King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 28:68 Mean?

Deuteronomy 28:68 in the King James Version says “And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no mo... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Deuteronomy 28:68 · KJV


Context

66

And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

67

In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

68

And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships—this reverses the Exodus, Israel's founding narrative. The Hebrew wĕhešîḇǝḵā YHWH miṣrayim bāʾŏniyyôṯ (וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ יְהוָה מִצְרַיִם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת, 'and the LORD will return you to Egypt in ships') means literal return to slavery. By the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again references God's promise in Deuteronomy 17:16 that Israel would never return to Egypt. And there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you—so worthless that even as slaves, no one wants you.

This final curse epitomizes total reversal: from freedom to slavery, from Promised Land to Egypt, from God's treasured possession to rejected merchandise. 'With ships' may reference slave ships or deportation vessels. The phrase 'no man shall buy you' is devastating—valueless even as slaves. After the Bar Kokhba revolt (AD 135), Romans sold so many Jewish slaves that the market was glutted and prices collapsed—literal fulfillment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

After AD 70, Vespasian sold thousands of Jews as slaves. After Bar Kokhba (AD 135), Hadrian sold Jewish captives so cheaply at Mamre that the slave market crashed—buyers couldn't be found. Some were shipped to Egypt. This verse's specific fulfillment demonstrates divine authorship of Scripture.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does returning to 'Egypt' symbolize the complete failure of covenant relationship?
  2. What does the worthlessness of Israel as slaves teach about the consequences of rejecting God?
  3. How does Christ's redemption price (His blood) contrast with Israel's worthlessness under curse?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וֶהֱשִֽׁיבְךָ֙1 of 19

again

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

יְהוָ֥ה׀2 of 19

And the LORD

H3068

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

מִצְרַיִם֮3 of 19

thee into Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

בָּֽאֳנִיּוֹת֒4 of 19

with ships

H591

a ship

בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙5 of 19

by the way

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

אֲשֶׁ֣ר6 of 19
H834

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

אָמַ֣רְתִּֽי7 of 19

whereof I spake

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לְךָ֔8 of 19
H0
לֹֽא9 of 19
H3808

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

תֹסִ֥יף10 of 19

it no more again

H3254

to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

ע֖וֹד11 of 19
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

לִרְאֹתָ֑הּ12 of 19

unto thee Thou shalt see

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם13 of 19

and there ye shall be sold

H4376

to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)

שָׁ֧ם14 of 19
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

לְאֹֽיְבֶ֛יךָ15 of 19

unto your enemies

H341

hating; an adversary

לַֽעֲבָדִ֥ים16 of 19

for bondmen

H5650

a servant

וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת17 of 19

and bondwomen

H8198

a female slave (as a member of the household)

וְאֵ֥ין18 of 19
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

קֹנֶֽה׃19 of 19

and no man shall buy

H7069

to erect, i.e., create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own


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 28:68 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 28:68 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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