King James Version:
Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"A curse on you in the city, and a curse on you in the countryside.
Berean Standard Bible:
You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
American Standard Version:
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
Cross-References (KJV):
Malachi 3:9
- Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.
Malachi 3:12
- And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Joel 2:3
- A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
Jeremiah 44:22
- So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, [and] because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Joel 1:8
- ¶ Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
Joel 1:18
- How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
Joel 1:4
- That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
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Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H779
There are 177 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרַר
Transliteration: ʼârar
Pronunciation: aw-rar'
Description: a primitive root; to execrate; [idiom] bitterly curse. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
Commentary for Deuteronomy 28:16
Deuteronomy 28:16 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy known as the blessings and curses. This verse specifically articulates one of the curses that the Israelites would incur if they failed to obey the voice of the Lord their God and to observe His commandments and statutes. In the historical context, Moses is speaking to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land, laying out the terms of the covenant between them and God.
The themes of Deuteronomy 28:16 include the conditional nature of God's blessings and the severe consequences of disobedience. The verse emphasizes that the curses will follow the Israelites wherever they go—both in urban settings ("the city") and in rural areas ("the field"). This reflects a comprehensive scope of divine judgment, affecting every aspect of life and leaving no space exempt from the repercussions of forsaking God's law.
The verse serves as a stark warning that the covenant relationship with God is not to be taken lightly. It underscores the importance of faithfulness and the seriousness with which the Israelites were to consider their commitment to God. The broader context of Deuteronomy 28 outlines a series of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, painting a picture of the Deuteronomic theology, which closely ties the nation's prosperity and well-being to its religious fidelity. This theology would profoundly influence Israel's history and self-understanding, as the people wrestled with the realities of exile, restoration, and the sovereignty of God in their national life.