King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 29:18 Mean?

Deuteronomy 29:18 in the King James Version says “Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our G... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; gall: or, a poisonous herb: Heb. rosh

Deuteronomy 29:18 · KJV


Context

16

(For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

17

And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:) idols: Heb. dungy gods

18

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; gall: or, a poisonous herb: Heb. rosh

19

And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: imagination: or, stubbornness drunkenness: Heb. the drunken to the thirsty

20

The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God (פֶּן־יֵשׁ בָּכֶם אִישׁ אוֹ־אִשָּׁה)—The comprehensive list—individual (ish, ishah), nuclear family (mishpachah), tribal unit (shevet)—covers every social level. Apostasy can infiltrate anywhere.

Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood (שֹׁרֶשׁ פֹּרֶה רֹאשׁ וְלַעֲנָה)—The agricultural metaphor depicts idolatry as poisonous vegetation. Rosh ("gall") and la'anah ("wormwood") are bitter, toxic plants symbolizing divine judgment (Jeremiah 9:15, 23:15). A single shoresh ("root") of unfaithfulness, if undetected, spreads corruption throughout the covenant community. Hebrews 12:15 cites this warning against bitterness defiling many.

Moses warns against gradual apostasy—the heart (lev) "turning away" (sur) suggests subtle defection, not sudden rebellion. This insidious departure from Yahweh to serve foreign gods produces bitter fruit affecting generations. The phrase "this day" (hayyom) emphasizes present commitment's urgency.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Moses addresses corporate covenant responsibility—Israel must police itself against internal corruption. Ancient Israel lacked religious freedom in the modern sense; idolatry threatened national survival because covenant breaking invited divine judgment on all. The Achan incident (Joshua 7) illustrates one man's sin bringing corporate consequences. This communal accountability reflects ancient Near Eastern covenant theology where the entire vassal nation bore treaty obligations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can we identify spiritual 'roots' of bitterness or idolatry before they spread in our church communities?
  2. What does corporate responsibility for individual sin look like in the New Testament church (1 Corinthians 5)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
פֶּן1 of 30
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

יֵ֣שׁ2 of 30

Lest there should be

H3426

there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)

בָּ֠כֶם3 of 30
H0
אִ֣ישׁ4 of 30

among you 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)

אוֹ5 of 30
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

אִשָּׁ֞ה6 of 30

or woman

H802

a woman

א֧וֹ7 of 30
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

מִשְׁפָּחָ֣ה8 of 30

or family

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

אוֹ9 of 30
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

שֵׁ֗בֶט10 of 30

or tribe

H7626

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

אֲשֶׁר֩11 of 30
H834

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

לְבָב֨וֹ12 of 30

whose heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

פֹנֶ֤ה13 of 30

turneth away

H6437

to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc

הַיּוֹם֙14 of 30

this day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מֵעִם֙15 of 30
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

יְהוָ֣ה16 of 30

from the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֵ֖י17 of 30

our 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

לָלֶ֣כֶת18 of 30
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

לַֽעֲבֹ֔ד19 of 30

and serve

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

אֶת20 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֱלֹהֵ֖י21 of 30

our 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

הַגּוֹיִ֣ם22 of 30

of these nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הָהֵ֑ם23 of 30
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

פֶּן24 of 30
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

יֵ֣שׁ25 of 30

Lest there should be

H3426

there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)

בָּכֶ֗ם26 of 30
H0
שֹׁ֛רֶשׁ27 of 30

among you a root

H8328

a root (literally or figuratively)

פֹּרֶ֥ה28 of 30

that beareth

H6509

to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)

רֹ֖אשׁ29 of 30

gall

H7219

a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents)

וְלַֽעֲנָֽה׃30 of 30

and wormwood

H3939

wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed)


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 29:18 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 29:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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