The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

DEUTERONOMY 28:56KJV
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Deuteronomy 28:56 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 28:56 mean?

Deuteronomy 28:56 describes a woman in Israel who is so gentle and refined that she would not even let her bare foot touch the ground, but in times of extreme hardship, she will become harsh and selfish even toward her closest family. This is part of a warning about the severe consequences that will come upon the people if they turn away from God’s covenant.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, listing the curses that will follow disobedience to God’s commands. This verse paints a vivid picture of how dire the situation will become: even those who are naturally kind and delicate will be driven to desperate, unthinkable behavior toward their own loved ones. The verse uses strong imagery to show the complete reversal of normal compassion and family bonds in a time of national crisis.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:56

  • "Tender" (רַךְ, rakh, H7390) and "delicate" (עָנֹג, anog, H6028) both describe someone who is gentle, sensitive, and unaccustomed to hardship. The verse emphasizes just how far removed this woman is from rough living, making her later behavior even more shocking.
  • "Adventure" (נָסָה, nasah, H5254) means to try or dare. The verse says she would not even dare to let her foot touch the ground, highlighting her extreme delicacy.
  • "Evil" (רַע, ra, H3415) as in "her eye shall be evil" often means looking with hostility, jealousy, or selfishness. Here, it shows a complete breakdown of natural affection, as she turns against her own husband and children.

Why Deuteronomy 28:56 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that only the strong or aggressive would act harshly in desperate times; it shows that even the most gentle can be changed by severe suffering.
  • The verse emphasizes the total reversal of normal life and values that will come with the covenant curses, making the warning more vivid and personal.
  • It connects to the wider passage by showing that the consequences of disobedience will affect every part of society, including the most protected and refined individuals.

Where else these words appear

“delicate” Hebrew H6028 · used in 3 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:54 So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
  • Isaiah 47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

“delicateness” Hebrew H6026 · used in 10 verses

  • Job 22:26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
  • Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
  • Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

“tender” Hebrew H7390 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 18:7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
  • 2 Samuel 3:39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
  • Proverbs 4:3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

“set” Hebrew H3322 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
  • Judges 6:37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.