So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;
DEUTERONOMY 29:22KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 29:22 mean?
Deuteronomy 29:22 describes how future generations of Israelites and foreigners from distant lands will see the devastation and diseases that have come upon the land and will recognize that the LORD has brought these troubles. The verse highlights that the consequences of the people's actions will be visible and obvious to anyone who comes later, not just to those who lived through them.
In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He warns them that if they break their covenant with God, the resulting disasters will be so severe that even their descendants and outsiders will notice and comment on them. This sets the stage for the seriousness of the covenant and the lasting impact of the people's choices.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 29:22
- The word for "generation" (דּוֹר, dor, H1755) refers to a group of people living at the same time, often used to emphasize the continuity or change between different periods.
- "Stranger" (נָכְרִי, nokhri, H5237) means a foreigner or someone from outside Israel, highlighting that even those with no connection to the land will see and understand what has happened.
- "Plagues" (מַכָּה, makkah, H4347) often refers to blows or strikes, not just diseases, suggesting a broad range of disasters or afflictions that have struck the land.
- "Sicknesses" (תַּחֲלֻאִים, takhalu'im, H8463) points specifically to diseases or illnesses, underlining the physical suffering that will be evident.
Why Deuteronomy 29:22 matters
- This verse clarifies that the consequences of breaking the covenant are not hidden or private; they become a public warning to future generations and outsiders alike.
- The mention of both children and foreigners shows that the effects of Israel's choices reach beyond their own community and time, making the covenant a matter of lasting importance.
- Deuteronomy 29:22 connects to the larger context of the chapter, where Moses is urging the people to take the covenant seriously by showing how visible and memorable the results of disobedience will be.