Deuteronomy 28:40

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint [thyself] with the oil; for thine olive shall cast [his fruit].

Thou shalt have olive trees {H2132} throughout all thy coasts {H1366}, but thou shalt not anoint {H5480} thyself with the oil {H8081}; for thine olive {H2132} shall cast {H5394} his fruit.

You will have olive trees throughout your territory but not anoint yourself with the oil, because your olives will fall off unripe.

You will have olive trees throughout your territory but will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off.

Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy borders, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast its fruit.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:40 is a poignant verse found within the extensive list of curses pronounced upon Israel for disobedience to God's covenant. It illustrates a specific form of agricultural judgment, impacting one of the most vital crops of the ancient world.

Context

This verse is part of Deuteronomy chapter 28, which meticulously outlines the blessings for obedience and the severe curses for disobedience to the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. The olive tree was a cornerstone of ancient Israelite agriculture, providing oil for cooking, lighting, medicinal purposes, and anointing. Prosperity was often linked to abundant harvests, including olives, making the loss of this crop particularly devastating.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The primary message is that disobedience to God's commands would result in direct divine intervention leading to hardship. Here, the judgment manifests as a failed olive harvest, despite the physical presence of the trees.
  • Futility of Labor: The Israelites would invest effort in cultivating olive trees, but their labor would yield no usable fruit. This speaks to a profound sense of frustration and lack, where effort does not translate into reward, a direct contrast to the blessings promised for faithful labor.
  • Loss of Joy and Prosperity: Anointing oneself with oil was a common practice signifying joy, health, and celebration (see Psalm 23:5, Psalm 104:15). The inability to "anoint thyself with the oil" indicates a state of mourning, distress, and a complete absence of the joy and prosperity associated with a bountiful harvest.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "thine olive shall cast [his fruit]" implies that the fruit would drop prematurely, before ripening or being harvested. This could be due to disease, blight, or other natural disasters, all understood in this context as divinely permitted or sent consequences of breaking the covenant. The Hebrew word for "cast" (נָשַׁל - nashal) can mean to drop off, to shake off, or to fall away, vividly portraying the waste of the olive crop and the resulting lack of oil.

Practical Application

While the specific agricultural curse applies to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant, the underlying principles remain timeless. The verse serves as a powerful reminder of:

  • The Importance of Obedience: Our actions, especially in our relationship with God, have consequences. Faithfulness often brings blessing, while disobedience can lead to barrenness or futility in various aspects of life, not necessarily agricultural.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even in what appears to be a natural phenomenon (fruit falling), the Bible attributes it to God's sovereign hand as part of His disciplinary dealings with His people.
  • Spiritual Barrenness: This verse can be a metaphor for spiritual barrenness. We might have the "trees" (spiritual gifts, knowledge, opportunities), but if we are disobedient or unfaithful, we may not produce the "fruit" God desires (John 15:4).

Deuteronomy 28:40 underscores the serious nature of the covenant and God's commitment to His people, both in blessing and in discipline, to draw them back to Himself.

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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Micah 6:15

    Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

  • Psalms 104:15

    And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart.

  • Psalms 23:5

    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
← Back