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 28:51KJVWhat 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.