King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:11 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:11 in the King James Version says “And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fr...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. in goods: or, for good body: Heb. belly”

Deuteronomy 28:11 · KJV

Context

9

The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11

And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. in goods: or, for good body: Heb. belly

12

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods (vehotirka YHWH letovah)—the verb yatar means "to be left over, to have surplus." God promises not mere subsistence but abundance, more than enough. The blessings are comprehensive: fruit of thy body (children), fruit of thy cattle (livestock), and fruit of thy ground (crops). This threefold abundance encompasses all aspects of agrarian life—family, herds, and agriculture.

The phrase in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee grounds blessing in covenant promise, not in Israel's worthiness. The land itself is oath-bound gift (nishba, "swore"), emphasizing God's unbreakable commitment to the patriarchal covenant. Blessing flows from relationship with the land-giving God, not from the soil's intrinsic properties.

This verse appears in Deuteronomy 28's blessing section (vv. 1-14), which promises prosperity contingent on covenant obedience (28:1: "if thou shalt hearken diligently"). The blessings aren't unconditional but covenantal—they operate within the "if-then" framework of Deuteronomy's covenant structure. Obedience yields abundance; disobedience brings the curses that follow (28:15-68).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Deuteronomy 28's blessings and curses follow the structure of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, particularly Hittite treaties (14th-13th centuries BCE). These treaties listed benefits for vassal loyalty and consequences for rebellion. Israel's covenant with YHWH adapts this format, but with crucial differences: YHWH isn't a human overlord but the Creator God, and the covenant relationship is grounded in grace (exodus deliverance) before law. The blessings described agricultural and reproductive prosperity, the primary concerns of ancient agrarian societies.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does viewing material abundance as covenant blessing (rather than entitlement) affect your stewardship of resources?
  2. In what ways do Jesus's teachings on kingdom priorities (Matthew 6:19-34) reframe Old Testament promises of material prosperity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְהוֹתִֽרְךָ֤1 of 17

“shall make thee plenteous”

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

יְהוָ֛ה2 of 17

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְטוֹבָ֔ה3 of 17

“in goods”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

וּבִפְרִ֣י4 of 17

“and in the fruit”

H6529

fruit (literally or figuratively)

בִטְנְךָ֛5 of 17

“of thy body”

H990

the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything

וּבִפְרִ֣י6 of 17

“and in the fruit”

H6529

fruit (literally or figuratively)

בְהַמְתְּךָ֖7 of 17

“of thy cattle”

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

וּבִפְרִ֣י8 of 17

“and in the fruit”

H6529

fruit (literally or figuratively)

הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה9 of 17

“in the land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

עַ֚ל10 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה11 of 17

“in the land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר12 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נִשְׁבַּ֧ע13 of 17

“sware”

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

יְהוָ֛ה14 of 17

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ15 of 17

“unto thy fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

לָ֥תֶת16 of 17

“to give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָֽךְ׃17 of 17
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 28:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 28:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 30:9Proverbs 10:22Leviticus 26:9Deuteronomy 28:4Psalms 132:11Job 19:17

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