King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:48 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:48 in the King James Version says “Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedn...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”

Deuteronomy 28:48 · KJV

Context

46

And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

47

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

48

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

49

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; understand: Heb. hear

50

A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: of fierce: Heb. strong of face

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies—the Hebrew ʿāḇaḏ (עָבַד) means not mere labor but enslaved servitude. Israel would trade the yoke of God's law (which is freedom) for a yoke of iron (בְּעֹל בַּרְזֶל, bǝʿōl barzel)—unbreakable, crushing bondage. The prophesied conditions—hunger, thirst, nakedness, want of all things—became horrifyingly literal under Assyrian (722 BC), Babylonian (586 BC), and Roman (AD 70) sieges.

The covenant reversal is complete: God's people who were delivered from slavery would be delivered to slavery. This verse introduces the most severe curses (vv. 48-68), where the blessings of verses 1-14 are systematically inverted. The iron yoke contrasts with Jeremiah's wooden yoke (Jeremiah 27-28)—Babylon's bondage could not be broken.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Written circa 1406 BC as Moses prepared Israel for Canaan entry, this section prophesies exile and dispersion with stunning specificity. The 'iron yoke' became literal under multiple empires—Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom, Babylon razed Jerusalem, and Rome scattered the Jews worldwide after AD 70.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'iron yokes' do we create for ourselves when we reject God's gracious law?
  2. How does serving God lead to true freedom, while serving sin leads to cruel bondage?
  3. In what ways does this passage reveal the seriousness with which God takes covenant faithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וְעָֽבַדְתָּ֣1 of 20

“Therefore shalt thou serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

אֶת2 of 20
H853

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

אֹֽיְבֶ֗יךָ3 of 20

“thine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

אֲשֶׁ֨ר4 of 20
H834

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

יְשַׁלְּחֶ֤נּוּ5 of 20

“shall send”

H7971

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

יְהוָה֙6 of 20

“which the LORD”

H3068

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

בָּ֔ךְ7 of 20
H0
בְּרָעָ֧ב8 of 20

“against thee in hunger”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וּבְצָמָ֛א9 of 20

“and in thirst”

H6772

thirst (literally or figuratively)

וּבְעֵירֹ֖ם10 of 20

“and in nakedness”

H5903

nudity

וּבְחֹ֣סֶר11 of 20

“and in want”

H2640

poverty

כֹּ֑ל12 of 20
H3605

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

וְנָתַ֞ן13 of 20

“of all things and he shall put”

H5414

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

עֹ֤ל14 of 20

“a yoke”

H5923

a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

בַּרְזֶל֙15 of 20

“of iron”

H1270

iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

עַל16 of 20
H5921

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

צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ17 of 20

“upon thy neck”

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

עַ֥ד18 of 20
H5704

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

הִשְׁמִיד֖וֹ19 of 20

“until he have destroyed”

H8045

to desolate

אֹתָֽךְ׃20 of 20
H853

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

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 28:48 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 28:48 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 28:13-14Ezekiel 4:16-17Jeremiah 44:17-18Nehemiah 9:35-37Jeremiah 44:22Lamentations 5:2-6

Test Your Knowledge

Deuteronomy 28 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterDeuteronomy Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Deuteronomy 28 with CommentaryAll Deuteronomy ChaptersComplete Deuteronomy QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes