliminate disease, not merely its passive absence. It's a direct action from God on behalf of His people.
• all sickness: (Hebrew: כָּל-מַחֲלֵה - kol-makkhaleh). Kol means "all" or "every kind of," and makkhaleh refers to disease or infirmity. This indicates comprehensive protection, covering every type of illness, physical ailment, or malady.
• and none of the evil diseases of Egypt: (Hebrew: וְכָל-מַדְוֵי מִצְרַיִם הָרָעִים - vekhol madvey Mitsrayim hara'im). Madvey denotes severe diseases or plagues, and hara'im emphasizes their harmful or malevolent nature. The "diseases of Egypt" directly allude to the specific plagues inflicted upon Egypt (e.g., boils, pestilence - Ex 9:9-11) and the general wretched conditions of their bondage, where they experienced oppressive illnesses. This phrase serves as a powerful, recent memory for the Israelites, highlighting God's past demonstrations of power. It's a polemic against Egyptian deities thought to control health and sickness; YHWH demonstrated Himself to be utterly superior.
• which you knew: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ - asher yadata). Yada'ta means "you knew, experienced, or observed." This emphasizes that these diseases were not abstract concepts but had been personally encountered or vividly remembered by the Israelites, making the promise and the warning tangible and impactful.
• will he put upon you: (Hebrew: לֹא יָשִׂים - lo yasim). Lo yasim is a strong negative, meaning "He will not place or put." It's an explicit assurance of divine protection against these specific, dreadful ailments for Israel if they remain faithful.
• but will lay them upon: (Hebrew: וְנָתְנָם עַל - venatnam al). Venatnam means "and He will put/give them," indicating a divine transference or assignment. God will actively take these diseases from Israel and place them elsewhere.
• all those who hate you: (Hebrew: כָּל-שׂוֹנְאֵיךָ - kol-soneikha). Soneikha means "your enemies" or "those who hate you." This typically refers to hostile nations or individuals who oppose God's people, implicitly implying that their animosity toward Israel is equivalent to hatred of YHWH Himself. It defines the recipient of the curses: God's justice is enacted upon Israel's adversaries.

• Words-Group analysis:
• "The Lord will take away from you all sickness... will not put upon you": This phrase highlights God's role as a protector and healer for His covenant people. It's an affirmation of divine care and provision against common and specific afflictions, contingent upon covenant faithfulness. It sets the blessing side of the conditional covenant.
• "evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew": This group specifically recalls a vivid historical experience, tying God's future promise to His past actions. It is a powerful reminder of God's sovereign control over even the most devastating diseases, reinforcing His might and reliability, and also contrasting Israel's privileged position with their former servitude. It also contains an inherent polemic, proving YHWH's absolute power over all things that were attributed to Egyptian gods.
• "but will lay them upon all those who hate you": This phrase completes the principle of retributive justice within the covenant. It ensures that the curse of disease, lifted from Israel, will be visited upon their adversaries, showcasing God's impartial justice and His defense of His people. It demonstrates a reversal of fortune—the plagues suffered by the enemies (Egypt) will become the plagues on Israel's new enemies.

Deuteronomy 7 15 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the theme of God's discriminating judgment and blessing. While "all sickness" covers general health, the specific mention of "diseases of Egypt" anchors the promise in Israel's recent history, serving as both a powerful reminder of God's delivering power and a stern warning against disobedience. In the New Testament, while believers are not under the old covenant law, the principle of God's power over sickness and His care for His people endures. Jesus’ healing ministry often freed people from various ailments, and ultimately, His redemptive work on the cross defeats sin, the root cause of sickness and death, looking forward to a time where there will be no more sorrow or pain. While Christians may experience sickness in this fallen world, the promise in Deuteronomy 7:15 points to the comprehensive healing found in God’s redemptive plan, fulfilled in Christ and culminating in the new heavens and new earth where sickness is eradicated. The conditional nature of this Old Testament promise serves to remind believers that their relationship with God often influences the manifestation of His blessings.

Deuteronomy 7 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:15 functions as a robust promise within the covenant framework, assuring Israel of divine protection from disease as a reward for their obedience. God, YHWH, pledges to actively remove all forms of sickness from His people and explicitly assures them that the dreaded "diseases of Egypt," which they intimately knew from their painful past, will not befall them. This promise underlines God's comprehensive sovereignty over health and disease, a direct counterpoint to any pagan belief systems where capricious gods inflicted illness. Furthermore, the verse outlines divine justice, stipulating that these same afflictions will be visited upon "those who hate you"—Israel's enemies, who are implicitly God's enemies. This reveals God as both a compassionate Protector and a just Avenger, securing the well-being of His covenant people while meting out consequences to their adversaries. The health and flourishing of Israel are directly tied to their faithfulness and their distinct separation from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations.

• Practical application: Trusting God for health when aligning with His commands, acknowledging that health is a divine gift; understanding God's justice encompasses protection for His faithful and consequences for those who oppose Him and His people.