The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:59 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:59

KJV: Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

YLT: then hath Jehovah made wonderful thy strokes, and the strokes of thy seed -- great strokes, and stedfast, and evil sicknesses, and stedfast.

Darby: then Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, great and persistent plagues and evil and persistent sicknesses;

ASV: then Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the LORD  will make  thy plagues  wonderful,  and the plagues  of thy seed,  [even] great  plagues,  and of long continuance,  and sore  sicknesses,  and of long continuance. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:59 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 28:59 mean?

then will bring extraordinary Yahweh - plagues upon you and the plagues your descendants plagues great and prolonged serious and prolonged sicknesses
וְהִפְלָ֤א יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ מַכֹּ֣תְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת מַכּ֣וֹת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ מַכּ֤וֹת גְּדֹלוֹת֙ וְנֶ֣אֱמָנ֔וֹת וָחֳלָיִ֥ם רָעִ֖ים וְנֶאֱמָנִֽים

וְהִפְלָ֤א  then  will  bring  extraordinary 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּלָא  
Sense: to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַכֹּ֣תְךָ֔  plagues  upon  you 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַכָּה  
Sense: blow, wound, slaughter.
מַכּ֣וֹת  the  plagues 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַכָּה  
Sense: blow, wound, slaughter.
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ  your  descendants 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
מַכּ֤וֹת  plagues 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַכָּה  
Sense: blow, wound, slaughter.
גְּדֹלוֹת֙  great 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
וָחֳלָיִ֥ם  prolonged 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֳלִי  
Sense: sickness.
רָעִ֖ים  serious 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וְנֶאֱמָנִֽים  and  prolonged  sicknesses 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.