Deuteronomy 28:51

And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which [also] shall not leave thee [either] corn, wine, or oil, [or] the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

And he shall eat {H398} the fruit {H6529} of thy cattle {H929}, and the fruit {H6529} of thy land {H127}, until thou be destroyed {H8045}: which also shall not leave {H7604} thee either corn {H1715}, wine {H8492}, or oil {H3323}, or the increase {H7698} of thy kine {H504}, or flocks {H6251} of thy sheep {H6629}, until he have destroyed {H6} thee.

They will devour the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your soil, until you have been destroyed. They will leave you without grain, wine, olive oil, or your young cattle and sheep - until they have caused you to perish.

They will eat the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain or new wine or oil, no calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks, until they have caused you to perish.

and shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy ground, until thou be destroyed; that also shall not leave thee grain, new wine, or oil, the increase of thy cattle, or the young of thy flock, until they have caused thee to perish.

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 28 is a pivotal chapter in the Old Testament, outlining the profound blessings for obedience to God's covenant and the severe curses for disobedience. Verses 15-68 detail the dreadful consequences of rejecting God's commands. Verse 51 specifically describes the economic devastation wrought by an invading enemy, a direct and severe result of Israel's unfaithfulness. This passage underscores the conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant, where prosperity and security in the promised land were contingent upon loyalty to God and adherence to His statutes.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Total Deprivation: The verse paints a stark picture of an enemy consuming "the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land," leaving nothing behind. This signifies complete economic ruin and starvation, a direct assault on the very means of survival for the Israelite people.
  • Loss of Staples: The specific mention of "corn, wine, or oil" (basic agricultural products) and "increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep" (livestock) highlights the comprehensive nature of the destruction. These were the foundations of ancient Israelite sustenance, wealth, and trade. The enemy would strip them of every vital resource.
  • Divine Judgment: This devastation is presented not as random misfortune but as a direct consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. It is part of the curses prophesied for disobedience, serving as a powerful warning of God's justice and the seriousness of breaking covenant.
  • Vulnerability Without God: The passage emphasizes Israel's utter vulnerability without divine protection, illustrating how quickly a prosperous nation could be reduced to utter destitution and destroyed when God's favor was withdrawn due to their rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "fruit of thy cattle" and "fruit of thy land" directly translates Hebrew terms referring to the produce of livestock and agricultural yield, respectively. This highlights the agrarian basis of ancient Israel's economy, where prosperity was directly tied to their produce and livestock. The specific enumeration of "corn, wine, or oil" (cereals, grapes, and olives) represents the staple goods of the ancient Near Eastern diet and economy. The repetition of "until thou be destroyed" or "until he have destroyed thee" underscores the relentless and complete nature of the devastation, signifying a process of utter annihilation and removal from the land.

Prophetic Fulfillment and Application

Historically, these curses were tragically fulfilled multiple times throughout Israel's history, most notably during the Assyrian invasions of the Northern Kingdom and the Babylonian conquests of the Southern Kingdom, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. 2 Kings 25:1-4, for example, describes the severe famine during the Babylonian siege, where resources were entirely depleted, fulfilling the very conditions described in Deuteronomy 28:51.

For believers today, while we are not under the Mosaic covenant's specific curses and blessings in the same way, this passage still offers profound spiritual lessons:

  • Consequences of Rebellion: It illustrates the enduring principle that disobedience to God's will can lead to severe and destructive consequences, even if not always in the same literal form. Sin has a destructive power that can diminish our spiritual vitality and earthly well-being.
  • Dependence on God: It underscores our ultimate dependence on God for all provision and security. When we stray from Him, we become vulnerable to various forms of "destruction" in our lives, whether spiritual, emotional, or relational.
  • Spiritual Famine: Beyond physical sustenance, turning away from God can lead to a spiritual famine, where our souls are deprived of true nourishment and peace. The prophet Amos speaks of a famine of hearing the words of the Lord, a state more dire than physical hunger.

Reflection

Deuteronomy 28:51 serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of covenant faithfulness and the solemnity of God's warnings. It challenges us to consider our own walk with God – are we living in obedience and trust, or are we risking spiritual deprivation by neglecting His commands? It calls us to appreciate God's abundant provision and to seek Him continually, knowing that true security, peace, and abundance come from Him alone, as we live in accordance 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:33

    The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

  • Isaiah 62:8

    The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn [to be] meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

  • Ezekiel 12:19

    And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [and] of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

  • Jeremiah 15:13

    Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

  • Jeremiah 17:3

    O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance [and] all thy treasures to the spoil, [and] thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.

  • Leviticus 26:26

    [And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

  • Isaiah 1:7

    Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
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