And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

DEUTERONOMY 28:51KJV
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Deuteronomy 28:51 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 28:51 mean?

Deuteronomy 28:51 warns that foreign invaders will consume all the produce and livestock of the Israelites, leaving them with nothing to eat or use, until they are completely ruined. The verse lists specific staples—grain, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep—that will be taken away, emphasizing total loss and devastation.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the people of Israel, explaining the consequences if they break their covenant with God. The situation described is one of siege or occupation, where outsiders take over the land and strip it of its resources. The verse is part of a longer section outlining the curses that will come upon Israel if they turn away from God's commands.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:51

  • "Eat" (אָכַל, 'akal, H398) means to consume or devour. Here, it stresses that the invaders will not just take a little, but will completely consume what belongs to Israel.
  • "Fruit" (פְּרִי, peri, H6529) refers to both the produce of the land and the offspring of livestock. This highlights that both crops and animals—everything that sustains life—will be taken.
  • "Destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad, H8045) and "destroyed" (אָבַד, 'avad, H6) are both used, intensifying the sense of total ruin. The repetition underscores that the loss is not partial or temporary, but complete.
  • "Leave" (שָׁאַר, sha'ar, H7604) means to spare or leave behind. The verse promises that nothing—neither grain, wine, oil, cattle, nor sheep—will be spared, pointing to utter desolation.

Why Deuteronomy 28:51 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the consequences of disobedience are not just spiritual or abstract, but deeply practical—affecting food, livelihood, and survival.
  • The detailed list of resources (grain, wine, oil, cattle, sheep) shows the completeness of the loss, making the warning more vivid and personal to an ancient audience.
  • Deuteronomy 28:51 fits into a larger pattern in the chapter, where blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience are laid out in concrete terms, helping the people understand the seriousness of their covenant with God.

Where else these words appear

“flocks” Hebrew H6251 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
  • Deuteronomy 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
  • Deuteronomy 28:18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

“increase” Hebrew H7698 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 13:12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.
  • Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
  • Deuteronomy 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

“kine” Hebrew H504 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
  • Deuteronomy 28:18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
  • Psalms 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

“oil” Hebrew H3323 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
  • Jeremiah 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.