TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Deuteronomy 28 verses 15–44
Having viewed the bright side of the cloud, which is towards the obedient, we have now presented to us the dark side, which is towards the disobedient. If we do not keep God's commandments, we not only come short of the blessing promised, but we lay ourselves under the curse, which is as comprehensive of all misery as the blessing is of all happiness. Observe,
I. The equity of this curse. It is not a curse causeless, nor for some light cause; God seeks not occasion against us, nor is he apt to quarrel with us. That which is here mentioned as bringing the curse is, 1. Despising God, refusing to hearken to his voice (Deu 28:15), which bespeaks the highest contempt imaginable, as if what he said were not worth the heeding, or we were not under any obligation to him. 2. Disobeying him, not doing his commandments, or not observing to do them. None fall under his curse but those that rebel against his command. 3. Deserting him. "It is because of the wickedness of thy doings, not only whereby thou hast slighted me, but whereby thou hast forsaken me," Deu 28:20. God never casts us off till we first cast him off. It intimates that their idolatry, by which they forsook the true God for false gods, would be their destroying sin more than any other.
II. The extent and efficacy of this curse.
1.In general, it is declared, "All these curses shall come upon thee from above, and shall overtake thee; though thou endeavour to escape them, it is to no purpose to attempt it, they shall follow thee whithersoever thou goest, and seize thee, overtake thee, and overcome thee," Deu 28:15. It is said of the sinner, when God's wrath is in pursuit of him, that he would fain flee out of his hand (Job 27:22), but he cannot; if he flee from the iron weapon, yet the bow of steel shall reach him and strike him through. There is no running from God but by running to him, no fleeing from his justice but by fleeing to his mercy. See Psa 21:7, Psa 21:8. (1.) Wherever the sinner goes, the curse of God follows him; wherever he is, it rests upon him. He is cursed in the city and in the field, Deu 28:16. The strength of the city cannot shelter him from it, the pleasant air of the country is no fence against these pestilential steams. He is cursed (Deu 28:19) when he comes in, for the curse is upon the house of the wicked (Pro 3:33), and he is cursed when he goes out, for he cannot leave that curse behind him, nor get rid of it, which has entered into his bowels like water and like oil into his bones. (2.). Whatever he has is under a curse: Cursed is the ground for his sake, and all that is on it, or comes out of it, and so he is cursed from the ground, as Cain, Gen 4:11. The basket and store are cursed, Deu 28:17, Deu 28:18. All his enjoyments being forfeited by him are in a manner forbidden to him, as cursed things, which he has no title to. To those whose mind and conscience are defiled every thing else is so, Tit 1:15. They are all embittered to him; he cannot take any true comfort in them, for the wrath of God mixes itself with them, and he is so far from having any security of the continuance of them that, if his eyes be open, he may see them all condemned and ready to be confiscated, and with them all his joys and all his hopes gone for ever. (3.) Whatever he does is under a curse too. It is a curse in all that he sets his hand to (Deu 28:20), a constant disappointment, which those are subject to that set their hearts upon the world, and expect their happiness in it, and which cannot but be a constant vexation. This curse is just the reverse of the blessing in the former part of the chapter. Thus whatever bliss there is in heaven there is not only the want of it, but the contrary to it, in hell. Isa 65:13, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry.
