The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:30 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:30

KJV: Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

YLT: 'A woman thou dost betroth, and another man doth lie with her; a house thou dost build, and dost not dwell in it; a vineyard thou dost plant, and dost not make it common;

Darby: Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her; thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein; thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not eat of it.

ASV: Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt betroth  a wife,  and another  man  shall lie  {08675;07693:08799} with her: thou shalt build  an house,  and thou shalt not dwell  therein: thou shalt plant  a vineyard,  and shalt not gather the grapes  thereof. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:30 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 28:30 mean?

A wife You shall betroth but man another - shall lie with her a house you shall build but not you shall dwell in it a vineyard you shall plant but not shall gather its grapes
אִשָּׁ֣ה תְאָרֵ֗שׂ וְאִ֤ישׁ אַחֵר֙ [ישגלנה] (יִשְׁכָּבֶ֔נָּה) בַּ֥יִת תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְלֹא־ תֵשֵׁ֣ב בּ֑וֹ כֶּ֥רֶם תִּטַּ֖ע וְלֹ֥א תְחַלְּלֶּֽנּוּ‪‬‪‬

אִשָּׁ֣ה  A  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
תְאָרֵ֗שׂ  You  shall  betroth 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָרַשׂ  
Sense: to betroth, engage.
וְאִ֤ישׁ  but  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אַחֵר֙  another 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
[ישגלנה]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
(יִשְׁכָּבֶ֔נָּה)  shall  lie  with  her 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁגַל  
Sense: to violate, ravish.
בַּ֥יִת  a  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
תִּבְנֶ֖ה  you  shall  build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
וְלֹא־  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תֵשֵׁ֣ב  you  shall  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בּ֑וֹ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
כֶּ֥רֶם  a  vineyard 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּרֶם 
Sense: vineyard.
תִּטַּ֖ע  you  shall  plant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָטַע  
Sense: to plant, fasten, fix, establish.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תְחַלְּלֶּֽנּוּ‪‬‪‬  shall  gather  its  grapes 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.