Deuteronomy 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
Original Language Analysis
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
1 of 30
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יֵ֣שׁ
Lest there should be
H3426
יֵ֣שׁ
Lest there should be
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
2 of 30
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
אִ֣ישׁ
among you man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
among you man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 30
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אוֹ
H176
אוֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
5 of 30
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
א֧וֹ
H176
א֧וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
7 of 30
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
מִשְׁפָּחָ֣ה
or family
H4940
מִשְׁפָּחָ֣ה
or family
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
8 of 30
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
אוֹ
H176
אוֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
9 of 30
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
שֵׁ֗בֶט
or tribe
H7626
שֵׁ֗בֶט
or tribe
Strong's:
H7626
Word #:
10 of 30
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 30
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פֹנֶ֤ה
turneth away
H6437
פֹנֶ֤ה
turneth away
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
13 of 30
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
הַיּוֹם֙
this day
H3117
הַיּוֹם֙
this day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
14 of 30
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
מֵעִם֙
H5973
מֵעִם֙
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
15 of 30
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
יְהוָ֣ה
from the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
from the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 30
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
לָלֶ֣כֶת
H1980
לָלֶ֣כֶת
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
18 of 30
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לַֽעֲבֹ֔ד
and serve
H5647
לַֽעֲבֹ֔ד
and serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
19 of 30
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֖י
our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
21 of 30
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
הַגּוֹיִ֣ם
of these nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֣ם
of these nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
22 of 30
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
24 of 30
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יֵ֣שׁ
Lest there should be
H3426
יֵ֣שׁ
Lest there should be
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
25 of 30
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
Cross References
Hebrews 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;Jeremiah 9:15Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.Hebrews 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.Acts 8:23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.Amos 6:12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:Hosea 10:4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
Historical Context
Moses addresses corporate covenant responsibility—Israel must police itself against internal corruption. Ancient Israel lacked religious freedom in the modern sense; idolatry threatened national survival because covenant breaking invited divine judgment on all. The Achan incident (Joshua 7) illustrates one man's sin bringing corporate consequences. This communal accountability reflects ancient Near Eastern covenant theology where the entire vassal nation bore treaty obligations.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we identify spiritual 'roots' of bitterness or idolatry before they spread in our church communities?
- What does corporate responsibility for individual sin look like in the New Testament church (1 Corinthians 5)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God (פֶּן־יֵשׁ בָּכֶם אִישׁ אוֹ־אִשָּׁה)—The comprehensive list—individual (ish, ishah), nuclear family (mishpachah), tribal unit (shevet)—covers every social level. Apostasy can infiltrate anywhere.
Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood (שֹׁרֶשׁ פֹּרֶה רֹאשׁ וְלַעֲנָה)—The agricultural metaphor depicts idolatry as poisonous vegetation. Rosh ("gall") and la'anah ("wormwood") are bitter, toxic plants symbolizing divine judgment (Jeremiah 9:15, 23:15). A single shoresh ("root") of unfaithfulness, if undetected, spreads corruption throughout the covenant community. Hebrews 12:15 cites this warning against bitterness defiling many.
Moses warns against gradual apostasy—the heart (lev) "turning away" (sur) suggests subtle defection, not sudden rebellion. This insidious departure from Yahweh to serve foreign gods produces bitter fruit affecting generations. The phrase "this day" (hayyom) emphasizes present commitment's urgency.