The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:54 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:54

KJV: So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

YLT: The man who is tender in thee, and who is very delicate -- his eye is evil against his brother, and against the wife of his bosom, and against the remnant of his sons whom he leaveth,

Darby: The eye of the man in thy midst that is tender and very luxurious shall be evil towards his brother, and the wife of his bosom, and the residue of his children which he hath left;

ASV: The man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children whom he hath remaining;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[So that] the man  [that is] tender  among you, and very  delicate,  his eye  shall be evil  toward his brother,  and toward the wife  of his bosom,  and toward the remnant  of his children  which he shall leave: 

What does Deuteronomy 28:54 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 28:47-68 - The Bitter Fruits Of Disobeying God
These predictions against the Hebrew people were partially fulfilled in earlier invasions, as for instance, those of Nebuchadnezzar and his generals; but it is to the Roman conquest of Judea that we must look for complete fulfillment. One only needs to compare these words with the narrative of Josephus to see the exact accomplishment which took place during the wars of Vespasian and Titus. The Jews themselves admit this. Deuteronomy 28:68 was literally fulfilled when Titus transported myriads of Jews to Egypt to be employed in the public works or to fight in the amphitheater.
But if the punishments have been so heavily suffered during these weary centuries, what shall not be the joy when the Lord shall bring back His people to their own land, and all Israel shall be saved! What is this new Euphrates Valley railway but the preparing of the road for their return from the Eastern portions of the world! In the near future, our children, if not we, shall see a fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-22; Isaiah 61:1-11. See Acts 3:19-20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 28

1  The blessings for obedience
15  The curses for disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 28:54 mean?

The man sensitive among you and refined very will begrudge his eye his brother and toward the wife of his bosom and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind
הָאִישׁ֙ הָרַ֣ךְ בְּךָ֔ וְהֶעָנֹ֖ג מְאֹ֑ד תֵּרַ֨ע עֵינ֤וֹ בְאָחִיו֙ וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת חֵיק֔וֹ וּבְיֶ֥תֶר בָּנָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹתִֽיר

הָאִישׁ֙  The  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָרַ֣ךְ  sensitive 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַךְ  
Sense: tender, soft, delicate, weak.
בְּךָ֔  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
וְהֶעָנֹ֖ג  and  refined 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָנׄג  
Sense: dainty, delicate.
מְאֹ֑ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
תֵּרַ֨ע  will  begrudge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
עֵינ֤וֹ  his  eye 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
בְאָחִיו֙  his  brother 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת  and  toward  the  wife 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
חֵיק֔וֹ  of  his  bosom 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֹוק 
Sense: bosom, hollow, bottom, midst.
וּבְיֶ֥תֶר  and  toward  the  rest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יֶתֶר 
Sense: .
בָּנָ֖יו  of  his  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יוֹתִֽיר  he  leaves  behind 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַר  
Sense: to be left over, remain, remain over, leave.