The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:43 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:43

KJV: The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.

YLT: the sojourner who is in thy midst goeth up above thee very high, and thou goest down very low;

Darby: The sojourner that is in thy midst shall rise above thee higher and higher, and thou shalt sink down lower and lower.

ASV: The sojourner that is in the midst of thee shall mount up above thee higher and higher; and thou shalt come down lower and lower.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The stranger  that [is] within  thee shall get up  above thee very  high;  and thou shalt come down  very  low. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:43 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 28:43 mean?

The alien who [is] among you shall rise higher above you above and higher and you shall come down lower and lower
הַגֵּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֔ יַעֲלֶ֥ה עָלֶ֖יךָ מַ֣עְלָה מָּ֑עְלָה וְאַתָּ֥ה תֵרֵ֖ד מַ֥טָּה מָּֽטָּה

הַגֵּר֙  The  alien 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  who  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּקִרְבְּךָ֔  among  you 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
יַעֲלֶ֥ה  shall  rise  higher 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
עָלֶ֖יךָ  above  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַ֣עְלָה  above 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
מָּ֑עְלָה  and  higher 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וְאַתָּ֥ה  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תֵרֵ֖ד  shall  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
מַ֥טָּה  lower 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מַטָּה  
Sense: downwards, below.
מָּֽטָּה  and  lower 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מַטָּה  
Sense: downwards, below.