Deuteronomy 11:27-32

27 1the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today,
28 and 2the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, 3to go after other gods that you have not known.
29 And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set 4the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.
30 Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road, toward the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the 5Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside 6the oak[a] of Moreh?
31 For you are 7to cross over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you. And when you possess it and live in it,
32 you shall be careful 8to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.

Deuteronomy 11:27-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 11

In this chapter, the exhortation to love the Lord, and keep his commands, is repeated and urged again and again from various considerations; as not only from the chastisement of Pharaoh and the wicked Egyptians, but of such Israelites who offended the Lord, and transgressed his law, De 12:1-7, from the goodness and excellency of the land they were going to inherit, De 11:8-11, from the blessing of rain that would come upon it, and be productive of all good things for man and beast, in case of obedience, and a restraint of it in case of disobedience, De 11:12-17, from the continuance of them and their offspring in the land, should they be careful to observe the commands themselves, and teach them their children, De 11:18-21, and from the extensiveness of their conquests and dominions, De 11:22-25 and from the different issue and effects of their conduct and behaviour, a blessing upon them if obedient, but a curse if disobedient, De 11:26-28 and the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal; the situation of which places is described when they should come into the land of Canaan, of which they are assured, De 11:29-32.

Cross References 8

  • 1. See Deuteronomy 28:2-14
  • 2. See Deuteronomy 28:15-45
  • 3. See Deuteronomy 6:14
  • 4. Deuteronomy 27:12, 13; Joshua 8:33
  • 5. See Deuteronomy 1:1
  • 6. Judges 7:1
  • 7. Deuteronomy 9:1; Deuteronomy 12:10; Joshua 1:11
  • 8. Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 12:32

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint, Syriac; see Genesis 12:6. Hebrew oaks, or terebinths
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.