And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
The LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods (vehotirka YHWH letovah)—the verb yatar means "to be left over, to have surplus." God promises not mere subsistence but abundance, more than enough. The blessings are comprehensive: fruit of thy body (children), fruit of thy cattle (livestock), and fruit of thy ground (crops). This threefold abundance encompasses all aspects of agrarian life—family, herds, and agriculture.
The phrase in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee grounds blessing in covenant promise, not in Israel's worthiness. The land itself is oath-bound gift (nishba, "swore"), emphasizing God's unbreakable commitment to the patriarchal covenant. Blessing flows from relationship with the land-giving God, not from the soil's intrinsic properties.
This verse appears in Deuteronomy 28's blessing section (vv. 1-14), which promises prosperity contingent on covenant obedience (28:1: "if thou shalt hearken diligently"). The blessings aren't unconditional but covenantal—they operate within the "if-then" framework of Deuteronomy's covenant structure. Obedience yields abundance; disobedience brings the curses that follow (28:15-68).
Historical Context
Deuteronomy 28's blessings and curses follow the structure of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, particularly Hittite treaties (14th-13th centuries BCE). These treaties listed benefits for vassal loyalty and consequences for rebellion. Israel's covenant with YHWH adapts this format, but with crucial differences: YHWH isn't a human overlord but the Creator God, and the covenant relationship is grounded in grace (exodus deliverance) before law. The blessings described agricultural and reproductive prosperity, the primary concerns of ancient agrarian societies.
Questions for Reflection
How does viewing material abundance as covenant blessing (rather than entitlement) affect your stewardship of resources?
In what ways do Jesus's teachings on kingdom priorities (Matthew 6:19-34) reframe Old Testament promises of material prosperity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods (vehotirka YHWH letovah)—the verb yatar means "to be left over, to have surplus." God promises not mere subsistence but abundance, more than enough. The blessings are comprehensive: fruit of thy body (children), fruit of thy cattle (livestock), and fruit of thy ground (crops). This threefold abundance encompasses all aspects of agrarian life—family, herds, and agriculture.
The phrase in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee grounds blessing in covenant promise, not in Israel's worthiness. The land itself is oath-bound gift (nishba, "swore"), emphasizing God's unbreakable commitment to the patriarchal covenant. Blessing flows from relationship with the land-giving God, not from the soil's intrinsic properties.
This verse appears in Deuteronomy 28's blessing section (vv. 1-14), which promises prosperity contingent on covenant obedience (28:1: "if thou shalt hearken diligently"). The blessings aren't unconditional but covenantal—they operate within the "if-then" framework of Deuteronomy's covenant structure. Obedience yields abundance; disobedience brings the curses that follow (28:15-68).