Deuteronomy 28:22

KJV

The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

KJV (with Strong's)

The LORD {H3068} shall smite {H5221} thee with a consumption {H7829}, and with a fever {H6920}, and with an inflammation {H1816}, and with an extreme burning {H2746}, and with the sword {H2719}, and with blasting {H7711}, and with mildew {H3420}; and they shall pursue {H7291} thee until thou perish {H6}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI will strike you down with wasting diseases, fever, inflammation, fiery heat, drought, blasting winds and mildew; and they will pursue you until you perish.

Berean Standard Bible

The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish.

American Standard Version

Jehovah will smite thee with consumption, and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 28:22 is a stark declaration within Moses' final discourse to Israel, detailing specific curses that would befall the nation if they broke their covenant with God. This verse enumerates a series of devastating afflictions, including various diseases, agricultural blights, and the destructive force of warfare, all culminating in relentless pursuit and ultimate national ruin. It serves as a potent warning, illustrating the severe and holistic consequences of disobedience to the divine covenant established at Sinai.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 28:22 is situated within the climactic covenant renewal ceremony on the plains of Moab, just before Israel's entry into the Promised Land. Chapter 28 is the culmination of Moses' second speech, which meticulously outlines the blessings for obedience (verses 1-14) and the curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). This particular verse falls early in the extensive list of curses, immediately following a general declaration of God's judgment. The curses escalate in severity throughout the chapter, moving from personal afflictions and agricultural failures to national defeat, exile, and utter devastation, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's covenant faithfulness, both in blessing and in judgment. The verse serves as an initial, tangible manifestation of the physical and environmental consequences of breaking faith with the Lord.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The covenant structure presented in Deuteronomy, particularly the blessings and curses, mirrors common ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties between a great king (suzerain) and his vassal states. These treaties typically included stipulations, witnesses, and detailed lists of blessings for loyalty and curses for rebellion. For Israel, Yahweh was the divine Suzerain, and they were His vassal. The specific afflictions mentioned—consumption, fever, inflammation, burning, blasting, and mildew—were not abstract threats but very real and common scourges in the ancient world. Diseases like tuberculosis (consumption) and various fevers were rampant and often fatal due to limited medical knowledge. Agricultural blights such as "blasting" (scorching by hot winds, often the *sirocco*) and "mildew" (fungal diseases that yellowed crops) were devastating in an agrarian society, leading directly to famine. The "sword" represents the ever-present threat of military invasion and conquest, a constant danger for nations in the volatile Levant.

* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 28:22 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Retribution and Justice**, demonstrating that God is not merely a benevolent provider but also a righteous judge who holds His people accountable to their covenant obligations. The curses are not random misfortunes but direct divine interventions as consequences for apostasy. Secondly, it highlights the **Conditional Nature of the Covenant**, emphasizing that Israel's continued flourishing in the land of Canaan was entirely dependent on their faithful obedience to the Mosaic Law. This contrasts with the unconditional Abrahamic covenant but clarifies the terms of their national existence. Lastly, the verse vividly portrays the **Holistic Impact of Sin**, showing that disobedience affects every sphere of life—personal health, agricultural productivity, national security, and ultimately, existence. This comprehensive calamity signifies that turning away from God unravels the entire fabric of society, leading to a persistent decline that "pursue[s] thee until thou perish," echoing the principle that the [wages of sin is death](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Consumption (Hebrew, _shachaphet'_):** This term refers to a wasting disease, often identified with tuberculosis or a similar debilitating illness that causes the body to waste away. It signifies a slow, progressive decline in health, leading to emaciation and weakness, a direct contrast to the vitality promised in the blessings.
* **Blasting (Hebrew, _shiddaphon'_):** This word describes the scorching of crops, typically caused by a hot, dry east wind (like the *sirocco*) that withers plants before they can mature or produce fruit. It represents a direct attack on the agricultural livelihood, leading to famine and economic ruin, an immediate consequence in an agrarian society.
* **Mildew (Hebrew, _yeraqon'_):** This term denotes a yellowing or blighting of plants, often due to fungal diseases. Like "blasting," it signifies agricultural devastation, but specifically through disease affecting the crops themselves, rendering them unproductive or inedible. Together with "blasting," it paints a picture of comprehensive ruin for the land's produce.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning":** This initial cluster of curses focuses on personal health, describing a range of debilitating diseases. "Consumption" speaks of a wasting sickness, while "fever," "inflammation," and "extreme burning" depict various forms of intense, internal bodily afflictions. This sequence emphasizes God's direct agency ("The LORD shall smite thee") in bringing physical suffering as a consequence of covenant infidelity.
* **"and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew":** The curses then broaden to encompass external threats and agricultural devastation. "The sword" represents warfare, invasion, and violent death at the hands of enemies, signifying a loss of national security and sovereignty. "Blasting" and "mildew" refer to specific plant diseases and environmental conditions that destroy crops, leading to famine and economic collapse. This demonstrates a holistic judgment affecting both human life and the very means of sustenance.
* **"and they shall pursue thee until thou perish":** This concluding phrase underscores the relentless, pervasive, and ultimately destructive nature of these judgments. The "they" refers to the combined forces of these curses—diseases, war, and famine—which will relentlessly pursue and overwhelm the disobedient nation. It implies a persistent decline, a lack of escape, and a final, complete ruin or annihilation if repentance does not occur. This is not a temporary setback but a trajectory towards ultimate destruction.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 28:22 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of impending judgment. The most prominent is **Anaphora**, seen in the repeated use of "and with" (Hebrew: וּבְ) before each affliction. This repetition creates a rhythmic, incantatory effect, emphasizing the multitude and relentless succession of curses that will befall the disobedient. There is also a clear sense of **Climax and Escalation**, moving from internal bodily afflictions (consumption, fever) to external threats (sword) and then to environmental destruction (blasting, mildew), culminating in the all-encompassing and inescapable pursuit "until thou perish." This progression builds a sense of overwhelming doom. **Imagery** is vivid and visceral, painting a picture of a nation plagued by wasting diseases, scorched fields, and relentless enemies. Finally, the phrase "they shall pursue thee until thou perish" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the totality and inescapability of the judgment, ensuring the listener grasps the full gravity of covenant disobedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 28:22 is a profound testament to the seriousness of God's covenant with Israel and the unyielding nature of His justice. It reveals a God who is faithful not only to His promises of blessing but also to His warnings of judgment. The curses are not arbitrary acts of vengeance but the just and predictable consequences of a people turning away from the source of their life and prosperity. This passage underscores the principle that sin, particularly covenant infidelity, carries severe, holistic ramifications that impact every aspect of existence—physical, social, economic, and national. It serves as a stark reminder that God's character demands righteousness and that His covenant relationship with His people is predicated on their obedience, highlighting the profound theological truth that God's holiness cannot tolerate unrepentant rebellion.

