The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

DEUTERONOMY 28:27KJV
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Deuteronomy 28:27 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 28:27 mean?

Deuteronomy 28:27 warns that the LORD will strike the Israelites with painful and incurable diseases, including the "botch of Egypt," tumors, scabs, and itching skin conditions. This verse is part of a list of curses that would come upon Israel if they broke their covenant with God.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He is describing the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments, listing specific physical afflictions that were feared and recognized in the ancient world. The verse emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from God by highlighting suffering that cannot be healed by human means.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:27

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that these consequences come directly from Israel's covenant God, not from fate or chance.
  • botch (שְׁחִין, shechin): This word refers to a severe skin disease, often understood as boils or ulcers. The "botch of Egypt" recalls the plagues experienced in Egypt, connecting Israel’s potential punishment to past divine judgments.
  • emerods (עֹפֶל, ophel and טְחֹרִים, techorim): These terms refer to painful swellings or tumors, possibly hemorrhoids or similar afflictions. The use of two words suggests a range of painful, debilitating conditions.
  • canst (תוּכַל, tukhal) / healed (רָפָא, rapha): The verse stresses that these diseases are beyond human cure, highlighting the severity and divine origin of the punishment.

Why Deuteronomy 28:27 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the curses for disobedience are not just general misfortune but involve specific, recognizable diseases that would have been terrifying to the original audience.
  • The mention of incurable conditions underlines the seriousness of breaking the covenant, showing that some consequences would be beyond human help.
  • By referencing the "botch of Egypt," the verse connects Israel’s potential suffering to the plagues that struck Egypt, reminding the people that the same God who delivered them can also discipline them.