Deuteronomy 28:45

ΒΆ Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Moreover all these curses {H7045} shall come {H935} upon thee, and shall pursue {H7291} thee, and overtake {H5381} thee, till thou be destroyed {H8045}; because thou hearkenedst {H8085} not unto the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, to keep {H8104} his commandments {H4687} and his statutes {H2708} which he commanded {H6680} thee:

"All these curses will come on you, pursuing you and overtaking you until you are destroyed, because you didn't pay attention to what ADONAI your God said, observing his mitzvot and regulations that he gave you.

All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, since you did not obey the LORD your God and keep the commandments and statutes He gave you.

And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:45 KJV serves as a stark warning within the exhaustive list of curses for disobedience outlined in this pivotal chapter. It encapsulates the severe and inescapable consequences that await the nation of Israel if they fail to uphold their covenant obligations to the LORD their God.

Context

This verse is situated within the "blessings and curses" section of Deuteronomy, specifically Deuteronomy 28:15-68, which stands in sharp contrast to the blessings promised for obedience in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Moses delivers this address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. It reiterates the terms of the covenant established at Mount Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:1-3), emphasizing that their continued well-being and possession of the land are conditional upon their faithfulness to God's commands. Verse 45 highlights the relentless and destructive nature of the curses that would pursue them due to their spiritual rebellion.

Key Themes

  • The Inescapable Nature of Consequences: The phrases "pursue thee, and overtake thee" vividly illustrate that the curses are not passive threats but active, relentless forces that will relentlessly track down and consume the disobedient. This underscores the certainty of divine retribution for covenant breaking.
  • Divine Justice and Fidelity: This verse affirms God's commitment to His word, both in blessing and in judgment. It demonstrates that God takes disobedience seriously, and His justice ensures that there are real, tangible repercussions for rejecting His authority and guidance.
  • The Gravity of Disobedience: The ultimate outcome, "till thou be destroyed," points to national ruin, exile, and loss of identity as the direct result of persistent and widespread unfaithfulness. This serves as a powerful deterrent and a call to sincere obedience.
  • Covenant Relationship: The core issue is Israel's failure to "hearken" to the voice of the LORD, implying a breach of their covenant relationship. Obedience was not merely legalistic compliance but an expression of their loyalty and love for God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God" is crucial. The Hebrew word for "hearken" is shama (שָׁמַג), which means more than just to hear audibly; it implies "to hear and obey," "to listen attentively and respond accordingly." Therefore, "hearkenedst not" signifies a profound failure to truly listen to, understand, and then act upon God's divine instructions and statutes. This active rejection of God's authority is the root cause of the ensuing destruction.

Practical Application

While this passage speaks specifically to ancient Israel and their covenant, the underlying principles hold timeless relevance. We learn that:

  • Actions Have Consequences: Just as there were tangible consequences for Israel's disobedience, our choices today have spiritual and often practical repercussions. The Bible consistently teaches the principle of sowing and reaping.
  • The Importance of Obedience: True faith involves not just intellectual assent but active obedience to God's revealed will. As James 1:22 says, we are called to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only."
  • God's Warnings Are for Our Good: God's warnings, though severe, are given out of His desire for our well-being and flourishing. They are not arbitrary threats but loving guidance meant to protect us from self-destruction.

Deuteronomy 28:45 serves as a powerful reminder of the solemnity of God's word and the importance of living in faithful alignment with His divine will.

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

  • Deuteronomy 28:15

    ΒΆ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

  • Isaiah 1:20

    But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

  • Deuteronomy 28:5

    Blessed [shall be] thy basket and thy store.

  • Deuteronomy 11:27

    A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:

  • Deuteronomy 11:28

    And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

  • Leviticus 26:28

    Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

  • 2 Kings 17:20

    And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
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