2.Many particular judgments are here enumerated, which would be the fruits of the curse, and with which God would punish the people of the Jews for their apostasy and disobedience. These judgments threatened are of divers kinds, for God has many arrows in his quiver, four sore judgments (Eze 14:21), and many more. They are represented as very terrible, and the descriptions of them are exceedingly lively and affecting, that men, knowing these terrors of the Lord, might, if possible, be persuaded. The threatenings of the same judgment are several times repeated, that they might make the more deep and lasting impressions, and to intimate that, if men persisted in their disobedience, the judgment which they thought was over, and of which they said, "Surely the bitterness of it is past," would return with double force; for when God judges he will overcome. (1.) Bodily diseases are here threatened, that they should be epidemical in their land. These God sometimes makes use of for the chastisement and improvement of his own people. Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. But here they are threatened to be brought upon his enemies as tokens of his wrath, and designed for their ruin. So that according to the temper of our spirits, under sickness, accordingly it is to us a blessing or a curse. But, whatever sickness may be to particular persons, it is certain that epidemical diseases raging among a people are national judgments, and are so to be accounted. He here threatens, [1.] Painful diseases (Deu 28:35), a sore botch, beginning in the legs and knees, but spreading, like Job's boils, from heat to foot. [2.] Shameful diseases (v. 27), the botch of Egypt (such boils and blains as the Egyptians had been plagued with, when God brought Israel from among them), and the emerods and scab, vile diseases, the just punishment of those who by sin had made themselves vile. [3.] Mortal diseases, the pestilence (v. 21), the consumption (put for all chronical diseases), and the fever (for all acute diseases), v. 22. See Lev 26:16. And all incurable, Deu 28:27. (2.) Famine, and scarcity of provisions; and this, [1.] For want of rain (Deu 28:23, Deu 28:24): Thy heaven over thy head, that part that is over thy land, shall be as dry as brass, while the heavens over other countries shall distil their dews; and, when the heaven is as brass, the earth of course will be as iron, so hard and unfruitful. Instead of rain, the dust shall be blown out of the highways into the field, and spoil the little that there is of the fruits of the earth. [2.] By destroying insects. The locust should destroy the corn, so that they should not have so much as their seed again, Deu 28:38, Deu 28:42. And the fruit of the vine, which should make glad their hearts, should all be worm-eaten, Deu 28:39. and the olive, some way or other, should be made to cast its fruit, Deu 28:40. The heathen use many superstitious customs in honour of their idol-gods for preserving the fruits of the earth; but Moses tells Israel that the only way they had to preserve them was to keep God's commandments; for he is a God that will not be sported with, like their idols, but will be served in spirit and truth. This threatening we find fulfilled in Israel, Kg1 17:1; Jer 14:1, etc.; Joe 1:4. (3.) That they should be smitten before their enemies in war, who, it is likely, would be the more cruel to them, when they had them at their mercy, for the severity they had used against the nations of Canaan, which their neighbours in after-ages would be apt to remember against them, Deu 28:25. It would make their flight the more shameful, and the more grievous, that they might have triumphed over their enemies if they had but been faithful to their God. The carcases of those that were slain in war, or died in captivity among strangers, should be meat for the fowls (Deu 28:26); and an Israelite, having forfeited the favour of his God, should have so little humanity shown him as that no man should drive them away, so odious would God's curse make him to all mankind. (4.) That they should be infatuated in all their counsels, so as not to discern their own interest, nor bring any thing to pass for the public good: The Lord shall smite thee with madness and blindness, Deu 28:28, Deu 28:29. Note, God's judgments can reach the minds of men to fill them with darkness and horror, as well as their bodies and estates; and those are the sorest of all judgments which make men a terror to themselves, and their own destroyers. That which they contrived to secure themselves by should still turn to their prejudice. Thus we often find that the allies they confided in distressed them and strengthened them not, Ch2 28:20. Those that will not walk in God's counsels are justly left to be ruined by their own; and those that are wilfully blind to their duty deserve to be made blind to their interest, and, seeing they loved darkness rather than light, let them grope at noon-day as in the dark. (5.) That they should be plundered of all their enjoyments, stripped of all by the proud and imperious conqueror, such as Benhadad was to Ahab, Kg1 20:5, Kg1 20:6. Not only their houses and vineyards should be taken from them, but their wives and children, Deu 28:30, Deu 28:32. Their dearest comforts, which they took most pleasure in, and promised themselves most from, should