Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

DEUTERONOMY 28:38KJV
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Deuteronomy 28:38 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 28:38 mean?

Deuteronomy 28:38 warns that although the people will plant a large amount of seed in their fields, they will harvest only a small amount because locusts will eat most of the crop. This verse describes a curse of agricultural loss as a consequence for disobedience to God’s covenant.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He is listing the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience to God’s commands. Here, the focus is on the frustration and hardship of working hard in farming but seeing little result because of a locust plague, which was a real and devastating threat in the ancient world.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:38

  • "carry" (יָצָא, yatsa): This word means to go out or bring out. In this verse, it emphasizes the act of taking seed out to the field with the expectation of a good harvest.
  • "much" (רַב, rav): This word means "many" or "much." It highlights the large quantity of seed sown, showing the effort and hope invested.
  • "locust" (אַרְבֶּה, arbeh): This is the specific word for locust, a destructive insect known for devastating crops. Its mention makes clear that the loss is not accidental but caused by a natural disaster recognized in the region.
  • "consume" (חָסַל, chasal): This verb means to eat up or destroy. It stresses the totality of the loss—the locusts do not just damage the crops, but leave very little behind.

Why Deuteronomy 28:38 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the curse is not a lack of effort or skill, but the result of forces beyond human control, making the loss even more frustrating and discouraging.
  • Deuteronomy 28:38 connects to the broader theme of the chapter, where blessings and curses are tied directly to the people’s relationship with God and their obedience to His commands.
  • The verse highlights the vulnerability of ancient Israel’s agricultural society and how dependent they were on favorable conditions, reinforcing the seriousness of the covenant.

Where else these words appear

“locust” Hebrew H697 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
  • Judges 6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
  • Psalms 109:23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

“little” Hebrew H4592 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
  • 1 Samuel 14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
  • Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.