Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Fifth Sunday of Easter – A Women’s Lectionary

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I“If you will only obeyII theIII 

Notes on verse 1a

I {untranslated} = hayah. This is to be or become, to happen.
II “obey” = shama + shama. This is to hear, call, consent, or consider. It implies listening intelligently, giving attention, and, because of these two factors, obedience and action are often implied. The word is repeated twice – the first time as an Infinitive Absolute. The Infinitive Absolute serves to emphasize the sentiment of the word. It is rather like Foghorn Leghorn’s speech pattern, “I said, I said.”
III {untranslated} = qol. This is a sound, used often for human voices. Also used when God speaks or angels, animals or instruments. It can be a cry or a noise, thunder or earthquakes and so on.

LordIV your God,V by diligently observingVI

Notes on verse 1b

IV “Lord” = YHVH. Related to {untranslated} in v1. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (see note I above). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
V “God” = Elohim. From Eloah (God, a god); from El (God, a god). This is most commonly used as a name for God. Technically, it’s in the plural, i.e. gods. It can also mean great, mighty, judge, or ruler.
VI “diligently observing” = shamar + asah. Shamar is to keep, watch, or preserve. It means to guard something or to protect it as a thorny hedge protects something. Asah is to make, do, act, appoint, become in many senses.

allVII his commandmentsVIII that I am commandingIX you today,X

Notes on verse 1c

VII “all” = kol. From kalal (to complete). This is all or every.
VIII “commandments” = mitsvah. From tsavah (to charge, command, order, enjoin). This is a commandment, law, ordinance obligation, or tradition. It is something commanded whether by God or by a human authority. This term is sometimes used collectively to refer to the Law.
IX “commanding” = tsavah. Related to “commandments” in v1. See note VIII above.
X “today” = yom. Root may mean being hot. This is the day in a literal or figurative sense. It can also mean birth, age, daylight, continually or other references to time.

the Lord your God will setXI you highXII above all the nationsXIII of the earth;XIV 

Notes on verse 1d

XI “set” = natan. This is to give, put, set, offer. It is to give literally or figuratively.
XII “high” = elyon. From alah (to go up, ascend, be high, be a priority; to arise in a literal or figurative sense). This is most high, upper. It refers to elevation – so, lofty.
XIII “nations” = goy. From the same root as gevah (the back, person, or body); related to gev (among); related to gaah (to rise up). This is nation or people. Often used to refer to Gentiles or foreign nations. It can also be used figuratively for a group of animals. This is where the Yiddish “goy” comes from.
XIV “earth” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.

all these blessingsXV shall comeXVI upon you and overtakeXVII you, if you obey theXVIII Lord your God:

Notes on verse 2

XV “blessings” = barakah. From barak (to kneel, bless; blessing God as part of worship and adoration; blessing humans to help them; can be used as a euphemism to say curse God). This is blessing, which implies prosperity or peace.
XVI “come” = bo. This is to enter, come in, advance, fulfill, bring offerings, enter to worship, attack. It can also have a sexual connotation.
XVII “overtake” = nasag. This is to reach in a literal or figurative sense. It is to overtake, catch, or be able to.
XVIII {untranslated} = qol. Same as {untranslated} in v1. See note III above.

“Blessed shall you beXIX in the city,XX and blessed shall you be in the field.XXI

“Blessed shall be the fruitXXII of your womb,XXIII the fruit of your ground,XXIV

Notes on verses 3-4a

XIX “blessed…be” = barak. Related to “blessings” in v2. See note XV above.
XX “city” = iyr. From uwr (to awaken or wake oneself up). This can mean excitement in the sense of wakefulness or city. Properly, this is a place that is guarded. Guards kept schedules according to watches. This sense of the word would include cities as well as encampments or posts that were guarded.
XXI “field” = sadeh. This is literally field, ground, soil, or land. It can be used to mean wild like a wild animal.
XXII “fruit” = peri. From parah (to bear fruit, grow, be fruitful, increase; bearing fruit in a literal or figurative sense). This is fruit or reward.
XXIII “womb” = beten. Root may mean to be hollow. This is the belly or womb. It can also refer to a body more broadly.
XXIV “ground” = adamah. From the same as adam (man, humankind); perhaps from ‘adom (to be red). This is ground, earth, soil as red, or land.

