Deuteronomy 29:23
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
Original Language Analysis
גָּפְרִ֣ית
thereof is brimstone
H1614
גָּפְרִ֣ית
thereof is brimstone
Strong's:
H1614
Word #:
1 of 24
properly, cypress-resin; by analogy, sulphur (as equally inflammable)
וָמֶלַח֮
and salt
H4417
וָמֶלַח֮
and salt
Strong's:
H4417
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, powder, i.e., (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved)
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אַרְצָהּ֒
And that the whole land
H776
אַרְצָהּ֒
And that the whole land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
5 of 24
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִזָּרַע֙
that it is not sown
H2232
תִזָּרַע֙
that it is not sown
Strong's:
H2232
Word #:
7 of 24
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַצְמִ֔חַ
nor beareth
H6779
תַצְמִ֔חַ
nor beareth
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
9 of 24
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעֲלֶ֥ה
groweth
H5927
יַעֲלֶ֥ה
groweth
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
11 of 24
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָפַ֣ךְ
overthrew
H2015
הָפַ֣ךְ
overthrew
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
21 of 24
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
יְהוָ֔ה
which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
22 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Jeremiah 17:6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.Zephaniah 2:9Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.Isaiah 34:9And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.Jeremiah 20:16And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;Genesis 14:2That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.Luke 17:29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.Ezekiel 47:11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.Judges 9:45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Historical Context
Sodom's destruction occurred in Abraham's era (circa 2000-1900 BCE), probably in the southern Dead Sea region. Ancient sources describe the area's sulfurous geology and salt deposits. Israel's covenant curses employ familiar historical reference points—Egypt (oppression), Sodom (judgment)—to make abstract warnings concrete. The Dead Sea area's perpetual barrenness served as ongoing visual reminder of divine judgment. When Babylon devastated Judah in 586 BCE, parts of the land experienced severe depopulation and agricultural collapse for decades, though not permanent Sodom-level devastation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does ecological judgment reflect creation's curse when humanity rebels (Romans 8:20-22)?
- What does the Sodom comparison teach about degrees of divine judgment for covenant privilege?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein (גָּפְרִית וָמֶלַח שְׂרֵפָה כָל־אַרְצָהּ)—The triad gofrit ("brimstone/sulfur"), melach ("salt"), and serefah ("burning") describes complete ecological collapse. Salt symbolizes permanent desolation—Abimelech sowed Shechem with salt after destroying it (Judges 9:45), rendering land agriculturally sterile. Sulfur and burning suggest volcanic devastation or scorched earth warfare.
The threefold negation intensifies the curse: lo tizara' ("not sown"), lo tatzmiyach ("not sprouting"), lo ya'aleh vah kol esev ("no grass grows in it"). Total agricultural failure reverses Eden's fertility and Canaan's promised abundance ("flowing with milk and honey"). The land vomits out covenant breakers (Leviticus 18:25, 28).
Like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger (כְּמַהְפֵּכַת סְדֹם)—Mahpekhah ("overthrow") references Genesis 19's cataclysm. Moses adds Admah and Zeboim (Genesis 10:19, Hosea 11:8) to the infamous pair, emphasizing comprehensive destruction. The comparison warns: covenant apostasy merits Sodom-level judgment. Isaiah (1:9-10), Jeremiah (23:14, 49:18, 50:40), Amos (4:11), and Zephaniah (2:9) repeatedly invoke this comparison.