Deuteronomy 28:31
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
Original Language Analysis
לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ
before thine eyes
H5869
לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ
before thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
3 of 18
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מִמֶּנּוּ֒
H4480
מִמֶּנּוּ֒
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
6 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
גָּז֣וּל
shall be violently taken away
H1497
גָּז֣וּל
shall be violently taken away
Strong's:
H1497
Word #:
8 of 18
to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob
מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ
from before thy face
H6440
מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ
from before thy face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָשׁ֖וּב
and shall not be restored
H7725
יָשׁ֖וּב
and shall not be restored
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
11 of 18
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
צֹֽאנְךָ֙
to thee thy sheep
H6629
צֹֽאנְךָ֙
to thee thy sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
13 of 18
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
נְתֻנ֣וֹת
shall be given
H5414
נְתֻנ֣וֹת
shall be given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
14 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וְאֵ֥ין
H369
Historical Context
Moses pronounced this circa 1406 BC. When Babylon besieged Jerusalem (586 BC), the invaders confiscated all livestock as Jeremiah 52:17-23 records. Earlier, during Assyrian invasions (8th century BC), Israel's northern kingdom suffered identical livestock confiscation, fulfilling this curse precisely.
Questions for Reflection
- What does watching your ox slain without eating it reveal about powerlessness under divine judgment?
- How does having "none to rescue" demonstrate that covenant judgment removes human deliverers?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof. Ancient Israel's agricultural economy depended on oxen for plowing and threshing—watching your ox slaughtered without benefiting demonstrates absolute powerlessness. Shachat (שָׁחַט, slain) indicates ritual or violent slaughter, here by enemies who confiscate livestock as spoils of war.
Thine ass shall be violently taken away uses gazal (גָּזַל, seized by violence), emphasizing robbery with impunity. Thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies means total economic devastation—livestock represented wealth, inheritance, and livelihood. And thou shalt have none to rescue them (ein moshia, אֵין מוֹשִׁיעַ) indicates no deliverer—the ultimate abandonment under covenant curse when God Himself becomes Israel's enemy rather than defender.