The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:20 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:20

KJV: The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

YLT: Jehovah doth send on thee the curse, the trouble, and the rebuke, in every putting forth of thy hand which thou dost, till thou art destroyed, and till thou perish hastily, because of the evil of thy doings by which thou hast forsaken Me.

Darby: Jehovah will send upon thee cursing, confusion, and rebuke, in all the business of thy hand which thou doest, until thou be destroyed and until thou perish quickly, because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

ASV: Jehovah will send upon thee cursing, discomfiture, and rebuke, in all that thou puttest thy hand unto to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the evil of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  shall send  upon thee cursing,  vexation,  and rebuke,  in all that thou settest  thine hand  unto for to do,  until thou be destroyed,  and until thou perish  quickly;  because  of the wickedness  of thy doings,  whereby thou hast forsaken  me. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:20 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 28:20 mean?

Will send Yahweh on you - cursing confusion and rebuke in all that you set your hand to for to do until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me
יְשַׁלַּ֣ח יְהוָ֣ה ׀ בְּ֠ךָ אֶת־ הַמְּאֵרָ֤ה הַמְּהוּמָה֙ וְאֶת־ הַמִּגְעֶ֔רֶת בְּכָל־ מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה עַ֣ד הִשָּֽׁמֶדְךָ֤ וְעַד־ אֲבָדְךָ֙ מַהֵ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֛י רֹ֥עַ מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲזַבְתָּֽנִי

יְשַׁלַּ֣ח  Will  send 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יְהוָ֣ה ׀  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּ֠ךָ  on  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
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.
הַמְּאֵרָ֤ה  cursing 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְאֵרָה  
Sense: curse.
הַמְּהוּמָה֙  confusion 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְהוּמָה  
Sense: tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture, destruction, trouble, vexed, vexation.
הַמִּגְעֶ֔רֶת  rebuke 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִגְעֶרֶת  
Sense: rebuke, reproof.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִשְׁלַ֥ח  that  you  set 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹוחַ 
Sense: outstretching, sending, sending forth.
יָדְךָ֖  your  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  to  for 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עַ֣ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הִשָּֽׁמֶדְךָ֤  you  are  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
וְעַד־  and  until 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֲבָדְךָ֙  you  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
מַהֵ֔ר  quickly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מַהֵר  
Sense: hurrying, speedy, swift, hastening adv.
מִפְּנֵ֛י  because 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
רֹ֥עַ  of  the  wickedness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹעַ  
Sense: badness, evil.
מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ  of  your  doings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲלִיל 
Sense: deed, practice.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֲזַבְתָּֽנִי  you  have  forsaken  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.