be the entertainment and triumph of their enemies. As they had dwelt in houses which they built not, and eaten of vineyards which they planted not (Deu 6:10, Deu 6:11), so others should do by them. Their oxen, asses, and sheep, like Job's, should be taken away before their eyes, and they should not be able to recover them, v. 31. And all the fruit of their land and labours should be devoured and eaten up by the enemy; so that they and theirs would want necessaries, while their enemies were revelling with that which they had laboured for. (6.) That they should be carried captives into a far country; nay, into all the kingdoms of the earth, v. 25. Their sons and daughters, whom they promised themselves comfort in, should go into captivity (v. 41), and they themselves at length, and their king in whom they promised themselves safety and settlement, v. 36. This was fully accomplished when the ten tribes first were carried captive into Assyria (Kg2 17:6), and not long after the two tribes into Babylon, and two of their kings, Kg2 24:14, Kg2 24:15; Kg2 25:7, Kg2 25:21. That which is mentioned as an aggravation of their captivity is that they should go into an unknown country, the language and customs of which would be very uncouth, and their treatment among them barbarous, and there they should serve other gods, that is, be compelled to do so by their enemies, as they were in Babylon, Dan 3:6. Note, God often makes men's sin their punishment, and chooses their delusions. You shall serve other gods, that is, "You shall serve those that do serve them;" a nation is often in scripture called by the name of its gods, as Jer 48:7. They had made idolaters their associates, and now god made idolaters their oppressors. (7.) That those who remained should be insulted and tyrannized over by strangers, Deu 28:43, Deu 28:44. So the ten tribes were by the colonies which the king of Assyria sent to take possession of their land, Kg2 17:24. Or this may be meant of the gradual encroachments which the strangers within their gates should make upon them, so as insensibly to worm them out of their estates. We read of the fulfilling of this, Hos 7:9, Strangers have devoured his strength. Foreigners ate the bread out of the mouths of trueborn Israelites, by which they were justly chastised for introducing strange gods. (8.) That their reputation among their neighbours should be quite sunk, and those that had been a name, and a praise, should be an astonishment, a proverb, and a by-word, Deu 28:37. Some have observed the fulfilling of this threatening in their present state; for, when we would express the most perfidious and barbarous treatment, we say, None but a Jew would have done so. Thus is sin a reproach to any people. (9.) To complete their misery, it is threatened that they should be put quite out of the possession of their minds by all these troubles (Deu 28:34): Thou shalt be mad for the sight of thy eyes, that is, quite bereaved of all comfort and hope, and abandoned to utter despair. Those that walk by sight, and not by faith, are in danger of losing reason itself, when every thing about them looks frightful; and their condition is woeful indeed that are mad for the sight of their eyes.
All these curses: Thus God dealt with the transgressors of his law in the Old Testament: but now he often suffers sinners to prosper in this world, rewarding them for some little good they have done, and reserving their punishment for the other world.
Continue studying Deuteronomy 28:15 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 28:15 serves as a solemn and pivotal warning within the Mosaic Covenant, marking a dramatic shift from the promised blessings for obedience to the severe consequences of disobedience. It unequivocally declares that if the nation of Israel fails to attentively heed the voice of the LORD their God and diligently observe all His commandments and statutes given on that day, then a comprehensive array of divine curses will inevitably "come upon" them and "overtake" them, signifying the inescapable and pervasive nature of God's judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 28:15 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and grave message. The verse functions primarily as a Conditional Statement, establishing a clear "if-then" structure where the dire consequences are directly dependent on Israel's actions ("if thou wilt not hearken... then all these curses shall come"). This highlights the reciprocal nature of the covenant and the direct link between obedience and outcome. The phrase "the voice of the LORD" is an example of Anthropomorphism, attributing a human characteristic (voice) to God, making His communication more relatable and immediate, emphasizing His active engagement with His people. Furthermore, the vivid description that "all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" utilizes Personification, imbuing the abstract concept of "curses" with the agency to actively "come" and "overtake." This creates a powerful, almost tangible, and menacing image of inescapable judgment. This personification also borders on Hyperbole, as "all these curses" implies a totality of suffering and calamity, emphasizing the extreme severity and comprehensive nature of the divine retribution that awaits disobedience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 