Deuteronomy 28:42

KJV

All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

KJV (with Strong's)

All thy trees {H6086} and fruit {H6529} of thy land {H127} shall the locust {H6767} consume {H3423}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The bugs will inherit all your trees and the produce of your land.

Berean Standard Bible

Swarms of locusts will consume all your trees and the produce of your land.

American Standard Version

All thy trees and the fruit of thy ground shall the locust possess.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 28:42 stands as a potent and grim warning within the covenant curses, vividly illustrating the severe consequences of Israel's potential infidelity to Yahweh. It specifically prophesies a complete and devastating agricultural ruin, where the very foundation of their sustenance—their trees and all produce of their land—would be utterly consumed by locust swarms. This foretells not merely a partial loss but a comprehensive stripping away of prosperity, signifying a direct and tangible manifestation of divine judgment impacting their material well-being and highlighting their absolute dependence on God's favor.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"), a pivotal chapter that serves as the climactic summation of Moses' second discourse. It meticulously outlines the blessings for obedience (verses 1-14) and, more extensively, the terrifying array of curses for disobedience (verses 15-68). Deuteronomy 28:42 is situated within a sequence of escalating agricultural and economic curses (verses 38-42) that immediately precede warnings of foreign invasion and oppression. The progression from initial blight and pestilence to the complete consumption described here underscores the intensifying nature of divine judgment, culminating in a state of utter destitution. This sequence powerfully reinforces the broader Deuteronomic theme of Israel's absolute reliance on God for all provision, a truth profoundly articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, Israel's agrarian society was entirely predicated on the fertility of the land and the success of its harvests. Threats to crops—such as drought, blight, or, most terrifyingly, pestilence—were existential dangers that could lead to widespread famine and societal collapse. Locust plagues were a well-known and dreaded phenomenon, capable of obliterating entire fields and orchards in a single day. The vivid historical memory of the devastating [plague of locusts in Egypt](/exodus/10 "Exodus 10 - The Plague of Locusts") (Exodus 10) would have been fresh in the minds of the Israelites, serving as a powerful precedent for God's capacity to employ natural phenomena as instruments of judgment. The specific threat in [Deuteronomy 28:42](/deuteronomy/28-42 "Deuteronomy 28:42 - Locusts Consume the Land") directly targeted their most vulnerable economic and survival point, emphasizing their absolute reliance on God's favor for their very existence and flourishing in the Promised Land.
* **Key Themes:** [Deuteronomy 28:42](/deuteronomy/28-42 "Deuteronomy 28:42 - Locusts Consume the Land") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it starkly illustrates the **consequences of disobedience**, establishing a direct and tangible link between spiritual rebellion and physical hardship, a principle echoed throughout the prophetic books. Secondly, it highlights **divine sovereignty and judgment**, portraying God as the ultimate controller of creation, capable of orchestrating natural forces like locusts to execute His disciplinary purposes. Thirdly, it emphasizes **agricultural devastation** as a severe form of judgment, demonstrating how the very means of sustenance can be stripped away, leading to profound vulnerability. Finally, and crucially, it reinforces Israel's **absolute dependence on God** for their provision and well-being, reiterating that true prosperity is not inherent in the land itself but is a divine gift contingent upon covenant faithfulness, a principle foundational to the blessings promised in [Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28-1-14 "Deuteronomy 28:1-14 - Blessings for Obedience").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Land (Hebrew, _ʼădâmâh'_):** from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
This word refers to the fertile soil and territory that God promised to Israel. In this context, it emphasizes that the judgment would directly impact the very source of their sustenance and inheritance. The 'land' was not merely property but a symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and provision; its desolation would signify a profound reversal of divine blessing.
* **Locust (Hebrew, _tsᵉlâtsal'_):** from צָלַל reduplicated; a clatter, i.e. (abstractly) whirring (of wings); (concretely) a cricket; also a harpoon (as rattling), a cymbal (as clanging); cymbal, locust, shadowing, spear.
While the root suggests a 'clatter' or 'whirring,' here it specifically denotes a locust, known for its destructive swarms. The choice of this word evokes the terrifying image of an overwhelming, noisy, and rapidly moving force that consumes everything in its path. It highlights the natural, yet divinely orchestrated, agent of total agricultural ruin, leaving nothing behind.
* **Consume (Hebrew, _yârash'_):** or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root; to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, [idiom] without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) [phrase] magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, [idiom] utterly.
This verb is powerful, carrying the primary meaning of "to occupy" or "to take possession of by driving out." In this context, it signifies far more than mere damage; the locusts would utterly "possess" the land's produce, effectively dispossessing the Israelites of their harvest and livelihood. This implies a complete and irreversible seizure of their agricultural wealth, leading to impoverishment and ruin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"All thy trees and fruit of thy land":** This opening clause establishes the comprehensive scope and severity of the threatened devastation. The emphatic "all" (כָּל־) underscores that the loss would be total, affecting every dimension of their agricultural economy—from long-term investments like established orchards to annual crops and vines. This signifies a complete stripping away of their material blessings and the very means of their sustenance.
* **"shall the locust consume":** This clause identifies the specific, terrifying agent of widespread destruction—the locust. The verb "consume" (יְרַשּׁוּ, from _yârash_) carries the strong connotation of complete possession and dispossession, indicating that the locusts would not merely damage but utterly take over and destroy the produce. This active declaration highlights the directness of the divine judgment, using a natural phenomenon as a precise and inescapable instrument of punishment.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 28:42 employs several potent literary devices to convey its stark warning and underscore the gravity of disobedience. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "All thy trees and fruit of thy land," which, while emphasizing complete ruin, serves to underscore the severity and comprehensiveness of the impending disaster rather than a literal prediction of every single fruit and tree being eaten. This hyperbolic language is designed to instill fear and impress upon the hearers the dire consequences of covenant infidelity. Furthermore, the "fruit of thy land" functions as a **metonymy**, where a part (the fruit) stands for the entire agricultural output and, by extension, the economic prosperity and food supply of the nation. The locust itself, while a real natural phenomenon, also functions as a powerful **symbol** of divine judgment and the destructive power of God's displeasure, illustrating how God can use natural forces to execute His will. The vivid imagery of total consumption paints a terrifying picture, leveraging the Israelites' intimate knowledge of agrarian life and its inherent vulnerabilities.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 28:42 powerfully articulates the principle of divine retribution, where God's covenant people face tangible consequences for their rebellion. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His ability to use natural phenomena, even devastating plagues, as instruments of His righteous judgment and discipline. This verse is not merely a historical warning but a timeless theological statement about the interconnectedness of spiritual faithfulness and earthly well-being, reminding us that true prosperity is ultimately a gift from God, contingent on our alignment with His will. The threat of locusts consuming "all" their produce highlights the vulnerability of human efforts and the ultimate dependence of humanity on divine favor for sustenance and flourishing.

