Deuteronomy 29:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 29:20
20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 29 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, love, wisdom. 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 21-29: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. 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 29:20
20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Analysis
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man (לֹא־יֹאבֶה יְהוָה סְלֹחַ לוֹ)—The emphatic negation lo yoveh YHWH seloach lo ("the LORD will not be willing to forgive him") contradicts the apostate's self-absolution. God's qin'ah ("jealousy," covenant zeal) and af ("anger") will 'ashan ("smoke")—imagery of volcanic fury or smoking nostrils (Psalm 18:8).
All the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him (וְרָבְצָה בּוֹ כָּל־הָאָלָה)—The verb ravatz ("lie upon") pictures curse as a crouching predator ready to spring (compare Genesis 4:7, where sin "crouches" at Cain's door). Every 'alah enumerated in Deuteronomy 27-28 will seize the presumptuous apostate.
The LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven (וּמָחָה יְהוָה אֶת־שְׁמוֹ)—Machah ("blot out") signifies complete erasure from covenant records and collective memory. Ancient Near Eastern treaty curses threatened name obliteration—the ultimate dishonor. This echoes Exodus 32:33 ("Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book") and contrasts with faithful remembrance in God's book of life (Revelation 3:5).
Historical Context
Ancient covenant curses weren't merely punitive but covenant-enforcement mechanisms. Hittite, Assyrian, and Aramaic treaties conclude with elaborate curse formulas for treaty violation. Israel's covenant structure mirrors these, but with crucial distinction: Yahweh himself enforces terms, not impersonal fate or pantheon consensus. The smoking anger imagery may reference Mount Sinai's theophany (Exodus 19:18), where God's presence appeared in smoke and fire. Covenant making and covenant breaking both involve divine fire—one for sealing promises, the other for executing judgment.
Reflection
- How does God's refusal to spare the presumptuous sinner inform our understanding of Hebrews 10:26-31?
- What's the relationship between having one's name blotted out here and Jesus's promise in Revelation 3:5?
Word Studies
- Heaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim) H8064 - Heaven, sky
Cross-References
- References Lord: Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Psalms 79:5, Nahum 1:2
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 9:14, Psalms 74:1, Ezekiel 23:25