Deuteronomy 11:17
And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
Original Language Analysis
וְחָרָ֨ה
be kindled
H2734
וְחָרָ֨ה
be kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
1 of 24
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
אַף
wrath
H639
אַף
wrath
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
יְהוָ֖ה
And then the LORD'S
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And then the LORD'S
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְעָצַ֤ר
against you and he shut up
H6113
וְעָצַ֤ר
against you and he shut up
Strong's:
H6113
Word #:
5 of 24
to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
7 of 24
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִהְיֶ֣ה
H1961
יִהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
9 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
H5414
נֹתֵ֥ן
giveth
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
13 of 24
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְבוּלָ֑הּ
not her fruit
H2981
יְבוּלָ֑הּ
not her fruit
Strong's:
H2981
Word #:
15 of 24
produce, i.e., a crop or (figuratively) wealth
וַֽאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם
and lest ye perish
H6
וַֽאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם
and lest ye perish
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
16 of 24
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
מֵעַל֙
H5921
מֵעַל֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַטֹּבָ֔ה
from off the good
H2896
הַטֹּבָ֔ה
from off the good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
20 of 24
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
21 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֖ה
And then the LORD'S
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And then the LORD'S
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
22 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
1 Kings 8:35When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:Deuteronomy 4:26I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.Deuteronomy 6:15(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.Amos 4:7And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.2 Chronicles 6:26When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;1 Kings 17:1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.2 Chronicles 7:13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
Historical Context
This judgment materialized repeatedly in Israel's history. Elijah's drought (1 Kings 17-18) punished Ahab's Baalism. Jeremiah warned Judah of coming judgment through drought and exile (Jeremiah 14). The seventy-year exile fulfilled covenant curses. Post-exilic Haggai explained poor harvests as divine discipline (Haggai 1:9-11). Weather became theological barometer of covenant status.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this passage challenge modern assumptions that natural disasters are religiously neutral events?
- What does God's jealousy (willingness to judge apostasy severely) reveal about His love and holiness?
- How should Christians understand divine discipline and consequences in the New Covenant age?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The consequence of apostasy: 'the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you' uses the Hebrew charah aph (חָרָה אַף, literally 'burn nose/anger'), vivid imagery for divine fury. The judgment is environmental: 'he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain.' The Hebrew atsar (עָצַר, 'restrain, close') indicates deliberate divine action withholding blessing. The result: agricultural catastrophe—'the land yield not her fruit'—leading to death: 'ye perish quickly from off the good land.' Covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:23-24) would be enforced. This establishes the prophetic pattern: apostasy → drought → famine → death/exile.