The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:64 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:64

KJV: And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

YLT: and Jehovah hath scattered thee among all the peoples, from the end of the earth even unto the end of the earth; and thou hast served there other gods which thou hast not known, thou and thy fathers -- wood and stone.

Darby: And Jehovah will scatter thee among all peoples, from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; and thou shalt there serve other gods, whom thou hast not known, neither thou nor thy fathers, wood and stone.

ASV: And Jehovah will scatter thee among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers, even wood and stone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  shall scatter  thee among all people,  from the one end  of the earth  even unto the other;  and there thou shalt serve  other  gods,  which neither thou nor thy fathers  have known,  [even] wood  and stone. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:64 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 28:64 mean?

And will scatter you Yahweh among all peoples from one end of the earth and to the other of the earth and you shall serve there gods other which neither have known you nor your fathers wood and stone
וֶהֱפִֽיצְךָ֤ יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־ הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ וְעַד־ קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעָבַ֨דְתָּ שָּׁ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־ יָדַ֛עְתָּ אַתָּ֥ה וַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן

וֶהֱפִֽיצְךָ֤  And  will  scatter  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּכָל־  among  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים  peoples 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מִקְצֵ֥ה  from  one  end 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָצֶה 
Sense: end, extremity.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְעַד־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
קְצֵ֣ה  the  other 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָצֶה 
Sense: end, extremity.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְעָבַ֨דְתָּ  and  you  shall  serve 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲחֵרִ֗ים  other 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
לֹא־  neither 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדַ֛עְתָּ  have  known 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ  nor  your  fathers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
עֵ֥ץ  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
וָאָֽבֶן  and  stone 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).