and the fruit of your livestock,XXV both the increaseXXVI of your cattleXXVII and the issueXXVIII of your flock.XXIX

“Blessed shall be your basketXXX and your kneading bowl.XXXI

“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.XXXII

Notes on verses 4b-6

XXV “livestock” = behemah. This is animal or cattle. It is often used of large quadrupeds.
XXVI “increase” = sheger. 5x in OT. This may come from to eject. This is firstborn, increase, offspring.
XXVII “cattle” = eleph. 8x in OT. From alaph (to learn, speak, associate with). This is cattle, clan, family.
XXVIII “issue” = ashtaroth. 5x in OT. From ashath (to think) OR from ashar (to gain wealth, become rich, enrich; to accumulate). This is young, flock, issue.
XXIX “flock” = tson. This is a flock of sheep and goats.
XXX “basket” = tene. 4x in OT – all in Deuteronomy. May come from a word meaning to weave – a basket.
XXXI “kneading bowl” = mishereth. 4x in OT. Perhaps from shaar (properly, swelling up i.e. being left over; a remnant, remaining, being redundant). This is a trough used to knead or a location where dough is put to rise.
XXXII “go out” = yatsa. This is to go or come out, bring forth, appear. It is to go out in a literal or figurative sense.

“The Lord will causeXXXIII your enemiesXXXIV who riseXXXV against you to be defeatedXXXVI beforeXXXVII you;

Notes on verse 7a

XXXIII “cause” = natan. Same as “set” in v1. See note XI above.
XXXIV “enemies” = oyeb. From ayab (to hate or be hostile to). This is a foe or enemy as one that you are hostile to.
XXXV “rise” = qum. To arise, stand, accomplish, establish, abide. This is rising as in rising against, getting up after being sick or asleep, arising from one state to another, becoming powerful, or rising for action. It can also be standing in a figurative sense.
XXXVI “be defeated” = nagaph. This is to strike, beat, hurt, stumble, defeat, inflict disease.
XXXVII “before” = paneh. From panah (to turn, face, appear). This is face in a literal or figurative sense. It could be face, presence, anger, respect. It can also be used of God to indicate divine favor or presence.

they shall come outXXXVIII against you oneXXXIX wayXL

Notes on verse 7b

XXXVIII “come out” = yatsa. Same as “go out” in v6. See note XXXII above.
XXXIX “one” = echad. Perhaps from achad (to unify, continue on a path; figuratively, to gather one’s thoughts). This is the number one, first, united. It can also be alone, altogether, a certain, a few.
XL “way” = derek. From darak (to tread, march, to walk. Can also mean affixing a string to a box since one needs to step on it to bend it in the process; so also an archer). This is a road as a thing that is walked on. Can be used figuratively for the path that one’s life takes or how one chooses to live one’s life.

and fleeXLI beforeXLII you sevenXLIII ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barnsXLIV and in all that youXLV undertake;XLVI

Notes on verses 7c-8a

XLI “flee” = nus. This is to flee, vanish away, hide, escape, be displayed.
XLII “before” = paneh. Same as “before” in v7. See note XXXVII above.
XLIII “seven” = sheba. This is seven or by sevenfold. It can also be used to imply a week or an indefinite number. Symbolically, this is the number of fullness, sacredness, perfection.
XLIV “barns” = asam. 2x in OT. May come from a word meaning heap together. This is a storehouse or barn.
XLV “you” = yad. This is hand, ability, power. Hand in a literal sense, but also what one can do or the means by which one does it.
XLVI “undertake” = mishloach. 10x in OT. From shalach (to send, send for, forsake, give a slave freedom). This is a sending out, an undertaking, a putting forth.

he will bless you in the landXLVII that the Lord your God is givingXLVIII you. The Lord will establishXLIX you as his holyL people,LI

