Deuteronomy 28:57
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
Original Language Analysis
וּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ
And toward her young one
H7988
וּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ
And toward her young one
Strong's:
H7988
Word #:
1 of 19
a fetus or babe (as extruded in birth)
הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת׀
that cometh out
H3318
הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת׀
that cometh out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
2 of 19
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִבֵּ֣ין
H996
מִבֵּ֣ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
3 of 19
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
רַגְלֶ֗יהָ
from between her feet
H7272
רַגְלֶ֗יהָ
from between her feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
4 of 19
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
וּבְבָנֶ֙יהָ֙
and toward her children
H1121
וּבְבָנֶ֙יהָ֙
and toward her 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
תֵּלֵ֔ד
which she shall bear
H3205
תֵּלֵ֔ד
which she shall bear
Strong's:
H3205
Word #:
7 of 19
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
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)
בַּסָּ֑תֶר
of all things secretly
H5643
בַּסָּ֑תֶר
of all things secretly
Strong's:
H5643
Word #:
12 of 19
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
בְּמָצוֹר֙
in the siege
H4692
בְּמָצוֹר֙
in the siege
Strong's:
H4692
Word #:
13 of 19
something hemming in, i.e., (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and straitness
H4689
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and straitness
Strong's:
H4689
Word #:
14 of 19
a narrow place, i.e., (abstractly and figuratively) confinement or disability
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 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 #:
16 of 19
to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress
Historical Context
Josephus records multiple cases of women eating their infants during the AD 70 siege. Lamentations 4:10 similarly records 'compassionate women' cooking their children during the Babylonian siege. These historical confirmations remove any possibility that Moses was using hyperbole.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this passage reveal the depth to which sin can drag humanity?
- What does the preservation of shame ('secretly') suggest about the indestructibility of conscience?
- How does Christ's giving of His body 'for want of all things' reverse this curse of consuming children?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet—Hebrew šilyātāh (שִׁלְיָתָהּ) specifically means the afterbirth or placenta, suggesting she will eat it immediately after delivery. And toward her children which she shall bear clarifies: not just the afterbirth but the newborns themselves. For she shall eat them for want of all things secretly (בְּסֵתֶר, bǝsēter)—in hiding, ashamed but desperate.
This is perhaps the most disturbing verse in Scripture. The woman who should nurture life becomes death. The Hebrew emphasizes the immediacy—'coming out from between her feet' suggests she eats the child at birth. This happened during the Roman siege according to Josephus. The word 'secretly' shows residual shame: even in total depravity, conscience isn't fully dead, only suppressed in desperate sin.