Deuteronomy 28:20

20 The Lord shall send upon thee hunger, and thirst, and blaming, into all the works which thou shalt do, till he all-break thee, and lose thee swiftly, for thy full wicked findings, in which thou hast forsaken me. (The Lord shall send hunger, and thirst, and rebuke upon thee, in all the things which thou shalt do, until he hath all-broken thee, and swiftly destroyed thee, for thy full wicked doings in which thou hast forsaken me.)

Deuteronomy 28:20 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:20

The Lord shall send upon thee cursing
Which is either a general word for all that follows, or rather, since that had been expressed before in various instances, this may denote some particular judgment. Jarchi interprets it of penury, of want of all good things, extreme poverty, so as to be reduced to the utmost necessity, and as to stand in need of the common comforts and supports of life, and even to have their blessings and mercies turned into curses; the consequence of which must needs be

vexation;
trouble, distress, and anguish of spirit:

and rebuke;
this may well be considered as a rebuke and correction in Providence for sins committed, to awaken to a sense and acknowledgment of them, and to repentance for them:

in all that thou settest thine hand to do;
nothing done should prosper, to relieve them under their pressing wants, a curse attending all their efforts, and so sad disappointment follows; and all as a just rebuke for their many sins: and this would be their case more or less,

until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly;
through famine, and want of the common necessaries of life; as at the sieges of Samaria and Jerusalem, by the kings of Syria, Assyria, and Babylon:

because of the wickedness of thy doings, because thou hast forsaken
me;
their several immoralities and impieties, and particularly their idolatry, which was a forsaking the worship of the true God, and following idols; an iniquity to be punished by the judge, and of all things the most provoking to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 28:20 In-Context

18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, the droves of thine oxen (the herds of thy oxen), and the flocks of thy sheep.
19 Thou shalt be cursed going in, and cursed going out.
20 The Lord shall send upon thee hunger, and thirst, and blaming, into all the works which thou shalt do, till he all-break thee, and lose thee swiftly, for thy full wicked findings, in which thou hast forsaken me. (The Lord shall send hunger, and thirst, and rebuke upon thee, in all the things which thou shalt do, until he hath all-broken thee, and swiftly destroyed thee, for thy full wicked doings in which thou hast forsaken me.)
21 The Lord shall join pestilence to thee, till he waste thee from (off) the land, to which thou shalt enter to wield.
22 The Lord shall smite thee with neediness, with fever, and cold, with burning, and heat, with corrupt air, and mildew, either rust; and he shall pursue thee till thou perish.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.