The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:38 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:38

KJV: Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

YLT: 'Much seed thou dost take out into the field, and little thou dost gather in, for the locust doth consume it;

Darby: Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather little in; for the locust shall devour it.

ASV: Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather little in; for the locust shall consume it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt carry  much  seed  out  into the field,  and shalt gather  [but] little  in;  for the locust  shall consume  it. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:38 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 28:38 mean?

Seed much You shall carry out to the field but little gather in for shall consume it the locust
זֶ֥רַע רַ֖ב תּוֹצִ֣יא הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּמְעַ֣ט תֶּאֱסֹ֔ף כִּ֥י יַחְסְלֶ֖נּוּ הָאַרְבֶּֽה

זֶ֥רַע  Seed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
רַ֖ב  much 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
תּוֹצִ֣יא  You  shall  carry  out  to 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וּמְעַ֣ט  but  little 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
תֶּאֱסֹ֔ף  gather  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
יַחְסְלֶ֖נּוּ  shall  consume  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: חָסַל  
Sense: (Qal) to consume, finish off, bring to an end.
הָאַרְבֶּֽה  the  locust 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְבֶּה  
Sense: a kind of locust, locust swarm (coll).