The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:7 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:7

KJV: The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

YLT: Jehovah giveth thine enemies, who are rising up against thee -- smitten before thy face; in one way they come out unto thee, and in seven ways they flee before thee.

Darby: Jehovah will give up, smitten before thee, thine enemies that rise up against thee; they shall come out against thee one way, and by seven ways shall they flee before thee.

ASV: Jehovah will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee: they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  shall cause  thine enemies  that rise up  against thee to be smitten  before thy face:  they shall come out  against thee one  way,  and flee  before  thee seven  ways. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 28:1-19 - Blessings Upon The Obedient
A remarkable chapter! The epitome of what Israel might have been, contrasted with what she became! It is on account of the transgressions that the centuries have augmented her sum of misery. Oh, that we may never have to lament what we might have been!
These opening verses contain the Beatitudes of the Old Testament. They have their counterparts in the New. Remember that God bends over your life, rejoicing to do you good, and finding pleasure in whatever may enrich your life or flow through it to enrich others. Ask especially that in His great power and grace He shall smite your enemies before you, and establish you unto himself, and open to you His good treasure. If you are in Christ, all things are yours. Possess your possessions, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22; Obadiah 1:17; Obadiah 1:19-20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 28

1  The blessings for obedience
15  The curses for disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 28:7 mean?

Will cause Yahweh - your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face way one they shall come out against you and seven ways flee before you
יִתֵּ֨ן יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־ אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ הַקָּמִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ נִגָּפִ֖ים לְפָנֶ֑יךָ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ יֵצְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים יָנ֥וּסוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ

יִתֵּ֨ן  Will  cause 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֤ה  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.
אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙  your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
הַקָּמִ֣ים  who  rise 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עָלֶ֔יךָ  against  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.
נִגָּפִ֖ים  to  be  defeated 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָגַף  
Sense: to strike, smite.
לְפָנֶ֑יךָ  before  your  face 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
אֶחָד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
יֵצְא֣וּ  they  shall  come  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֵלֶ֔יךָ  against  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה  and  seven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
דְרָכִ֖ים  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
יָנ֥וּסוּ  flee 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
לְפָנֶֽיךָ  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.