Deuteronomy 11:27-32

27 the ¹blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today;

28 and the ²curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following * other gods which you have not known.

29 "It shall come about, when the LORD your God brings you into the land where * you are entering to possess it, ³that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.

30 "Are they not across the Jordan, west of the way toward the sunset *, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite ⁴Gilgal, beside ⁵the oaks of Moreh?

31 "For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and ⁶you shall possess it and live in it,

32 and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which 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

• 1. Deuteronomy 28:1-14
• 2. Deuteronomy 28:15-68
• 3. Deuteronomy 27:12; Joshua 8:33
• 4. Joshua 4:19
• 5. Genesis 12:6
• 6. Deuteronomy 17:14; Joshua 21:43

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "to follow"
• [b] Lit "terebinths"