Deuteronomy 28:27
The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
Original Language Analysis
יַכְּכָ֨ה
will smite
H5221
יַכְּכָ֨ה
will smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
1 of 11
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
יְהוָ֜ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 11
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
1 Samuel 5:6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.Exodus 9:9And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.Exodus 15:26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.Deuteronomy 28:35The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.Leviticus 21:20Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;Isaiah 3:17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.Psalms 78:66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.Exodus 9:11And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.1 Samuel 5:12And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.1 Samuel 5:9And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
Historical Context
Moses spoke these warnings circa 1406 BC before Israel entered Canaan. The diseases mentioned were well-known afflictions in the ancient world with no cure. During the Babylonian siege, Jeremiah reported pestilence and disease decimating Jerusalem (Jeremiah 14:12, 21:6-7), fulfilling this very curse.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that Israel would suffer the same plagues Egypt endured, from which God had previously protected them?
- How do incurable diseases function as divine judgment that humbles human pride in medical knowledge?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. The sh'chin Mitzrayim (שְׁחִין מִצְרַיִם, boils of Egypt) recalls the sixth plague (Exodus 9:9-11) that struck Egypt but not Israel—now covenant-breakers would suffer the same afflictions they had been protected from. This demonstrates the terrifying principle: redemption can be reversed through apostasy.
Emerods (t'chorim, טְחֹרִים) likely refers to hemorrhoids or tumors, the same affliction God sent on the Philistines when they captured the ark (1 Samuel 5:6-12). Whereof thou canst not be healed indicates incurable diseases—divine judgment beyond human medical remedy. The accumulation of four distinct skin diseases emphasizes comprehensive physical affliction.