The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:62 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:62

KJV: And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

YLT: and ye have been left with few men, instead of which ye have been as stars of the heavens for multitude, because thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah thy God.

Darby: And ye shall be left a small company, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah thy God.

ASV: And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And ye shall be left  few  in number,  whereas  ye were as the stars  of heaven  for multitude;  because thou wouldest not obey  the voice  of the LORD  thy God. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:62 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 28:62 mean?

And You shall be left in number few whereas whereas you were as stars of the heaven in multitude because not you would obey the voice of Yahweh your God
וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ בִּמְתֵ֣י מְעָ֔ט תַּ֚חַת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱיִיתֶ֔ם כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָרֹ֑ב כִּי־ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙  And  You  shall  be  left 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
בִּמְתֵ֣י  in  number 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹת 
Sense: male, man.
מְעָ֔ט  few 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
תַּ֚חַת  whereas 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whereas 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הֱיִיתֶ֔ם  you  were 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥י  as  stars 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: כֹּוכָב  
Sense: star.
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם  of  the  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
לָרֹ֑ב  in  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ  you  would  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּק֖וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
יְהוָ֥ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).