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Deuteronomy 28:15

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¶ 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:

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken {H8085} unto the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, to observe {H8104} to do {H6213} all his commandments {H4687} and his statutes {H2708} which I command {H6680} thee this day {H3117}; that all these curses {H7045} shall come {H935} upon thee, and overtake {H5381} thee:

"But if you refuse to pay attention to what ADONAI your God says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot and regulations which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be yours in abundance:

If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah 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.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:15 serves as a stark warning within the covenant established between God and the nation of Israel. Following a detailed list of blessings for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-14), this verse introduces the severe consequences of disobedience, explicitly stating that curses will "come upon thee, and overtake thee" if Israel fails to hearken to the voice of the LORD and observe His commandments.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. The entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28 is a pivotal exposition of the conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant. Moses presents a clear choice: obedience leading to abundant blessings and prosperity in the land, or disobedience leading to a comprehensive list of curses, including disease, famine, defeat by enemies, and ultimately, exile from the land. Verse 15 marks the transition from the blessings (verses 1-14) to the curses (verses 15-68), underscoring the gravity of their commitment to God's law.

Key Themes

  • Conditional Covenant: The prosperity and well-being of Israel in the Promised Land were directly contingent upon their faithfulness to God's commands. This highlights God's justice and the principle that actions have consequences.
  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The passage emphasizes God's supreme authority to establish laws and enforce them with both blessings and curses. It reveals His character as a God who is faithful to His word, whether in blessing or judgment.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: The phrase "all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" vividly portrays the inescapable and pervasive nature of the consequences of rejecting God's clear instructions. Disobedience is not merely a minor transgression but a breach of a sacred covenant.
  • Heeding God's Voice: The core requirement is to "hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God," which implies not just hearing but actively listening, understanding, and obeying. This highlights the importance of a responsive heart to God's revealed will.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hearken" is shama' (שָׁמַע), which means more than simply hearing; it carries the connotation of listening attentively and, crucially, obeying. It implies a willing and active response to what is heard. The term "overtake" (Hebrew: nasag, נָשַׂג) suggests that the curses will pursue and catch up with them, becoming an unavoidable reality from which they cannot escape, regardless of where they go or what they do.

Related Scriptures

  • This warning is paralleled in other covenant texts, such as Leviticus 26:14-39, which also lists curses for disobedience.
  • The importance of obeying God's voice is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, as seen in Jeremiah 7:23, where God calls Israel to "obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people."
  • The historical books of the Old Testament, particularly Kings and Chronicles, demonstrate how these curses repeatedly came upon Israel when they turned away from God and His commandments, eventually leading to the Babylonian exile.

Practical Application

While believers today are under the New Covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not the Mosaic Law for salvation, the principles of Deuteronomy 28:15 remain relevant. God's character as just, holy, and faithful to His word is unchanging. Disobedience to God's revealed will (as found in Scripture) still has natural and spiritual consequences, even if not the specific national curses detailed for ancient Israel. This verse reminds us of the importance of:

  • Reverence for God's Word: Taking God's commands seriously and striving to live in accordance with them.
  • The Reality of Consequences: Understanding that sin, while forgiven through Christ, often carries natural consequences in this life.
  • The Call to Obedience: Recognizing that a genuine love for God is expressed through obedience to His will (John 14:15).

It serves as a timeless reminder that while God's grace is abundant, His justice is equally sure, and there are serious repercussions for willfully disregarding His divine instructions.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Malachi 2:2 (10 votes)

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

  • Deuteronomy 28:2 (8 votes)

    And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

  • Leviticus 26:14 (6 votes)

    ¶ But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

  • Leviticus 26:46 (6 votes)

    These [are] the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

  • Lamentations 2:17 (6 votes)

    The LORD hath done [that] which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

  • Deuteronomy 29:20 (6 votes)

    The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

  • Romans 2:8 (5 votes)

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,