Notes on verses 8b-9a

XLVII “land” = erets. Same as “earth” in v1. See note XIV above.
XLVIII “giving” = natan. Same as “set” in v1. See note XI above.
XLIX “establish” = qum. Same as “rise” in v7. See note XXXV above.
L “holy” = qadosh. From qodesh (set apart and so sacred; God is different from us and so God is holy/set apart; things we dedicate to God’s service are set apart for God and so they, too, are holy); related to qadash (set apart, consecrated, hallowed, sanctified; something or someone set apart for a holy purpose or use – ceremonially or morally clean). This is sacred or holy in a ritual or moral sense. As a noun, it refers to a holy one (like a saint or angel), a holy place (the sanctuary), or God (the Holy One).
LI “people” = am. From amam (to darken, hide, associate; creating shadows by huddling together). This is people or nation. It can be used specifically for a tribe, collectively of troops or armies, or figuratively to refer to a flock of animals.

as he has swornLII to you, if you keepLIII the commandments of the Lord your God and walkLIV in his ways. 

Notes on verse 9b

LII “sworn” = shaba. Related to “seven” in v7. Perhaps from sheba (see note XLIII above). This is to swear, curse, vow, make a covenant. Properly, it can mean to be complete. This is to seven oneself – as in affirming something so strongly it is as though it were said seven times.
LIII “keep” = shamar. Same as “diligently observing” in v1. See note VI above.
LIV “walk” = halak. This is go, come, walk. It is walk literally and figuratively and includes people and animals. It can be used figuratively for one’s moral life – how we walk according to God’s way or against it. It can also refer to the walk of life as in the course one’s life takes, the choices we make, etc.

10 All the peoples of the earth shall seeLV that you are calledLVI by the nameLVII of the Lord, and they shall be afraidLVIII of you. 

Notes on verse 10

LV “see” = raah. This is to see in a literal or figurative sense so stare, advise, think, view.
LVI “called” = qara. This is to call or call out – to call someone by name. Also used more broadly for calling forth.
LVII “name” = shem. May be from sum (to put, place, set). This is name, fame, renown. A name was thought to indicate something essential about a person – something about their individuality. So, this word can also mean honor, authority, or character.
LVIII “be afraid” = yare. This is to fear, be afraid, dreadful. It can also refer to fearful reverence – to fear in a moral sense is to say to revere, respect.

11 The Lord will make you aboundLIX in prosperity,LX in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the landLXI that the Lord swore to your ancestorsLXII to give you. 

Notes on verse 11

LIX “make…abound” = yathar. This is to jut over, remain behind, preserve, to excel. It can be to leave or to be in abundance.
LX “prosperity” = tob. From tob (to be pleasing, to be good). This is good, beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, bountiful, at ease. This word is used for goodness as a concept, a good thing, a good person. This can refer to prosperity and welfare as well as joy, kindness, sweetness, and graciousness. So, this is ethically good, but also enjoyably good.
LXI “land” = adamah. Same as “ground” in v1. See note XXIV above.
LXII “ancestors” = ab. This is father, chief, or ancestor. It is father in a literal or figurative sense.

12 The Lord will openLXIII for you his richLXIV storehouse,LXV the heavens,LXVI to give the rain of your landLXVII

Notes on verse 12a

LXIII “open” = pathach. This is to open wide in a literal or figurative sense. So, it is open, draw out, let something go free, break forth. It can also mean to plow, engrave, or carve.
LXIV “rich” = tob. Same as “prosperity” in v11. See note LX above.
LXV “storehouse” = otsar. From atsar (to store up, hoard). This is treasure or the place where one keeps treasure – a depository, storehouse, armory, cellar.
LXVI “heavens” = shamayim. Root may mean being lofty. This is sky, the air, or heaven. It is in a dual noun form so this might refer to the part of the sky where the clouds move on the one hand and the part beyond that where the sun, moon, and stars are on the other hand.
LXVII “land” = erets. Same as “earth” in v1. See note XIV above.

