Deuteronomy 28:45

Authorized King James Version

Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּבָ֨אוּ
shall come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
עָלֶ֜יךָ
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#3
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#4
הַקְּלָל֣וֹת
Moreover all these curses
vilification
#5
הָאֵ֗לֶּה
these or those
#6
וּרְדָפ֙וּךָ֙
upon thee and shall pursue
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
#7
וְהִשִּׂיג֔וּךָ
thee and overtake
to reach (literally or figuratively)
#8
עַ֖ד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#9
הִשָּֽׁמְדָ֑ךְ
thee till thou be destroyed
to desolate
#10
כִּי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#11
לֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#12
שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ
because thou hearkenedst
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#13
בְּקוֹל֙
not unto the voice
a voice or sound
#14
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#15
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
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
#16
לִשְׁמֹ֛ר
to keep
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
#17
מִצְוֹתָ֥יו
his commandments
a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)
#18
וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו
and his statutes
a statute
#19
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#20
צִוָּֽךְ׃
which he commanded
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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