And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

DEUTERONOMY 11:17KJV
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Deuteronomy 11:17 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 11:17 mean?

Deuteronomy 11:17 warns that if the Israelites turn away from God, His anger will result in shutting up the heavens so there is no rain, causing the land to stop producing crops, and leading to their quick destruction from the good land God has given them. The verse describes a direct link between the people's faithfulness and the land's fruitfulness.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. He is explaining the consequences of disobedience to God's commands, making it clear that their well-being in the land depends on their relationship with God. The warning is practical: without rain, which was essential for survival in ancient Israel, the people would not be able to live in the land.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 11:17

  • "wrath" (אַף, ʾaf): This word often means anger or nose (as in flaring nostrils), and here it emphasizes the intensity of God's displeasure, not just a mild annoyance.
  • "shut up" (עָצַר, ʿatsar): This verb means to restrain or hold back, and in this context, it describes God actively preventing rain from falling, not just a natural drought.
  • "rain" (מָטָר, matar): Rain was the main source of water for crops in Israel, so withholding it was a severe and unmistakable sign of divine judgment.
  • "perish" (אָבַד, ʾavad): This word means to be destroyed or lost, highlighting that the consequence is not just hardship, but the potential loss of the land and even life.

Why Deuteronomy 11:17 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel's prosperity in the land was not automatic or unconditional; it depended on their ongoing loyalty to God.
  • The warning about rain connects to the agricultural reality of ancient Israel, where rain was life-sustaining and its absence would quickly lead to crisis.
  • Deuteronomy 11:17 fits into a larger pattern in the book, where blessings and curses are set before the people, showing that their choices have real, tangible consequences.

Where else these words appear

“fruit” Hebrew H2981 · used in 13 verses

  • Leviticus 26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
  • Job 20:28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
  • Ezekiel 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

“quickly” Hebrew H4120 · used in 20 verses

  • Numbers 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
  • 2 Samuel 17:16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
  • Psalms 147:15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

“rain” Hebrew H4306 · used in 36 verses

  • Exodus 9:33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
  • 1 Kings 8:35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
  • Job 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

“up” Hebrew H6113 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
  • 1 Kings 14:10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.