Deuteronomy Chapter 28 · Verse 12

Authorized King James Version

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The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Original Language Analysis

יִפְתַּ֣ח shall open H6605
יִפְתַּ֣ח shall open
Strong's: H6605
Word #: 1 of 23
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
יְהוָ֣ה׀ The LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה׀ The LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לְ֠ךָ H0
לְ֠ךָ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 3 of 23
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 4 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֽוֹצָר֨וֹ treasure H214
אֽוֹצָר֨וֹ treasure
Strong's: H214
Word #: 5 of 23
a depository
הַטּ֜וֹב unto thee his good H2896
הַטּ֜וֹב unto thee his good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 6 of 23
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
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 7 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם the heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם the heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 8 of 23
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
לָתֵ֤ת to give H5414
לָתֵ֤ת to give
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 9 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מְטַֽר the rain H4306
מְטַֽר the rain
Strong's: H4306
Word #: 10 of 23
rain
אַרְצְךָ֙ unto thy land H776
אַרְצְךָ֙ unto thy land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 11 of 23
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בְּעִתּ֔וֹ in his season H6256
בְּעִתּ֔וֹ in his season
Strong's: H6256
Word #: 12 of 23
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ and to bless H1288
וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ and to bless
Strong's: H1288
Word #: 13 of 23
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
אֵ֖ת H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 14 of 23
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 #: 15 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה all the work H4639
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה all the work
Strong's: H4639
Word #: 16 of 23
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יָדֶ֑ךָ of thine hand H3027
יָדֶ֑ךָ of thine hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 17 of 23
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
תִלְוֶֽה׃ and thou shalt lend H3867
תִלְוֶֽה׃ and thou shalt lend
Strong's: H3867
Word #: 18 of 23
properly, to twine; also to borrow (as a form of obligation) or (causative) to lend
גּוֹיִ֣ם nations H1471
גּוֹיִ֣ם nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 19 of 23
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
רַבִּ֔ים unto many H7227
רַבִּ֔ים unto many
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 20 of 23
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וְאַתָּ֖ה H859
וְאַתָּ֖ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 21 of 23
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 22 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִלְוֶֽה׃ and thou shalt lend H3867
תִלְוֶֽה׃ and thou shalt lend
Strong's: H3867
Word #: 23 of 23
properly, to twine; also to borrow (as a form of obligation) or (causative) to lend

Analysis & Commentary

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure (אֶת־אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב, et-otzaro hatov)—God's 'treasure house' (otzar) refers to the heavenly storehouses from which rain and blessing flow (cf. Job 38:22). This covenant promise inverts the curse of drought; obedience unlocks divine provision.

The heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season—Seasonal rainfall (yoreh and malkosh, early and latter rains) was essential for Canaan's agriculture, unlike Egypt's Nile irrigation. Blessing means dependence on God's direct provision, not human systems. Thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow—Economic sovereignty was the visible sign of covenant blessing (cf. Deut 15:6). Israel as creditor-nation would demonstrate Yahweh's superiority over pagan gods. Tragically, disobedience reversed this: 'The stranger...shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him' (v. 44).

Historical Context

Deuteronomy 28 presents the blessings (vv. 1-14) and curses (vv. 15-68) of the Mosaic covenant, delivered by Moses on the Plains of Moab before Israel entered Canaan (circa 1406 BC). The agricultural promises reflect Canaan's dependence on rainfall, contrasting with Egypt's irrigation. Israel's history tragically fulfilled the curses—Assyrian exile (722 BC), Babylonian captivity (586 BC), and Roman destruction (AD 70).

Questions for Reflection