Deuteronomy 28:44

He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

He shall lend {H3867} to thee, and thou shalt not lend {H3867} to him: he shall be the head {H7218}, and thou shalt be the tail {H2180}.

He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he will be the head and you the tail.

He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:44 is a stark warning within the "curses" section of Deuteronomy 28, illustrating the severe consequences that would befall the nation of Israel if they disobeyed God's covenant. This verse paints a vivid picture of economic and national subjugation.

Context

The book of Deuteronomy is a series of Moses' final speeches to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. Chapter 28 is a pivotal passage, outlining the blessings that would come upon them for obedience to God's commands (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) and the curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Verse 44 describes a scenario where foreign nations ("he") would gain dominance over Israel ("thou"), reversing the promised position of leadership and prosperity.

Key Themes

  • Reversal of Fortune: This verse directly contrasts with the blessing promised in Deuteronomy 28:13, where Israel was promised to be "the head, and not the tail." Here, due to disobedience, their roles are inverted, signifying a loss of national sovereignty and influence.
  • Economic Subjugation: The phrase "He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him" underscores a complete economic dependence. Instead of being a prosperous nation that could lend to others, Israel would find itself perpetually in debt and beholden to foreign powers, a clear sign of diminished blessing and status.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse powerfully conveys the principle that there are tangible, often severe, consequences for straying from God's ways. It highlights the direct link between spiritual faithfulness and national well-being in the Old Testament covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for "head" (rosh) and "tail" (zanav) are potent metaphors. Rosh signifies leadership, authority, and superiority, while zanav denotes inferiority, subservience, and being at the very bottom. The imagery of lending versus borrowing further emphasizes the power dynamic, where the lender holds the advantage and the borrower is in a subordinate position, as also noted in Proverbs 22:7: "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."

Practical Application

While this verse speaks to a specific covenant with ancient Israel, its underlying principles offer valuable lessons for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • Choices Have Consequences: Our spiritual and moral choices, individually and collectively, have real-world implications for our freedom, prosperity, and influence.
  • Seeking God's Wisdom: Maintaining a right relationship with God is foundational for true blessing and avoiding circumstances of subjugation or perpetual struggle.
  • Warning Against Debt: Spiritually, it can serve as a cautionary tale against being "indebted" to worldly systems or values, which can diminish our spiritual authority and freedom in Christ.

Deuteronomy 28:44 serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of obedience and the potential for severe decline when a people turn away from the Lord.

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 28:12

    The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

  • 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]:

  • Lamentations 1:5

    Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
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