28:15 is a profound theological statement on the very nature of God's covenant with Israel and the immutable principles of divine justice. It underscores that God is not only a God of boundless grace, faithful promise, and covenant love, but also a God of perfect righteousness and holiness who upholds His word with unwavering integrity, whether in blessing or in judgment. The verse reveals that a true covenant relationship demands active, diligent, and wholehearted obedience, and that willful disobedience carries severe, inescapable consequences. This principle extends beyond ancient Israel, illustrating a universal truth: God's moral order is intrinsic to His creation, and disregarding His revealed will ultimately leads to brokenness, disorder, and suffering. While the specific forms of judgment may differ under various dispensations, the underlying truth about the seriousness of sin and the unwavering faithfulness of God to His own character and declarations remains constant.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While believers today live under the New Covenant of grace, not the Old Covenant of Law for salvation, the profound principles embedded in Deuteronomy 28:15 remain profoundly relevant for spiritual formation and understanding the unchanging character of God. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is holy, righteous, and just, and His commands are not arbitrary burdens but are given for our ultimate good and flourishing. Disobedience, even for those who are in Christ, still carries natural and spiritual consequences, impacting our intimate fellowship with God, our inner peace, our joy, and our effectiveness in His kingdom. It calls us to cultivate a heart that genuinely "hearkens" to God's voice as revealed in His inspired Word and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, striving for obedience not out of a fear of condemnation (for there is none for those in Christ Jesus), but out of a deep love, profound gratitude for His saving work, and an earnest desire to honor and glorify Him in every aspect of our lives. It challenges us to take God's instructions seriously, recognizing that a life aligned with His divine wisdom leads to true flourishing and blessing, while a persistent disregard for His ways inevitably leads to brokenness, spiritual barrenness, and a departure from the fullness of His intended blessing.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Deuteronomy 28:15 mean Christians are under a curse if they disobey God?
Answer: No, not in the same way ancient Israel was under the conditional Mosaic Covenant. For believers in Jesus Christ, the ultimate curse of the law, which was condemnation and separation from God due to sin, has been fully borne by Christ Himself. Galatians 3:13 emphatically states, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Our salvation, righteousness, and standing with God are based entirely on grace through faith in Jesus' finished work, not on our perfect obedience to the law. Therefore, we are not under the condemnation or legal curse of the law for our disobedience. However, while we are free from condemnation, disobedience still has real consequences in a believer's life. Sin can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), hinder our intimate fellowship with God, lead to natural consequences (e.g., relational breakdown, emotional distress, physical repercussions from unhealthy choices), and may result in divine discipline from a loving Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:5-11). So, while the basis of our relationship with God is fundamentally different under the New Covenant, the principle that actions have consequences and that God desires our loving obedience remains profoundly true.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 28:15, with its stark warning of curses for disobedience, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant, with its conditional blessings and dire curses, served to perfectly demonstrate humanity's inherent inability to perfectly "hearken" and "observe" all of God's commandments. As Galatians 3:10 unequivocally declares, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Under this divine standard, all humanity stood condemned and subject to the curse. However, Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, perfectly fulfilled "all His commandments and His statutes," living a life of flawless, active obedience where all others failed. More profoundly, He became the willing substitute for our disobedience, taking "all these curses" upon Himself on the cross. Galatians 3:13 triumphantly proclaims, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Through His atoning sacrifice, the comprehensive curses that should have "come upon" and "overtaken" us were instead poured out on Him, satisfying divine justice. Now, in the New Covenant, those who believe in Him are no longer under the condemnation of the law but are declared righteous by faith (Romans 3:21-26). The Holy Spirit, given through Christ, empowers believers to live in new obedience, not to earn salvation, but as a joyful response to the grace that has already delivered them from the curse, thereby fulfilling the ancient promise of a new heart and spirit that desires to "hearken" to God's voice (Ezekiel 36:26-27).