Deuteronomy Chapter 28 · Verse 1

Authorized King James Version

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And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֗ה H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 2 of 24
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִּשְׁמַע֙ And it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken H8085
תִּשְׁמַע֙ And it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 3 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
תִּשְׁמַע֙ And it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken H8085
תִּשְׁמַע֙ And it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 4 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בְּקוֹל֙ unto the voice H6963
בְּקוֹל֙ unto the voice
Strong's: H6963
Word #: 5 of 24
a voice or sound
יְהוָ֤ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֤ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 6 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 7 of 24
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
לִשְׁמֹ֤ר to observe H8104
לִשְׁמֹ֤ר to observe
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 8 of 24
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ and to do H6213
לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ and to do
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 9 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 10 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 11 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִצְוֹתָ֔יו all his commandments H4687
מִצְוֹתָ֔יו all his commandments
Strong's: H4687
Word #: 12 of 24
a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)
אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֛ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 13 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽנֹכִ֥י H595
אָֽנֹכִ֥י
Strong's: H595
Word #: 14 of 24
i
מְצַוְּךָ֖ which I command H6680
מְצַוְּךָ֖ which I command
Strong's: H6680
Word #: 15 of 24
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
הַיּ֑וֹם thee this day H3117
הַיּ֑וֹם thee this day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 16 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ will set H5414
וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ will set
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 17 of 24
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָ֤ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֤ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 18 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 19 of 24
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
עֶלְי֔וֹן thee on high H5945
עֶלְי֔וֹן thee on high
Strong's: H5945
Word #: 20 of 24
an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the supreme
עַ֖ל H5921
עַ֖ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 21 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 22 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
גּוֹיֵ֥י above all nations H1471
גּוֹיֵ֥י above all nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 23 of 24
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth H776
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 24 of 24
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis & Commentary

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. The blessings chapter begins with conditional promise - if thou shalt hearken diligently. Divine blessing flows from covenant obedience; disobedience brings curse (verse 15 onward). This establishes the covenant's bilateral nature - God promises faithfulness, but Israel must respond obediently.

The phrase hearken diligently requires attentive, faithful listening with obedient response. Casual hearing without obedient action does not fulfill the condition. Saving faith always manifests in obedient living.

The scope all his commandments demands comprehensive obedience. Selective compliance with preferred portions while ignoring challenging commands does not satisfy covenant requirements. God expects complete submission to His revealed will.

The promise set thee on high above all nations indicates that covenant faithfulness results in observable blessing and international influence. Obedient communities experience flourishing that testifies to watching world about God's goodness.

Historical Context

Israel's subsequent history demonstrated this principle - periods of covenant faithfulness (David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah) brought prosperity and international respect, while apostasy brought judgment, defeat, and exile.

This conditional blessing differs from unconditional Abrahamic promises that depend solely on God's faithfulness. The Mosaic covenant operated on do this and live principle.

Questions for Reflection