in its seasonLXVIII and to bless all your undertakings.LXIX You will lendLXX

Notes on verse 12b

LXVIII “season” = eth. Probably from anah (to answer, sing, announce); from ad (forever, all, old); from adah (to pass on, advance, decorate oneself). This is a period or season. It can also mean whenever or continually.
LXIX “undertakings” = maaseh + yad. Literally, “work of your hand.” Maaseh is related to “diligently observing” in v1. From asah (see note VI above). This is a work – any action whether positive or negative. It can also be a transaction, construction, activity, property, or something that is produced. Yad is the same as “you” in v8. See note XLV above.
LXX “lend” = lavah. This is to join, abide with, borrow. Properly, it means to twine, which gives it the sense of joining or uniting. It can also mean to remain or borrow/lend as joining an obligation to another. This root may be where the name/tribe Levi comes from.

to manyLXXI nations, but you will not borrow.LXXII 13 The Lord will makeLXXIII you the headLXXIV and not the tail;LXXV

Notes on verses 12c-13a

LXXI “many” = rab. From rabab (increasing in any aspect whether quantity, authority, size, quality, greatness, etc.). This is abundance, many, elder, exceedingly, great. It refers to abundance of amount, rank, or status.
LXXII “borrow” = lavah. Same as “lend” in v12. See note LXX above.
LXXIII “make” = natan. Same as “set” in v1. See note XI above.
LXXIV “head” = rosh. This may come a word that means to shake. It is the head, captain, or chief. It can also be excellent or the forefront. It can be first in position or in statue or in time (i.e. the beginning).
LXXV “tail” = zanab. 11x in OT. Perhaps from zanb (to curtail, cut a tail off, attack from behind; perhaps from a word meaning to wag). This is a tail or stub – in a literal or figurative sense.

you shall beLXXVI onlyLXXVII at the topLXXVIII and notLXXIX at the bottomLXXX—if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today by diligently observing them, 

Notes on verse 13b

LXXVI “be” = hayah. Same as {untranslated} in v1. See note I above.
LXXVII “only” = raq. From the same as raq (thin, surely, only); perhaps from raqaq (to spit). This is but, except, at least. In the sense of being thin, it figuratively refers to some kind of limit.
LXXVIII “top” = maal. From alah (see note XII above). This is the upper part, forward, high above, upwards, greater, heaven, or exceedingly.
LXXIX {untranslated} = hayah. Same as {untranslated} in v1. See note I above.
LXXX “bottom” = mattah. 19x in OT. From natah (to stretch or spread out, extend, bend). This is downwards, bottom, under, lower.

14 and if you do not turn asideLXXXI from anyLXXXII of the wordsLXXXIII that I am commanding you today, either to the rightLXXXIV or to the left,LXXXV

Notes on verse 14a

LXXXI “turn aside” = sur. This is to turn aside in a literal or figurative sense – to depart, decline, rebel, remove, or withdraw.
LXXXII “any” = kol. Same as “all” in v1. See note VII above.
LXXXIII “words” = dabar. From dabar (to speak, declare, discuss). This is speech, a word, a matter, an affair, charge, command, message, promise, purpose, report, request. It is a word, which implies things that are spoken of in a wide sense.
LXXXIV “right” = yamin. May be from yamam (to go or choose the right, use the right hand; to be physically fit or firm). This can mean right hand, right side, or south. Since most people are right-handed, the metaphorical usage of this word presumes that the right hand is stronger and more agile. Thus, it is the instrument of power and action.
LXXXV “left” = semol. Perhaps from the same as simlah (mantle, clothes, wrapper); perhaps from semel (image, figure, likeness). This is left, left side, or north as the part that is dark.

followingLXXXVI otherLXXXVII godsLXXXVIII to serveLXXXIX them.

Notes on verse 14b

LXXXVI “following” = halak + achar. Halak is the same as “walk” in v9. See note LIV above. Achar is from achar (to remain behind, linger, continue, be behind, or delay; can also imply procrastination). This is after or the last part, following.
LXXXVII “other” = acher. Related to “following” in v14. From achar (see note LXXXVI above). This is following, next, strange, other.
LXXXVIII “gods” = elohim. Same as “God” in v1. See note V above.
LXXXIX “serve” = abad. This is to work, serve, or compel. It can describe any kind of work or service (including religious devotion).  Also, till or cultivate. Used causatively, it can mean to enslave or keep in bondage.


Image credit: “Moses and the Face of God” by Shawna Bowman, 2009.

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