Deuteronomy 28:49

Authorized King James Version

PDF

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

Original Language Analysis

יִשָּׂ֣א shall bring H5375
יִשָּׂ֣א shall bring
Strong's: H5375
Word #: 1 of 15
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
יְהוָה֩ The LORD H3068
יְהוָה֩ The LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עָלֶ֨יךָ H5921
עָלֶ֨יךָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 3 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גּ֕וֹי a nation H1471
גּ֕וֹי a nation
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 4 of 15
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
מֵֽרָחֹק֙ against thee from far H7350
מֵֽרָחֹק֙ against thee from far
Strong's: H7350
Word #: 5 of 15
remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
מִקְצֵ֣ה from the end H7097
מִקְצֵ֣ה from the end
Strong's: H7097
Word #: 6 of 15
an extremity
הָאָ֔רֶץ of the earth H776
הָאָ֔רֶץ of the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 7 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 8 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִדְאֶ֖ה flieth H1675
יִדְאֶ֖ה flieth
Strong's: H1675
Word #: 9 of 15
to dart, i.e., fly rapidly
הַנָּ֑שֶׁר as swift as the eagle H5404
הַנָּ֑שֶׁר as swift as the eagle
Strong's: H5404
Word #: 10 of 15
the eagle (or other large bird of prey)
גּ֕וֹי a nation H1471
גּ֕וֹי a nation
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 11 of 15
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 15
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 #: 13 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁמַ֖ע thou shalt not understand H8085
תִשְׁמַ֖ע thou shalt not understand
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 14 of 15
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃ whose tongue H3956
לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃ whose tongue
Strong's: H3956
Word #: 15 of 15
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,

Analysis & Commentary

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far—the Hebrew gôy (גּוֹי) here means a distant, foreign power. The phrase as swift as the eagle flieth (כַּנֶּשֶׁר יִדְאֶה, kannesher yidʾeh) perfectly describes Rome's military eagles (standards) that swept through Judea. A nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand applied to Assyrian, Babylonian, and Latin—languages completely foreign to Hebrew speakers.

Deuteronomy 28:49 remarkably predicted events 1,400+ years in advance. The eagle imagery is prophetic: Roman legions carried eagle standards, and Jesus referenced this verse when predicting Jerusalem's destruction (Luke 17:37—'where the body is, there the eagles will gather'). The incomprehensible foreign tongue meant no negotiation, no mercy, only conquest.

Historical Context

This prophecy saw multiple fulfillments: Assyria (Isaiah 28:11), Babylon (Jeremiah 5:15), and most dramatically Rome. Josephus records that during the AD 70 siege, Roman forces surrounded Jerusalem with terrifying speed, and Jewish captives couldn't communicate with their Latin-speaking conquerors.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Topics

Study Resources