King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:31 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:31 in the King James Version says “Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them. shall not: Heb. shall not return to thee”

Deuteronomy 28:31 · KJV

Context

29

And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

30

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. gather: Heb. profane, or, use it as common meat

31

Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them. shall not: Heb. shall not return to thee

32

Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.

33

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof. Ancient Israel's agricultural economy depended on oxen for plowing and threshing—watching your ox slaughtered without benefiting demonstrates absolute powerlessness. Shachat (שָׁחַט, slain) indicates ritual or violent slaughter, here by enemies who confiscate livestock as spoils of war.

Thine ass shall be violently taken away uses gazal (גָּזַל, seized by violence), emphasizing robbery with impunity. Thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies means total economic devastation—livestock represented wealth, inheritance, and livelihood. And thou shalt have none to rescue them (ein moshia, אֵין מוֹשִׁיעַ) indicates no deliverer—the ultimate abandonment under covenant curse when God Himself becomes Israel's enemy rather than defender.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Moses pronounced this circa 1406 BC. When Babylon besieged Jerusalem (586 BC), the invaders confiscated all livestock as Jeremiah 52:17-23 records. Earlier, during Assyrian invasions (8th century BC), Israel's northern kingdom suffered identical livestock confiscation, fulfilling this curse precisely.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does watching your ox slain without eating it reveal about powerlessness under divine judgment?
  2. How does having "none to rescue" demonstrate that covenant judgment removes human deliverers?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
שֽׁוֹרְךָ֞1 of 18

“Thine ox”

H7794

a bullock (as a traveller)

טָב֣וּחַ2 of 18

“shall be slain”

H2873

to slaughter (animals or men)

לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ3 of 18

“before thine eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

וְלֹ֣א4 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֹאכַל֮5 of 18

“and thou shalt not eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מִמֶּנּוּ֒6 of 18
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

חֲמֹֽרְךָ֙7 of 18

“thereof thine ass”

H2543

a male ass (from its dun red)

גָּז֣וּל8 of 18

“shall be violently taken away”

H1497

to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob

מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ9 of 18

“from before thy face”

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

וְלֹ֥א10 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָשׁ֖וּב11 of 18

“and shall not be restored”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

לָ֑ךְ12 of 18
H0
צֹֽאנְךָ֙13 of 18

“to thee thy sheep”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

נְתֻנ֣וֹת14 of 18

“shall be given”

H5414

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

לְאֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ15 of 18

“unto thine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

וְאֵ֥ין16 of 18
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

לְךָ֖17 of 18
H0
מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃18 of 18

“and thou shalt have none to rescue”

H3467

properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor

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 28:31 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 28:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 1:14-15Judges 6:1

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