The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:27 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:27

KJV: The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

YLT: 'Jehovah doth smite thee with the ulcer of Egypt, and with emerods, and with scurvy, and with itch, of which thou art not able to be healed.

Darby: Jehovah will smite thee with the ulcers of Egypt, and with boils, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

ASV: Jehovah will smite thee with the boil of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scurvy, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  will smite  thee with the botch  of Egypt,  and with the emerods,  and with the scab,  and with the itch,  whereof thou canst  not be healed. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:27 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 28:27 mean?

Will strike you Yahweh with the boils of Egypt - with tumors and with the scab and with the itch from which cannot you be healed
יַכְּכָ֨ה יְהוָ֜ה בִּשְׁחִ֤ין מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ [ובעפלים] (וּבַטְּחֹרִ֔ים) וּבַגָּרָ֖ב וּבֶחָ֑רֶס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵרָפֵֽא

יַכְּכָ֨ה  Will  strike  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בִּשְׁחִ֤ין  with  the  boils 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁחִין  
Sense: boil, inflamed spot, inflammation, eruption.
מִצְרַ֙יִם֙  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
[ובעפלים]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
(וּבַטְּחֹרִ֔ים)  with  tumors 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֹפֶל  
Sense: hill, mound, fort, stronghold, Ophel.
וּבַגָּרָ֖ב  and  with  the  scab 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּרָב  
Sense: itch, scab.
וּבֶחָ֑רֶס  and  with  the  itch 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶס 
Sense: itch, an eruptive disease.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  from  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לֹא־  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לְהֵרָפֵֽא  be  healed 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.