King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:57 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:57 in the King James Version says “And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she sh...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. young one: Heb. afterbirth”

Deuteronomy 28:57 · KJV

Context

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,

57

And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. young one: Heb. afterbirth

58

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

59

Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

Read Deuteronomy 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet—Hebrew šilyātāh (שִׁלְיָתָהּ) specifically means the afterbirth or placenta, suggesting she will eat it immediately after delivery. And toward her children which she shall bear clarifies: not just the afterbirth but the newborns themselves. For she shall eat them for want of all things secretly (בְּסֵתֶר, bǝsēter)—in hiding, ashamed but desperate.

This is perhaps the most disturbing verse in Scripture. The woman who should nurture life becomes death. The Hebrew emphasizes the immediacy—'coming out from between her feet' suggests she eats the child at birth. This happened during the Roman siege according to Josephus. The word 'secretly' shows residual shame: even in total depravity, conscience isn't fully dead, only suppressed in desperate sin.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Josephus records multiple cases of women eating their infants during the AD 70 siege. Lamentations 4:10 similarly records 'compassionate women' cooking their children during the Babylonian siege. These historical confirmations remove any possibility that Moses was using hyperbole.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage reveal the depth to which sin can drag humanity?
  2. What does the preservation of shame ('secretly') suggest about the indestructibility of conscience?
  3. How does Christ's giving of His body 'for want of all things' reverse this curse of consuming children?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ1 of 19

“And toward her young one”

H7988

a fetus or babe (as extruded in birth)

הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת׀2 of 19

“that cometh out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מִבֵּ֣ין3 of 19
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

רַגְלֶ֗יהָ4 of 19

“from between her feet”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

וּבְבָנֶ֙יהָ֙5 of 19

“and toward her 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

אֲשֶׁ֣ר6 of 19
H834

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

תֵּלֵ֔ד7 of 19

“which she shall bear”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

כִּֽי8 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

תֹאכְלֵ֥ם9 of 19

“for she shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

בְּחֹֽסֶר10 of 19

“them for want”

H2640

poverty

כֹּ֖ל11 of 19
H3605

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

בַּסָּ֑תֶר12 of 19

“of all things secretly”

H5643

a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)

בְּמָצוֹר֙13 of 19

“in the siege”

H4692

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

וּבְמָצ֔וֹק14 of 19

“and straitness”

H4689

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

אֲשֶׁ֨ר15 of 19
H834

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

יָצִ֥יק16 of 19

“shall distress”

H6693

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

לְךָ֛17 of 19
H0
אֹֽיִבְךָ֖18 of 19

“wherewith thine enemy”

H341

hating; an adversary

בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃19 of 19

“thee in thy gates”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

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 28:57 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 28:57 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 49:15Genesis 49:10

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

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