* [Joel 1:4](/joel/1-4 "Joel 1:4 - The Devastation of Locusts")
* [Amos 4:9](/amos/4-9 "Amos 4:9 - Locusts as Divine Discipline")
* [Revelation 9:3](/revelation/9-3 "Revelation 9:3 - Apocalyptic Locusts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 28:42, while rooted in the specific covenant context of ancient Israel, offers profound and enduring principles for contemporary believers. It serves as a stark reminder that choices have consequences, and while we live under the new covenant of grace, the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping remains. Disobedience to God's revealed will, whether individually or corporately, can lead to various forms of "consumption" in our lives—loss of peace, joy, purpose, or even material blessings. This verse calls us to a deep and abiding faithfulness, recognizing that our ultimate security and provision come from God alone, not from our own efforts or possessions. It challenges us to examine areas where we might be drifting from God's commands, prompting repentance and a renewed commitment to seeking His kingdom first, trusting in His provision, and understanding that true life is found in obedience and dependence on Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be experiencing a "consumption" or lack of flourishing due to disobedience or a departure from God's principles?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of God's sovereignty over natural events and my reliance on Him for provision?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater faithfulness and dependence on God in my daily life, recognizing that true security comes from Him?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse imply that God directly sends natural disasters as punishment for individual or national sin today?**

Answer: While [Deuteronomy 28:42](/deuteronomy/28-42 "Deuteronomy 28:42 - Locusts Consume the Land") clearly presents locusts as a direct consequence of covenant disobedience for ancient Israel, applying this directly to every modern natural disaster is complex and requires careful theological discernment. Under the New Covenant, believers are no longer under the Law's curses but under grace through Christ's atoning work, as articulated in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse"). Natural disasters are a reality of a fallen world, groaning under the effects of sin and awaiting redemption, as described in [Romans 8:22](/romans/8-22 "Romans 8:22 - Creation Groans"). While God remains sovereign over all creation and can use any means to achieve His purposes—including calling people to repentance or revealing human dependence on Him—it is simplistic and often unbiblical to attribute every specific disaster directly to a particular sin of those affected. Our focus should be on Christ's redemption, our call to faithfulness, and our compassionate response to suffering, rather than attempting to discern specific divine judgments in every calamity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 28:42, with its stark warning of agricultural devastation as a consequence of disobedience, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reversal in Jesus Christ. The curse of the locust consuming "all thy trees and fruit of thy land" points to the broader curse of the Law and the futility of human effort apart from God. Christ, however, became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse of the Law by being crucified on a tree, as powerfully stated in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse"). He is the true provider, the "bread of life" who gives spiritual sustenance that can never be consumed or taken away, a truth Jesus Himself proclaimed in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"). Unlike the perishable fruit of the land, the "fruit of the Spirit" that flourishes in believers through Christ—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—is eternal and immune to any earthly plague or hardship, as detailed in [Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit"). Through His sacrifice, Jesus reverses the curse of barrenness and promises abundant life to those who follow Him, ensuring that the true "fruit" of our lives in Him will endure forever, untouched by the "locusts" of sin and judgment, a promise of fullness found in [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life").

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

Amos 7:1

¶ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, [it was] the latter growth after the king's mowings.

Amos 7:2

And it came to pass, [that] when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he [is] small.

Deuteronomy 28:38

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather [but] little in; for the locust shall consume it.

Deuteronomy 28:39

Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress [them], but shalt neither drink [of] the wine, nor gather [the grapes]; for the worms shall eat them.