Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Blessing for Covenant Obedience and Curse for Covenant Rebellion

Deuteronomy 28 moves from the promise of comprehensive covenant blessing for diligent obedience, to the threat of comprehensive covenant curse for rebellion, and finally to the terrifying reversal of exodus mercy through siege, exile, scattering, dread, and return toward bondage.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 “Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The LORD will decree a blessing on your barns and on everything to which you put your hand; the LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you.

9 The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.

10 Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

11 The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

12 The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

13 The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today.

14 Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now וְהָיָ֗ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular if אִם־ H518 Conjunction you faithfully obey שָׁמ֤וֹעַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּשְׁמַע֙ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the voice of בְּקוֹל֙ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and are careful לִשְׁמֹ֤ר H8104 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct to follow לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct His commandments מִצְוֺתָ֔יו H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֥י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am giving you today מְצַוְּךָ֖ H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . הַיּ֑וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . עֶלְי֔וֹן H5945 Adjective - masculine singular will set you וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular high above עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the nations גּוֹיֵ֥י H1471 Noun - masculine plural construct of the earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

And all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these הָאֵ֖לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural blessings הַבְּרָכ֥וֹת H1293 Article | Noun - feminine plural will come וּבָ֧אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural upon you עָלֶ֛יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular and overtake you וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ H5381 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singular if כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you will obey תִשְׁמַ֔ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the voice of בְּק֖וֹל H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

You אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular will be blessed בָּר֥וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular in the city בָּעִ֑יר H5892 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular and blessed וּבָר֥וּךְ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular . . . אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular in the country בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

The fruit of פְּרִֽי־ H6529 Noun - masculine singular construct your womb בִטְנְךָ֛ H990 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular will be blessed בָּר֧וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular as well as the produce וּפְרִ֥י H6529 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of your land אַדְמָתְךָ֖ H127 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and the offspring וּפְרִ֣י H6529 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of your livestock בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ H929 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular the calves שְׁגַ֥ר H7698 Noun - masculine singular construct of your herds אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ H504 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and the lambs וְעַשְׁתְּר֥וֹת H6251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct of your flocks צֹאנֶֽךָ׃ H6629 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Your basket טַנְאֲךָ֖ H2935 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and kneading bowl וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ׃ H4863 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular will be blessed בָּר֥וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

You אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular will be blessed בָּר֥וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular when you come in בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ H935 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular and blessed וּבָר֥וּךְ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular when you אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular go out בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ׃ H3318 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will cause יִתֵּ֨ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the enemies אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ H341 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular who rise up הַקָּמִ֣ים H6965 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural against you עָלֶ֔יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular to be defeated נִגָּפִ֖ים H5062 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural before you לְפָנֶ֑יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular They will march out יֵצְא֣וּ H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural against אֵלֶ֔יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular you in one אֶחָד֙ H259 Number - masculine singular direction בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular but flee יָנ֥וּסוּ H5127 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural from you לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular in seven וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה H7651 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular - דְרָכִ֖ים H1870 Noun - common plural
Verse 8

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אִתְּךָ֙ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will decree יְצַ֨ו H6680 Verb - Piel - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular a blessing הַבְּרָכָ֔ה H1293 Article | Noun - feminine singular on your barns בַּאֲסָמֶ֕יךָ H618 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and on everything וּבְכֹ֖ל H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct to which you put מִשְׁלַ֣ח H4916 Noun - masculine singular construct your hand יָדֶ֑ךָ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular will bless you וּבֵ֣רַכְךָ֔ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular in the land בָּאָ֕רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative He is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָֽךְ׃ Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will establish you יְקִֽימְךָ֨ H6965 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular as His holy קָד֔וֹשׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular people לְעַ֣ם H5971 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative He has sworn נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־ H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you לָ֑ךְ Preposition | second person masculine singular if כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you keep תִשְׁמֹ֗ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the commandments מִצְוֺת֙ H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct of the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and walk וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular in His ways בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃ H1870 Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Then all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the peoples עַמֵּ֣י H5971 Noun - masculine plural construct of the earth הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular will see וְרָאוּ֙ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural that כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction you are called נִקְרָ֣א H7121 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular עָלֶ֑יךָ עָלֶ֑יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular by the name of שֵׁ֥ם H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and they will stand in awe וְיָֽרְא֖וּ H3372 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural of you מִמֶּֽךָּ׃ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

The LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will make you prosper וְהוֹתִֽרְךָ֤ H3498 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular abundantly לְטוֹבָ֔ה H2896 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular in the fruit of בִּפְרִ֧י H6529 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your womb בִטְנְךָ֛ H990 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular the offspring וּבִפְרִ֥י H6529 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of your livestock בְהַמְתְּךָ֖ H929 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and the produce וּבִפְרִ֣י H6529 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of your land אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ H127 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular in עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition the land הָאֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular swore נִשְׁבַּ֧ע H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to your fathers לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular to give לָ֥תֶת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct you לָֽךְ׃ Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֣ה׀ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will open יִפְתַּ֣ח H6605 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural His abundant הַטּ֜וֹב H2896 Article | Adjective - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker storehouse אוֹצָר֨וֹ H214 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular to send לָתֵ֤ת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct rain מְטַֽר־ H4306 Noun - masculine singular construct on your land אַרְצְךָ֙ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular in season בְּעִתּ֔וֹ H6256 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular and to bless וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ H1288 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the work מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct of your hands יָדֶ֑ךָ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular You will lend וְהִלְוִ֙יתָ֙ H3867 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular to many רַבִּ֔ים H7227 Adjective - masculine plural nations גּוֹיִ֣ם H1471 Noun - masculine plural but וְאַתָּ֖ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular borrow תִלְוֶֽה׃ H3867 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular from none לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 13

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will make וּנְתָֽנְךָ֨ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular you the head לְרֹאשׁ֙ H7218 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular and not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle the tail לְזָנָ֔ב H2180 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular . . . וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular you will only רַ֣ק H7535 Adverb move upward לְמַ֔עְלָה H4605 Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular and never וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle . . . תִהְיֶ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular downward לְמָ֑טָּה H4295 Preposition-l | Adverb if כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you hear תִשְׁמַ֞ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular אֶל־ אֶל־ H413 Preposition and carefully לִשְׁמֹ֥ר H8104 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct follow וְלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ H6213 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct the commandments מִצְוֺ֣ת׀ H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct of the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular which אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֧י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am giving מְצַוְּךָ֛ H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular you today הַיּ֖וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Do not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle turn aside תָס֗וּר H5493 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to the right יָמִ֣ין H3225 Noun - feminine singular or to the left וּשְׂמֹ֑אול H8040 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular from any of מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the words הַדְּבָרִים֙ H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אָנֹכִ֜י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular command מְצַוֶּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular you אֶתְכֶ֛ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural today הַיּ֖וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular and do not go לָלֶ֗כֶת H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct after אַחֲרֵ֛י H310 Preposition other אֲחֵרִ֖ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֥ים H430 Noun - masculine plural to serve them לְעָבְדָֽם׃ס H5647 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.