Deuteronomy 28:48

The Curses of Disobedience · Deuteronomy 28:15–68
Read Deuteronomy 28

Translations

Modern
…you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
Traditional
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
Literal
…therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom YHWH will send against you, in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in lack of all things, and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.
Latin
Servies inimico tuo, quem immittet tibi Dominus, in fame, et siti, et nuditate, et omni penuria: et ponet jugum ferreum super cervicem tuam, donec te conterat.

Original

Hebrew
English
…you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

Notes

Ancient writings and artwork sometimes show an iron yoke. A yoke was a wooden bar placed on the neck of animals to control them.

Iron is hard and does not bend easily. The image of an iron yoke shows how harsh and severe Israel’s slavery would be if the people did not repent.

This section explains the conditions for receiving the covenant blessing, the types of blessings, and the curses that will occur if people ignore or disobey these rules (28:1–14; 28:15–68).

Parallels

Leviticus 20:1–9 Leviticus 26:14–39

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Assumption of Moses Biblical Concept of Law Curse, Cursed Deuteronomy, Book of Earth Elijah Elisha Haggai, Book of Hosea, Book of Joshua (Person) Kings, Books of First and Second Medicine and Medical Practice Mount Ebal Mount Gerizim Neighbor Proverbs, Book of Reward

Topics

Administration Afflictions and Adversities: Dispensation of God Availability Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Disobedience to God: Denunciations Against Fear of God: A Motive of Obedience Getting Rid of Evil Holy Spirit: Israelites Idolatry: Denunciations Against Ingratitude of Man to God Iron: First Recorded Use of Yokes Iron: Made Into: Yokes Judgments: Denounced Against Disobedience Nakedness Obedience to God: Punishment of Refusing Obedience: Enjoined Paying Bills Reprobacy: General Scriptures Concerning War: God Uses, As a Judgment Wicked (People): Punishment of