King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:20 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:20 in the King James Version says “The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until t...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. for: Heb. which thou wouldest do”

Deuteronomy 28:20 · KJV

Salvation

Context

18

Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

19

Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

20

The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. for: Heb. which thou wouldest do

21

The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.

22

The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. sword: or, drought

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do—This verse intensifies previous pronouncements by making Yahweh Himself the active agent of judgment. Three terms describe His action: me'erah (מְאֵרָה, cursing/oath), mehumah (מְהוּמָה, confusion/panic), and mig'eret (מִגְעֶרֶת, rebuke/threat). The first denotes covenant curse fulfillment; the second describes psychological/social disarray (Deuteronomy 7:23; 1 Samuel 14:20); the third conveys divine correction and discipline. Together they create an atmosphere of comprehensive frustration where nothing succeeds.

The phrase bemishlo'akh yadkha (בְּכָל־מִשְׁלַח יָדְךָ, in all that you set your hand to) echoes blessing language from verse 8 and 12, but with opposite results—divine opposition rather than favor. The consequences are catastrophic: ad hishamedkha ve'ad avodkha maher (עַד הִשָּֽׁמֶדְךָ וְעַד אָבְדְךָ מַהֵר, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly). The dual verbs shamad (destroy) and avad (perish) emphasize total ruin, while maher (quickly/suddenly) indicates the judgment's speed. The stated cause: mipene roa ma'alelekha asher azavtani (מִפְּנֵי רֹעַ מַעֲלָלֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עֲזַבְתָּנִי, because of the evil of your deeds by which you forsook Me)—personal apostasy, abandoning covenant relationship with Yahweh.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Israel's history tragically demonstrated this pattern: during the judges period, apostasy brought foreign oppression and social chaos (Judges 2:11-19); under evil kings, military defeats and agricultural failures plagued the land (1 Kings 14:15-16; 2 Chronicles 36:15-17). The 'confusion' (mehumah) appeared in battle panic (Deuteronomy 7:23), failed strategies, and social breakdown. The phrase 'forsaken Me' appears repeatedly in prophetic indictments (Jeremiah 2:13; 5:19; 16:11), showing that covenant violation wasn't merely ethical failure but relational betrayal of Yahweh. The 'quick' destruction came both gradually (progressive decline) and suddenly (invasions, sieges, exile)—divine patience eventually gives way to decisive judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the personal language 'you have forsaken Me' reveal that covenant violation is fundamentally relational betrayal, not just rule-breaking?
  2. What does it mean that God actively opposes what covenant violators 'set their hand to'—can human effort succeed apart from divine favor?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
יְשַׁלַּ֣ח1 of 24

“shall send”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

יְהוָ֣ה׀2 of 24

“The LORD”

H3068

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

בְּ֠ךָ3 of 24
H0
אֶת4 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּאֵרָ֤ה5 of 24

“upon thee cursing”

H3994

an execration

אֶת6 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּהוּמָה֙7 of 24

“vexation”

H4103

confusion or uproar

וְאֶת8 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמִּגְעֶ֔רֶת9 of 24

“and rebuke”

H4045

reproof (i.e., curse)

בְּכָל10 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

מִשְׁלַ֥ח11 of 24

“in all that thou settest”

H4916

a sending out, i.e., (abstractly) presentation (favorable), or seizure (unfavorable); also (concretely) a place of dismissal, or a business to be disc

יָֽדְךָ֖12 of 24

“thine hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אֲשֶׁ֣ר13 of 24
H834

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

תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה14 of 24

“unto for to do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

עַ֣ד15 of 24
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הִשָּֽׁמֶדְךָ֤16 of 24

“until thou be destroyed”

H8045

to desolate

וְעַד17 of 24
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

אֲבָדְךָ֙18 of 24

“and until thou perish”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

מַהֵ֔ר19 of 24

“quickly”

H4118

properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry

מִפְּנֵ֛י20 of 24

“because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

רֹ֥עַ21 of 24

“of the wickedness”

H7455

badness (as marring), physically or morally

מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ22 of 24

“of thy doings”

H4611

an act (good or bad)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר23 of 24
H834

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

עֲזַבְתָּֽנִי׃24 of 24

“whereby thou hast forsaken”

H5800

to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc

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 28:20 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 28:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Malachi 2:2Isaiah 66:15Deuteronomy 4:26Isaiah 51:20John 3:36Isaiah 30:17

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