Deuteronomy 28:50
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
Original Language Analysis
גּ֖וֹי
A nation
H1471
גּ֖וֹי
A nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
1 of 11
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
פָנִים֙
countenance
H6440
פָנִים֙
countenance
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
3 of 11
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 11
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 #:
5 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִשָּׂ֤א
which shall not regard
H5375
יִשָּׂ֤א
which shall not regard
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
6 of 11
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
פָנִים֙
countenance
H6440
פָנִים֙
countenance
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
7 of 11
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְנַ֖עַר
to the young
H5288
וְנַ֖עַר
to the young
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
9 of 11
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
Cross References
Isaiah 47:6I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.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.
Historical Context
Assyrian reliefs depict exactly this brutality—elderly and children impaled or enslaved without distinction. During the Babylonian siege (588-586 BC), Lamentations 5:12-13 confirms the treatment of elders and youth. The Romans continued this pattern, and according to Josephus, over 1.1 million Jews perished in the AD 70 siege.
Questions for Reflection
- What does this passage reveal about God's justice when covenant breaking reaches full measure?
- How should the certainty of divine judgment inform our view of sin's trajectory?
- In what ways does Christ's substitutionary death absorb the curse that we deserved?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
A nation of fierce countenance—Hebrew ʿaz pānîm (עַז פָּנִים) means literally 'strong of face,' conveying hardness and ruthlessness. The phrase shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young describes total war without the ancient Near Eastern customs of mercy to non-combatants. Assyrian and Babylonian inscriptions boasted of such brutality, and Rome showed no mercy during the Jewish revolts.
This verse anticipates systematic genocide. The aged, who commanded respect in Israelite culture, would be slaughtered. Children, normally spared in ancient warfare, would be killed. Josephus's Wars of the Jews records Roman soldiers throwing Jewish children from Jerusalem's walls. The 'fierce countenance' became the emotionless efficiency of imperial conquest.