Deuteronomy 28:61
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֤ם
H1571
גַּ֤ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַכָּ֔ה
and every plague
H4347
מַכָּ֔ה
and every plague
Strong's:
H4347
Word #:
5 of 16
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כָת֔וּב
which is not written
H3789
כָת֔וּב
which is not written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
8 of 16
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
בְּסֵ֖פֶר
in the book
H5612
בְּסֵ֖פֶר
in the book
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
הַתּוֹרָ֣ה
of this law
H8451
הַתּוֹרָ֣ה
of this law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
10 of 16
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
יַעְלֵ֤ם
bring
H5927
יַעְלֵ֤ם
bring
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
12 of 16
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
יְהוָה֙
them will the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
them will the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עָלֶ֔יךָ
H5921
עָלֶ֔יךָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
Throughout Jewish history, every affliction—from Assyrian conquest to Roman destruction to medieval plague to the Holocaust—was interpreted through the lens of Deuteronomy 28. This chapter became the hermeneutical key for understanding Jewish suffering, for better or worse.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the comprehensive nature of this curse reveal the seriousness of covenant breaking?
- What does it mean that judgment can take forms we can't anticipate or catalog?
- How does Christ's exhaustive suffering ('My God, why have You forsaken Me?') cover all possible curses?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law—the comprehensiveness is staggering: not just the listed curses but every unlisted one too. The phrase kol-ḥolî wǝḵol-makkāh (כָּל־חֳלִי וְכָל־מַכָּה) means literally 'all sickness and all plague.' Them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed (עַד הִשָּׁמְדָךְ, ʿaḏ hiššāmǝḏāḵ)—the goal is complete destruction.
This verse removes any loophole: the curses aren't limited to Deuteronomy 28 but extend to every conceivable calamity. The phrase 'not written in this book' paradoxically expands the written curse to include the unwritten. This ensured that no matter what historical calamity befell Israel, it could be understood as covenant judgment. The repetition of 'until thou be destroyed' (also in vv. 48, 51, 61) emphasizes thoroughness.