Deuteronomy 28:4
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Original Language Analysis
בָּר֧וּךְ
Blessed
H1288
בָּר֧וּךְ
Blessed
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
1 of 11
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
בִטְנְךָ֛
of thy body
H990
בִטְנְךָ֛
of thy body
Strong's:
H990
Word #:
3 of 11
the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ
of thy cattle
H929
בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ
of thy cattle
Strong's:
H929
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ
of thy kine
H504
אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ
of thy kine
Strong's:
H504
Word #:
9 of 11
a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow
Cross References
Proverbs 10:22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.Genesis 49:25Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:Deuteronomy 7:13And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.Psalms 128:3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.Deuteronomy 28:11And 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.Psalms 107:38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.Leviticus 26:9For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.Psalms 127:3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.Proverbs 13:22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.Genesis 22:17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Historical Context
In agricultural society, these three forms of increase constituted total economic life. Children provided labor and inheritance; crops provided food; livestock provided meat, milk, leather, wool, and sacrificial animals.
Blessing in all three simultaneously meant comprehensive prosperity - growing families with abundant food and increasing wealth.
Questions for Reflection
- What does blessing in family, fields, and flocks teach about comprehensive provision?
- How does the biblical view of children as blessing contrast with contemporary culture?
- Why is multiplication and surplus emphasized rather than mere subsistence?
- What does the triad of human, plant, and animal fertility teach about God's governance?
- How should this comprehensive blessing shape our stewardship of family, land, and resources?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessing extends to family (fruit of thy body), agriculture (fruit of thy ground), and livestock (cattle, kine, sheep). This comprehensive fertility affects human, plant, and animal reproduction - the three primary sources of sustenance and wealth.
The repetition of fruit and increase emphasizes multiplication and abundance. Covenant blessing produces more than subsistence - it generates surplus enabling generosity and flourishing.
Children (fruit of thy body) are identified as blessing, reflecting biblical view that offspring are heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). This contrasts with contemporary culture often viewing children as burden rather than blessing.
The triad of human, agricultural, and livestock fertility demonstrates that God governs all aspects of life-giving and sustenance. Nothing reproduces apart from divine blessing.