The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:29 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:29

KJV: And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

YLT: and thou hast been gropling at noon, as the blind gropeth in darkness; and thou dost not cause thy ways to prosper; and thou hast been only oppressed and plundered all the days, and there is no saviour.

Darby: and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways; and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled continually, and there shall be none to save.

ASV: and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and robbed alway, and there shall be none to save thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt grope  at noonday,  as the blind  gropeth  in darkness,  and thou shalt not prosper  in thy ways:  and thou shalt be only oppressed  and spoiled  evermore,  and no man shall save  [thee]. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:29 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 28:20-46 - The Fearful Results Of Disobedience
If we compare this chapter with Exodus 23:20-23 and Leviticus 26:1-46, we shall see how Moses resumes and amplifies the promises and threatenings already set forth in the earlier editions of the Law. The blessings are declared in fourteen verses, while the curses require four times as much space. This is due to God's eagerness that men should be warned from courses that injure, and shut up to those that lead to blessedness. Note the language, which rises to the sublimest level, especially in the latter part. The forecasts of the dispersion and the degradation of the Hebrew people are especially remarkable.
It is not only that God goes out of His way to reward the obedient and to punish the ungodly, but these rewards and punishments are part of the nature of things, just as fire stings and burns, when we transgress its laws, but blesses when we obey. If we are at one with God, through Jesus Christ, we are at one with the universe. But if not, "the stars in their courses" fight against us. See Judges 5:20; 1 Corinthians 3:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 28

1  The blessings for obedience
15  The curses for disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 28:29 mean?

and you shall grope at noonday as gropes a blind man in darkness and not you shall prosper - in your ways and you shall be only oppressed and plundered ever continually and no one shall save [you]
וְהָיִ֜יתָ מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֗יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ הָעִוֵּר֙ בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחַ אֶת־ דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ וְהָיִ֜יתָ אַ֣ךְ עָשׁ֧וּק וְגָז֛וּל כָּל־ הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֵ֥ין מוֹשִֽׁיעַ

וְהָיִ֜יתָ  and  you  shall 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ  grope 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁשׁ  
Sense: to feel, grope.
בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֗יִם  at  noonday 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, md
Root: צֹהַר 
Sense: noon, midday.
יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ  gropes 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁשׁ  
Sense: to feel, grope.
הָעִוֵּר֙  a  blind  man 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עִוֵּר  
Sense: blind.
בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה  in  darkness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲפֵלָה  
Sense: darkness, gloominess, calamity.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תַצְלִ֖יחַ  you  shall  prosper 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָלַח 
Sense: (Qal) to rush.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ  in  your  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְהָיִ֜יתָ  and  you  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אַ֣ךְ  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
עָשׁ֧וּק  oppressed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.
וְגָז֛וּל  and  plundered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: גָּזַל  
Sense: to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force.
כָּל־  ever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַיָּמִ֖ים  continually 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וְאֵ֥ין  and  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מוֹשִֽׁיעַ  shall  save  [you] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.