King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:53 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:53 in the King James Version says “And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: body: Heb. belly”

Deuteronomy 28:53 · KJV

Context

51

And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

52

And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

53

And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: body: Heb. belly

54

So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

55

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters—this is the most horrifying curse in the entire chapter. The Hebrew phrase pǝrî ḇiṭnǝḵā (פְּרִי בִטְנְךָ, 'fruit of your womb') uses tender language for pregnancy to describe unspeakable horror: cannibalism of one's own children. This prophesied the most extreme degradation possible under siege conditions.

This literally occurred during the Babylonian siege (Lamentations 2:20, 4:10) and again under Rome. Josephus records a woman named Mary eating her own infant during the AD 70 siege—a fulfillment so precise it defies coincidence. The phrase in the siege, and in the straitness (בְּמָצוֹר וּבְמָצוֹק, bǝmāṣôr ûḇǝmāṣôq) means 'in the distress and in the anguish' of military encirclement. Leviticus 26:29 had warned of the same curse.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This happened multiple times in Israel's history: during the Aramean siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:28-29), the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (Lamentations 4:10), and the Roman siege (Josephus, Wars 6.3.4). These fulfillments demonstrate that God's word of judgment is as reliable as His word of promise.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the horror of this curse reveal the depth of human depravity apart from God's grace?
  2. What does it mean that God's covenant curses are as certain as His covenant blessings?
  3. How does the sacrifice of God's own Son reverse the curse that we deserved?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֣1 of 17

“And thou shalt eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

פְרִֽי2 of 17

“the fruit”

H6529

fruit (literally or figuratively)

בִטְנְךָ֗3 of 17

“of thine own body”

H990

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

בְּשַׂ֤ר4 of 17

“the flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙5 of 17

“of thy sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ6 of 17

“and of thy daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר7 of 17
H834

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

נָֽתַן8 of 17

“hath given”

H5414

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

לְךָ֖9 of 17
H0
יְהוָ֣ה10 of 17

“which the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ11 of 17

“thy God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

בְּמָצוֹר֙12 of 17

“thee in the siege”

H4692

something hemming in, i.e., (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness

וּבְמָצ֔וֹק13 of 17

“and in the straitness”

H4689

a narrow place, i.e., (abstractly and figuratively) confinement or disability

אֲשֶׁר14 of 17
H834

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

יָצִ֥יק15 of 17

“shall distress”

H6693

to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress

לְךָ֖16 of 17
H0
אֹֽיְבֶֽךָ׃17 of 17

“wherewith thine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

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 28:53 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 28:53 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Lamentations 4:10Leviticus 26:29Jeremiah 19:92 Kings 6:28-29Lamentations 2:20Deuteronomy 28:57

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