Deuteronomy 28:36
The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
Original Language Analysis
יוֹלֵ֨ךְ
H1980
יוֹלֵ֨ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 21
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יְהוָ֜ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֹֽתְךָ֗
H853
אֹֽתְךָ֗
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶֽת
H853
וְאֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תָּקִ֣ים
which thou shalt set
H6965
תָּקִ֣ים
which thou shalt set
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
7 of 21
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עָלֶ֔יךָ
H5921
עָלֶ֔יךָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גּ֕וֹי
over thee unto a nation
H1471
גּ֕וֹי
over thee unto a nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
10 of 21
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 21
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 #:
12 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדַ֖עְתָּ
have known
H3045
יָדַ֖עְתָּ
have known
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
13 of 21
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ
which neither thou nor thy fathers
H1
וַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ
which neither thou nor thy fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
15 of 21
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וְעָבַ֥דְתָּ
and there shalt thou serve
H5647
וְעָבַ֥דְתָּ
and there shalt thou serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
16 of 21
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
שָּׁ֛ם
H8033
אֱלֹהִ֥ים
gods
H430
אֱלֹהִ֥ים
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
18 of 21
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
Cross References
Jeremiah 16:13Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.Deuteronomy 4:28And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.2 Kings 25:11Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carry away.2 Chronicles 36:6Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.2 Chronicles 36:20And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:Deuteronomy 28:64And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.2 Chronicles 36:17Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.2 Chronicles 33:11Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
Historical Context
Written circa 1406 BC, this prophecy precisely predicted the Babylonian exile (586 BC) when King Zedekiah was captured, blinded, and taken to Babylon along with Judah's population (2 Kings 25:7-11). In Babylon, Jews were surrounded by idol worship and pressure to conform, fulfilling "serve other gods, wood and stone."
Questions for Reflection
- How does the exile of the king demonstrate that human monarchy cannot substitute for covenant faithfulness?
- What irony exists in being forced to serve the idols one formerly chose to worship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known. The exile curse reaches its climax—not just military defeat but deportation to goy asher lo-yada'ta (גּוֹי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדַעְתָּ, a nation you have not known). And thy king means the monarchy instituted later (1 Samuel 8) would fail to prevent exile—human kingship cannot protect from divine judgment.
And there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. Ultimate irony: Israel's idolatry in the land would result in forced worship of idols in exile. The phrase etz va-eben (עֵץ וָאֶבֶן, wood and stone) mocks idols' lifeless materiality (Psalm 115:4-8). What they chose voluntarily would become their slavery. Jeremiah 16:13 and Ezekiel 20:32-38 depict this forced idolatry during Babylonian exile when Jewish captives lived among pagan temple worship.