King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 29:22 Mean?

Deuteronomy 29:22 in the King James Version says “So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a fa...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it; which: Heb. wherewith the LORD hath made it sick”

Deuteronomy 29:22 · KJV

Context

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.

21

And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law: are: Heb. is

22

So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it; which: Heb. wherewith the LORD hath made it sick

23

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

24

Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

Read Deuteronomy 29 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land (וְאָמַר הַדּוֹר הָאַחֲרוֹן)—Moses shifts from individual apostate (vv. 19-21) to corporate national consequences visible to dor acharon ("latter generation") and nokhri ("foreigner" from eretz rechokah, "distant land"). The covenant curses will be so catastrophic that future Israelites and foreign observers will interrogate the devastation.

The phrase makkot ha-aretz ("plagues of that land") and tachalue'ha ("sicknesses/diseases") uses Egypt-exodus language. The land itself contracts disease—ecological judgment mirroring the plagues that judged Egypt. This reversal is programmatic: Israel, redeemed from Egypt's plagues, now suffers Egyptian-style judgment in their own land.

The pedagogical aspect is striking—covenant violation creates such visible ruin that it provokes historical inquiry. The devastated land becomes an object lesson, teaching subsequent generations through negative example. This anticipates Jeremiah's and Ezekiel's explanations of Jerusalem's fall to confused exiles.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy materialized in 586 BCE when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and exiled Judah. Lamentations records survivors' shock; Jeremiah 22:8-9 and 1 Kings 9:8-9 echo this very passage, with nations asking why Yahweh devastated his own land. Archaeological evidence from the Babylonian period shows widespread destruction and depopulation in Judah. Foreign chronicles (Babylonian, Egyptian) documented Jerusalem's fall, fulfilling the prediction that distant nations would witness and question Israel's judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God use historical judgments as teaching tools for future generations?
  2. What responsibility do we have to explain God's past judgments to those who question them?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וְאָמַ֞ר1 of 23

“shall say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַדּ֣וֹר2 of 23

“So that the generation”

H1755

properly, a revolution of time, i.e., an age or generation; also a dwelling

הָאַֽחֲר֗וֹן3 of 23

“to come”

H314

hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western

בְּנֵיכֶם֙4 of 23

“of your 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

אֲשֶׁ֤ר5 of 23
H834

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

יָק֙וּמוּ֙6 of 23

“that shall rise up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

מֵאַ֣חֲרֵיכֶ֔ם7 of 23

“after”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

וְהַ֨נָּכְרִ֔י8 of 23

“you and the stranger”

H5237

strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר9 of 23
H834

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

יָבֹ֖א10 of 23

“that shall come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הָאָ֤רֶץ11 of 23

“land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

רְחוֹקָ֑ה12 of 23

“from a far”

H7350

remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)

וְ֠רָאוּ13 of 23

“when they see”

H7200

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

אֶת14 of 23
H853

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

מַכּ֞וֹת15 of 23

“the plagues”

H4347

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

הָאָ֤רֶץ16 of 23

“land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

הַהִוא֙17 of 23
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְאֶת18 of 23
H853

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

תַּ֣חֲלֻאֶ֔יהָ19 of 23

“and the sicknesses”

H8463

a malady

אֲשֶׁר20 of 23
H834

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

חִלָּ֥ה21 of 23

“hath laid”

H2470

properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to stroke (in flattering), entreat

יְהוָ֖ה22 of 23

“which the LORD”

H3068

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

בָּֽהּ׃23 of 23
H0

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 29:22 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 29:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 19:8

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