And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
DEUTERONOMY 28:57KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 28:57 mean?
Deuteronomy 28:57 describes a mother in such desperate hunger during a siege that she secretly eats her own newborn and children, showing the extreme suffering that will come upon the people if they break God’s covenant. The verse uses shocking imagery to warn of the horrifying consequences of disobedience.
Moses is speaking to the Israelites, warning them about what will happen if they do not follow God’s commands. The verse is part of a longer section listing curses that will come upon the nation if they turn away from God, specifically describing the horrors of a city under siege, where even the most natural bonds and instincts are broken by starvation and distress.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:57
- siege (מָצוֹר, matsor): This word refers to a military blockade or encirclement. Its use here highlights the total isolation and pressure the people would face, making normal life—and even basic survival—impossible.
- straitness (מְצוּקָה, metsukah): This term means extreme distress or hardship. The verse pairs it with "siege" to emphasize that the suffering is not just physical but also emotional and psychological.
- secretly (בַּסֵּתֶר, baseter): This word means "in secret" or "hidden." It shows the shame and horror of the act, as the mother hides what she is forced to do even from those closest to her.
- eat (אָכַל, akhal): This is the ordinary word for eating, but here it is used in a shocking context, underlining the unnatural and desperate actions caused by extreme famine.
Why Deuteronomy 28:57 matters
- Deuteronomy 28:57 clears up any idea that the curses for disobedience are mild or symbolic; the language is meant to be graphic and literal, showing the real historical horrors that can result from siege warfare.
- The verse emphasizes how dire the consequences of breaking the covenant can be, even to the point of destroying the most basic human relationships and instincts.
- This verse connects to the larger passage by showing the seriousness of the covenant between God and Israel, making clear that blessings and curses are not just spiritual ideas but have real-life, physical consequences.