Deuteronomy 29:21

Authorized King James Version

And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהִבְדִּיל֤וֹ
shall separate
to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)
#2
יְהוָה֙
And the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#3
לְרָעָ֔ה
him unto evil
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
#4
מִכֹּ֖ל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#5
שִׁבְטֵ֣י
out of all the tribes
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
#6
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#7
כְּכֹל֙
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#8
אָל֣וֹת
according to all the curses
an imprecation
#9
הַבְּרִ֔ית
of the covenant
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
#10
הַכְּתוּבָ֕ה
that are written
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
#11
בְּסֵ֥פֶר
in this book
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
#12
הַתּוֹרָ֖ה
of the law
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
#13
הַזֶּֽה׃
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

The covenant theme here intersects with God's relationship with His people from Abraham through the new covenant. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of evolution from creation covenant through Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, to new covenant. The phrase emphasizing covenant contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's relational commitment from Noah to the new covenant.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of covenant within the theological tradition of Deuteronomy Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes covenant in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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