King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:54 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:54 in the King James Version says “So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wi...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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:”

Deuteronomy 28:54 · King James Version

Context

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.

56

The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
The man that is tender among you, and very delicate—Hebrew rāḵ and ʿānōḡ (רַךְ וְעָנֹג) describe a refined, upper-class man unaccustomed to hardship. His eye shall be evil (תֵּרַע עֵינוֹ, tēraʿ ʿênô) is an idiom meaning 'he will look grudgingly/greedily'—he will refuse to share even human flesh with his brother... the wife of his bosom... his children.

Siege conditions would so degrade humanity that the most refined gentleman would become a selfish cannibal, hoarding his own children's flesh. This describes moral collapse: family bonds dissolve, love dies, and survival instinct overrides all humanity. The phrase because he hath nothing left him shows that starvation reduces even the noble to beasts. This happened repeatedly in Israel's history.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

During the 900-day Leningrad siege (WW2), similar moral collapse occurred—a modern parallel to ancient sieges. In 2 Kings 6:28-29, two women made a pact to eat their children. Josephus records cases during the Roman siege where families turned on each other for scraps of food.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does extreme suffering reveal what is truly in the human heart?
  2. What does this passage teach about the necessity of divine grace even for 'good' people?
  3. How should awareness of human depravity drive us to the cross of Christ?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
הָאִישׁ֙1 of 14

“So that the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הָרַ֣ךְ2 of 14

“that is tender”

H7390

tender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weak

בְּךָ֔3 of 14
H0
וְהֶֽעָנֹ֖ג4 of 14

“delicate”

H6028

luxurious

מְאֹ֑ד5 of 14

“among you and very”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

תֵּרַ֨ע6 of 14
H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

עֵינ֤וֹ7 of 14

“his eye”

H5869

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

בְאָחִיו֙8 of 14

“toward his brother”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת9 of 14

“and toward the wife”

H802

a woman

חֵיק֔וֹ10 of 14

“of his bosom”

H2436

the bosom (literally or figuratively)

וּבְיֶ֥תֶר11 of 14

“and toward the remnant”

H3499

properly, an overhanging, i.e., (by implication) a small rope (as hanging free)

בָּנָ֖יו12 of 14

“of his children”

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

אֲשֶׁ֥ר13 of 14
H834

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

יוֹתִֽיר׃14 of 14

“which he shall leave”

H3498

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

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 28:54 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 28:54 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 15:9Matthew 20:15Deuteronomy 13:6Isaiah 49:15Proverbs 23:6Matthew 7:9-11

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