Deuteronomy 31:20
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ
For when I shall have brought
H935
אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ
For when I shall have brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
2 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי
which I sware
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי
which I sware
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
6 of 22
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
לַֽאֲבֹתָ֗יו
unto their fathers
H1
לַֽאֲבֹתָ֗יו
unto their fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
7 of 22
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
זָבַ֤ת
that floweth
H2100
זָבַ֤ת
that floweth
Strong's:
H2100
Word #:
8 of 22
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
וְאָכַ֥ל
and they shall have eaten
H398
וְאָכַ֥ל
and they shall have eaten
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
11 of 22
to eat (literally or figuratively)
וְשָׂבַ֖ע
and filled
H7646
וְשָׂבַ֖ע
and filled
Strong's:
H7646
Word #:
12 of 22
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
וְדָשֵׁ֑ן
themselves and waxen fat
H1878
וְדָשֵׁ֑ן
themselves and waxen fat
Strong's:
H1878
Word #:
13 of 22
to be fat; transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat); specifically to anoint; figuratively, to satisfy; to remove (fat) ashes (of sacrifices)
וּפָנָ֞ה
then will they turn
H6437
וּפָנָ֞ה
then will they turn
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
14 of 22
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
אֱלֹהִ֤ים
gods
H430
אֱלֹהִ֤ים
gods
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
16 of 22
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
וַֽעֲבָד֔וּם
and serve
H5647
וַֽעֲבָד֔וּם
and serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
18 of 22
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי
them and provoke
H5006
וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי
them and provoke
Strong's:
H5006
Word #:
19 of 22
to scorn; or (in ecclesiastes 12:5), by interchange for h5132, to bloom
וְהֵפֵ֖ר
me and break
H6565
וְהֵפֵ֖ר
me and break
Strong's:
H6565
Word #:
20 of 22
to break up (usually figuratively), i.e., to violate, frustrate
Cross References
Hosea 13:6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Jeremiah 5:28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.Ezekiel 34:20Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.Psalms 17:10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.Psalms 119:70Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.Psalms 73:7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.Jeremiah 50:11Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;Nehemiah 9:35For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.Exodus 3:17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
Historical Context
Prophesied circa 1406 BC before Israel entered Canaan's agricultural prosperity. The prediction proved devastatingly accurate: Solomon's reign brought unprecedented wealth, followed immediately by idolatry under his son Rehoboam. The northern kingdom especially embraced Baal worship during prosperous periods. Hosea 13:6 diagnosed the problem: 'When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.' Only catastrophic judgment (Assyrian and Babylonian conquests) temporarily broke the wealth-apostasy pattern.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does prosperity often lead to spiritual decline rather than gratitude? What's the psychological mechanism?
- How can Christians steward wealth and comfort without falling into the 'waxen fat' trap God predicted for Israel?
- What spiritual disciplines guard against prosperity-induced complacency and self-sufficiency?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat—God predicted prosperity would become a spiritual trap. Then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant—wealth and satisfaction, rather than producing gratitude, would breed spiritual complacency and idolatry. The phrase veshaman (וְשָׁמֵן, 'grown fat') appears as metaphor for dangerous prosperity throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:15, Nehemiah 9:25-26, Hosea 13:6).
This verse articulates one of Scripture's most sobering paradoxes: blessing can become curse if it displaces God as the focus of affection. Material abundance doesn't automatically produce godliness; often it fosters self-sufficiency and forgetfulness of dependence on God. Jesus warned similarly: 'It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew 19:23). Prosperity requires vigilant gratitude and intentional God-centeredness to avoid the predicted outcome.