Deuteronomy 28:56
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 28:56
56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 28 is a covenant blessing and curse chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of redemption, truth, salvation. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-68: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it reveals key aspects of God's character through divine actions and declarations. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 28:56
56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
Analysis
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground—the Hebrew haʿănuggāh wǝharakkāh (הָעֲנֻגָּה וְהָרַכָּה) describes an aristocratic lady so refined she never walked barefoot, perhaps carried in a litter. Yet her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter—she too becomes a grudging cannibal.
This verse is the female parallel to verses 54-55, showing that wealth, gender, and privilege offer no protection from sin's degradation. The most pampered woman, symbol of motherly nurture, will violate the deepest maternal instinct. The phrase 'husband of her bosom' (îš ḥêqāh, אִישׁ חֵיקָהּ) emphasizes intimate marital love—now replaced by cannibalistic greed.
Historical Context
Josephus's account of Mary of Bethezuba (Wars 6.3.4) fulfills this precisely—a wealthy woman who ate her nursing infant during the Roman siege. Her story is so horrifying that it became legendary, demonstrating that these curses were not hyperbole but literal prophecy.
Reflection
- How does this passage destroy any notion of inherent human goodness apart from God's grace?
- What does the equal treatment of male and female in judgment teach about accountability before God?
- How does the image of a mother devouring her child contrast with God's maternal care (Isaiah 49:15)?
Cross-References
- Evil: Deuteronomy 28:54
- Parallel theme: Isaiah 3:16