King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:61 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:61 in the King James Version says “Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee,... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. bring: Heb. cause to ascend

Deuteronomy 28:61 · King James Version


Context

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.

60

Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

61

Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. bring: Heb. cause to ascend

62

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

63

And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.


Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law—the comprehensiveness is staggering: not just the listed curses but every unlisted one too. The phrase kol-ḥolî wǝḵol-makkāh (כָּל־חֳלִי וְכָל־מַכָּה) means literally 'all sickness and all plague.' Them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed (עַד הִשָּׁמְדָךְ, ʿaḏ hiššāmǝḏāḵ)—the goal is complete destruction.

This verse removes any loophole: the curses aren't limited to Deuteronomy 28 but extend to every conceivable calamity. The phrase 'not written in this book' paradoxically expands the written curse to include the unwritten. This ensured that no matter what historical calamity befell Israel, it could be understood as covenant judgment. The repetition of 'until thou be destroyed' (also in vv. 48, 51, 61) emphasizes thoroughness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Throughout Jewish history, every affliction—from Assyrian conquest to Roman destruction to medieval plague to the Holocaust—was interpreted through the lens of Deuteronomy 28. This chapter became the hermeneutical key for understanding Jewish suffering, for better or worse.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the comprehensive nature of this curse reveal the seriousness of covenant breaking?
  2. What does it mean that judgment can take forms we can't anticipate or catalog?
  3. How does Christ's exhaustive suffering ('My God, why have You forsaken Me?') cover all possible curses?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.


Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
גַּ֤ם1 of 16
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

כָּל2 of 16
H3605

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

חֳלִי֙3 of 16

Also every sickness

H2483

malady, anxiety, calamity

וְכָל4 of 16
H3605

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

מַכָּ֔ה5 of 16

and every plague

H4347

a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence

אֲשֶׁר֙6 of 16
H834

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

לֹ֣א7 of 16
H3808

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

כָת֔וּב8 of 16

which is not written

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

בְּסֵ֖פֶר9 of 16

in the book

H5612

properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book

הַתּוֹרָ֣ה10 of 16

of this law

H8451

a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch

הַזֹּ֑את11 of 16
H2063

this (often used adverb)

יַעְלֵ֤ם12 of 16

bring

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

יְהוָה֙13 of 16

them will the LORD

H3068

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

עָלֶ֔יךָ14 of 16
H5921

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

עַ֖ד15 of 16
H5704

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

הִשָּֽׁמְדָֽךְ׃16 of 16

upon thee until thou be destroyed

H8045

to desolate


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 28:61 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 28:61 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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