Deuteronomy 28:59
Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
Original Language Analysis
וְהִפְלָ֤א
will make
H6381
וְהִפְלָ֤א
will make
Strong's:
H6381
Word #:
1 of 13
properly, perhaps to separate, i.e., distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful
יְהוָה֙
Then the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
Then the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
H4347
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
Strong's:
H4347
Word #:
4 of 13
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
וְאֵ֖ת
H853
וְאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
H4347
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
Strong's:
H4347
Word #:
6 of 13
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
7 of 13
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
H4347
מַכּ֤וֹת
and the plagues
Strong's:
H4347
Word #:
8 of 13
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
גְּדֹלֹת֙
even great
H1419
גְּדֹלֹת֙
even great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
9 of 13
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְנֶֽאֱמָנִֽים׃
and of long continuance
H539
וְנֶֽאֱמָנִֽים׃
and of long continuance
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
10 of 13
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
Historical Context
Jewish history from the Babylonian exile forward has been marked by extraordinary suffering—the diaspora, medieval pogroms, the Inquisition, the Holocaust. While these resulted from human evil, they occurred under God's sovereign governance. Deuteronomy 28:59 framed Jewish understanding of their own suffering for millennia.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's covenant faithfulness manifest in both blessing and judgment?
- What does it mean that God's judgments are 'wonderful'—not arbitrary but purposeful?
- How does Christ's becoming 'a curse for us' (Galatians 3:13) end the 'long continuance' of covenant curses?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful—Hebrew wǝhiplāʾ YHWH (וְהִפְלָא יְהוָה) uses the verb 'to make extraordinary/distinguished.' The word makkôṯ (מַכּוֹת, plagues) recalls Egypt's ten plagues, but these would be great plagues, and of long continuance (חֳלָיִם רָעִים וְנֶאֱמָנִים, ḥŏlāyîm rāʿîm wǝneʾĕmānîm—literally 'evil and faithful/lasting diseases').
The irony is devastating: God's miracles (peleʾ) delivered Israel from Egypt; now His miracles will deliver them to judgment. The plagues will be 'wonderful' in their severity and uniqueness. The phrase 'of long continuance' (lasting/faithful) means chronic, incurable suffering. Where Egypt's plagues lasted days, Israel's would last generations. This predicted the ongoing Jewish diaspora sufferings from 586 BC through the Holocaust.