Deuteronomy 28:55
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
Original Language Analysis
מִתֵּ֣ת׀
So that he will not give
H5414
מִתֵּ֣ת׀
So that he will not give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְאַחַ֣ד
to any
H259
לְאַחַ֣ד
to any
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
מִבְּשַׂ֤ר
of them of the flesh
H1320
מִבְּשַׂ֤ר
of them of the flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
4 of 19
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
בָּנָיו֙
of his children
H1121
בָּנָיו֙
of his children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִבְּלִ֥י
H1097
מִבְּלִ֥י
Strong's:
H1097
Word #:
8 of 19
properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc
הִשְׁאִֽיר
because he hath nothing left
H7604
הִשְׁאִֽיר
because he hath nothing left
Strong's:
H7604
Word #:
9 of 19
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
כֹּ֑ל
H3605
כֹּ֑ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בְּמָצוֹר֙
him in the siege
H4692
בְּמָצוֹר֙
him in the siege
Strong's:
H4692
Word #:
12 of 19
something hemming in, i.e., (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and in the straitness
H4689
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and in the straitness
Strong's:
H4689
Word #:
13 of 19
a narrow place, i.e., (abstractly and figuratively) confinement or disability
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָצִ֥יק
shall distress
H6693
יָצִ֥יק
shall distress
Strong's:
H6693
Word #:
15 of 19
to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress
Historical Context
This verse didn't need multiple historical fulfillments—the fulfillments in 2 Kings 6, Lamentations 4, and Josephus's accounts are sufficient to demonstrate its prophetic accuracy. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus confirm that first-century Jews knew these curses and feared their fulfillment under Rome.
Questions for Reflection
- How does sin ultimately consume everything it touches, including its own adherents?
- What does this passage teach about the logical endpoint of covenantal unfaithfulness?
- In what ways does Christ satisfy our deepest hungers so we don't turn to destructive alternatives?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat—the repetition hammers home the horror: a man eating his own children and refusing to share. The phrase mibbǝśar bānāyw (מִבְּשַׂר בָּנָיו, 'from the flesh of his sons') is grammatically precise—Moses uses no euphemism. Because he hath nothing left him in the siege explains but doesn't excuse: starvation has made him subhuman.
This continues verse 54's description. The refined man becomes worse than an animal—animals feed their young; this man devours his. The threefold repetition ('his brother... wife... remnant of children') shows the complete breakdown of covenant, marriage, and family—all the fundamental structures of society collapse. Sin's ultimate end is self-cannibalization.