Deuteronomy 28:68 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 28:68 mean?

Deuteronomy 28:68 says that the LORD will send the Israelites back to Egypt in ships, where they will try to sell themselves as slaves to their enemies, but no one will buy them. This is described as a consequence for disobeying God’s covenant, showing a total reversal of their earlier deliverance from slavery.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, warning them about the curses that will come if they break God’s commands. The verse paints a picture of complete humiliation and despair: instead of being delivered from Egypt, they will return there in defeat, and their situation will be so desperate that even their enemies will not want to buy them as slaves.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 28:68

• Egypt (מִצְרַיִם, mitsrayim): This word refers specifically to Egypt, the place of Israel’s original slavery. Returning there “again” would have been a shocking reversal, as Egypt symbolized oppression and bondage in Israel’s memory.
• Again (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means “to return” or “to go back.” Its use here emphasizes that Israel’s journey is going backward, undoing the Exodus.
• Ships (אֳנִיּוֹת, oniyyot): The mention of ships is unusual, since the original Exodus was by land. This detail highlights the unnaturalness and humiliation of the return.
• Sold (מָכַר, makar): This word means “to sell.” The verse stresses that the Israelites will be so unwanted that even as slaves, no one will purchase them, deepening the sense of abandonment.

Why Deuteronomy 28:68 matters

• Deuteronomy 28:68 clears up the idea that the curses for disobedience would only mean defeat or exile; it shows that the consequences could include a complete undoing of Israel’s redemption story.
• The verse highlights the seriousness of breaking the covenant, using the image of Egypt—once a place of deliverance—as a symbol of ultimate loss and shame.
• This verse connects to the larger pattern in Deuteronomy 28, where blessings and curses are laid out in detail, showing the gravity of Israel’s choices and the depth of the consequences.