Deuteronomy 28:13

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:

And the LORD {H3068} shall make {H5414} thee the head {H7218}, and not the tail {H2180}; and thou shalt be above only {H4605}, and thou shalt not be beneath {H4295}; if that thou hearken {H8085} unto the commandments {H4687} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, which I command {H6680} thee this day {H3117}, to observe {H8104} and to do {H6213} them:

ADONAI will make you the head and not the tail; and you will be only above, never below - if you will listen to, observe and obey the mitzvot of ADONAI your God

The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today.

And Jehovah will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them,

Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:13 is a powerful promise of divine favor and elevation, presented within the context of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It assures the nation that if they remain faithful to His commands, they will experience a position of prominence and influence among the nations.

Context

This verse is found in the pivotal 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, where Moses, on the plains of Moab, delivers his final discourse to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter details the blessings that will follow obedience to God's covenant and the curses that will result from disobedience. Verse 13 is a highlight of the blessings section, painting a vivid picture of the prosperity and respect God intended for His people when they hearkened diligently to His voice. It underscores the conditional nature of God's promises in the Old Covenant, where national well-being was directly tied to their adherence to the Law given at Sinai.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Elevation and Prominence: The imagery of being the "head, and not the tail" and "above only, and not beneath" powerfully conveys a state of leadership, influence, and superiority. This speaks to God's desire for His people to be a beacon and example to the world, not subservient or marginalized.
  • Conditional Blessing: The crucial phrase "if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God" establishes the absolute prerequisite for these blessings. God's promises are not automatic; they are contingent upon active, intentional obedience to His revealed will. This principle of obedience leading to blessing is a consistent theme throughout Scripture.
  • Leadership and Influence: For ancient Israel, being the "head" meant having preeminence among nations, possessing wisdom, resources, and respect. It implied that their laws and practices, derived from God's commands, would be a model for others. The contrast with being the "tail" or "beneath" (which is explicitly threatened in Deuteronomy 28:44 for disobedience) highlights the stark choice presented to Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used here are highly evocative. "Head" (ro'sh) literally means the top part of a body, but metaphorically signifies leader, chief, or beginning. "Tail" (zanav) refers to the hindmost or lowest part, symbolizing inferiority or subservience. The phrase "above only" (lema'lah raq) emphasizes an exclusive and sustained position of elevation, indicating that their preeminence would be consistent and unchallenged, provided their obedience remained steadfast. The word "hearken" (shama') is not merely to hear with the ears but implies to listen attentively, understand, and most importantly, obey.

Practical Application

While this promise was specifically given to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant, the underlying principles remain timeless and applicable. For believers today, Deuteronomy 28:13 teaches that:

  • Obedience brings Favor: Living in alignment with God's Word, as revealed in the New Testament through Christ, positions us for His favor and blessing. This doesn't necessarily mean worldly dominance, but spiritual prominence, influence for good, and a life empowered by God.
  • Influence Through Integrity: When individuals and communities of faith genuinely seek to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, they often find themselves in positions of positive influence and respect in their spheres, whether in family, workplace, or society.
  • A Call to Action: The verse serves as a reminder that God desires to bless His people and use them for His purposes, but this requires an active commitment to "observe and to do" His commandments. It's a call to intentional, daily discipleship.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:1

    ¶ And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

  • Deuteronomy 4:6

    Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people.

  • Deuteronomy 4:9

    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

  • Philippians 1:27

    ¶ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

  • Isaiah 9:14

    Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

  • Isaiah 9:15

    The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.

  • Numbers 24:18

    And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
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