The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:25 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:25

KJV: The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

YLT: 'Jehovah giveth thee smitten before thine enemies; in one way thou goest out unto them, and in seven ways dost flee before them, and thou hast been for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth;

Darby: Jehovah will give thee up smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out against them one way, and by seven ways shalt thou flee before them; and thou shalt be driven hither and thither into all the kingdoms of the earth.

ASV: Jehovah will cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out one way against them, and shalt flee seven ways before them: and thou shalt be tossed to and from among all the kingdoms of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  shall cause  thee to be smitten  before  thine enemies:  thou shalt go out  one  way  against them, and flee  seven  ways  before  them: and shalt be removed  into all the kingdoms  of the earth. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:25 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 28:25 mean?

Will cause you Yahweh to be defeated before your enemies way one you shall go out against them and seven ways flee before them and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth
יִתֶּנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ נִגָּף֮ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֶיךָ֒ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים תָּנ֣וּס לְפָנָ֑יו וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְזַעֲוָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ

יִתֶּנְךָ֨  Will  cause  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֥ה ׀  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
נִגָּף֮  to  be  defeated 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַף  
Sense: to strike, smite.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֹיְבֶיךָ֒  your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
אֶחָד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
תֵּצֵ֣א  you  shall  go  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֵלָ֔יו  against  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה  and  seven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
דְרָכִ֖ים  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
תָּנ֣וּס  flee 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
לְפָנָ֑יו  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לְזַעֲוָ֔ה  you  shall  become  troublesome 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: זַעֲוָה  
Sense: a horror, trembling, object of terror or trembling.
לְכֹ֖ל  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַמְלְכ֥וֹת  the  kingdoms 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
הָאָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.