* [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While believers today live under the new covenant of grace established through Jesus Christ, Deuteronomy 28:22 remains profoundly relevant, not as a direct threat of physical curses for individual sins, but as a powerful revelation of God's character and the inherent consequences of turning away from Him. It reminds us that God takes sin seriously, that His warnings are not idle, and that true flourishing, whether for an individual or a community, is found in alignment with His will. This verse calls us to a deeper reverence for God's holiness and a renewed commitment to faithful obedience, recognizing that while Christ has borne the curse of the law for us, a life of persistent rebellion against God's revealed will still carries detrimental spiritual, relational, and sometimes even natural consequences. It compels us to cherish the grace we have received and to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, seeking repentance and forgiveness when we falter, trusting in the finished work of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse deepen your understanding of God's holiness and justice?**
* **In what ways might the principle of "choices have consequences" still apply in your life today, even under grace?**
* **What does the comprehensive nature of these curses (affecting health, agriculture, war) teach us about the holistic impact of sin on individuals and societies?**
* **How does the severity of these Old Testament curses magnify the grace and redemption offered through Christ?**

### FAQ
**Does Deuteronomy 28:22 mean that Christians who disobey God will experience these exact physical curses today?**

Answer: No, the direct application of these specific physical and national curses to individual Christians today is not the primary theological implication. Deuteronomy 28 details covenant curses specific to Israel under the Mosaic Law, a conditional covenant that governed their national existence in the Promised Land. For believers in the New Covenant, the ultimate curse for sin was borne by Jesus Christ on the cross, as [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse") states: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us." While God's character regarding sin remains consistent, and disobedience can still lead to natural consequences, broken fellowship, and spiritual barrenness, the specific physical and national judgments detailed in Deuteronomy 28 are not the direct, automatic outcome for New Covenant believers. Our relationship with God is now based on grace through faith in Christ's atoning work, and our forgiveness is secured through His sacrifice, as seen in [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 28:22, with its grim pronouncement of curses for disobedience, finds its ultimate and profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The catalogue of diseases, agricultural ruin, and the relentless pursuit of the sword paints a vivid picture of the comprehensive curse of sin that humanity justly deserved. However, the New Testament reveals that Jesus, the perfect Son of God, willingly became the recipient of this very curse on our behalf. As [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse") declares, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'" He bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment, enduring the ultimate "consumption," "fever," and "extreme burning" of divine wrath, culminating in His death on the cross. His sacrifice was the definitive "smite" that absorbed all the curses detailed in passages like Deuteronomy 28, ensuring that those who believe in Him are no longer pursued by the wages of sin but are instead pursued by God's relentless grace and mercy, leading to eternal life rather than perishing ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life")). Through His death and resurrection, Christ not only nullified the curse but inaugurated a new covenant of blessing, offering spiritual healing, abundant life, and ultimate victory over all the destructive forces of sin and death ([Romans 8:1-2](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1-2 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 26:16

I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Amos 4:9

I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

1 Kings 8:37

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be];

Haggai 2:17

I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye [turned] not to me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 14:12

When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

2 Chronicles 6:28

If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness [there be]: