Devarim 28:38

38 Thou shalt carry much zera out into the sadeh, and shalt gather but little in; for the arbeh shall devour it.

Devarim 28:38 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:38

Thou shall carry much seed into the field
And sow it plentifully; this and what is said in some following verses plainly refer to them while in their own land, before carried captive, and not to their present case and circumstances:

and shall gather [but] little in at harvest;
little springing up, or not coming to perfection, being blighted and blasted, and so yielded but a small crop; see ( Haggai 1:9 ) ; and chiefly for the following reason:

for the locust shall consume it;
which is a great destroyer of the fruits of the earth; see ( Joel 1:4 ) .

Devarim 28:38 In-Context

36 Hashem shall bring thee, and thy melech which thou shalt set over thee, unto a Goy which neither thou nor Avoteicha have known; and there shalt thou serve elohim acherim, etz va’even (wood and stone). [2Kgs 25:7]

37 And thou shalt become an object of horror, a mashal, and a byword, among kol haGoyim whither Hashem shall lead thee.

38 Thou shalt carry much zera out into the sadeh, and shalt gather but little in; for the arbeh shall devour it.

39 Thou shalt plant kramim, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the yayin, nor gather the grapes; for the tola’at (worm) shall eat them.

40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy territory, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the shemen; for thine olives shall drop off.