Deuteronomy 28:1

THE MESSAGE

If you listen obediently to the Voice of God , your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God , your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God , your God: God 's blessing inside the city, God 's blessing in the country; God 's blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks. God 's blessing on your basket and bread bowl; God 's blessing in your coming in, God 's blessing in your going out.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth.

Hebrew Names Version
It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his mitzvot which I command you this day, who the LORD your God will set you on high above all the nations of the eretz:

King James Version
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Lexham English Bible
"And it will happen that if you indeed listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to diligently observe all his commandments that I am commanding you today, then Yahweh your God will set you above all the nations of the earth.

English Standard Version
"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

New Century Version
You must completely obey the Lord your God, and you must carefully follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you greater than any other nation on earth.

New English Translation
"If you indeed obey the Lord your God and are careful to observe all his commandments I am giving you today, the Lord your God will elevate you above all the nations of the earth.

Amplified Bible
"Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

New American Standard Bible
"Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, that the LORD your God will put you high above all the nations of the earth.

Geneva Bible (1587)
If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God, and obserue and do all his commandements, which I commande thee this day, then the Lorde thy God wil set thee on high aboue all the nations of the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Now it will be, if you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, Yahweh your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
Moses said to Israel: Today I am giving you the laws and teachings of the Lord your God. Always obey them, and the Lord will make Israel the most famous and important nation on earth, and he will bless you in many ways.

Complete Jewish Bible
"If you listen closely to what Adonai your God says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot which I am giving you today, Adonai your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth;

Darby Translation
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to take heed to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that Jehovah thy God will set thee supreme above all nations of the earth;

Easy-to-Read Version
"Now, if you will be careful to obey the Lord your God and follow all his commands that I tell you today, the Lord your God will put you high above all the nations on earth.

George Lamsa Translation
AND if you shall hearken diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command you this day, the LORD your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth;

Good News Translation
"If you obey the Lord your God and faithfully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on earth.

Literal Translation
And it shall be if listening you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, taking heed to do all His commandments which I command you this day, Jehovah your God shall give you to be on high above all nations of the earth.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And yf thou shalt herken vnto ye voyce of the LORDE thy God, to obserue and do all his commaundementes which I comaunde ye this daye, then shall the LORDE thy God set ye an hye aboue all nacions vpo earth,

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that Jehovah thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth:

Bible in Basic English
Now if you give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, and keep with care all these orders which I have given you today, then the Lord your God will put you high over all the nations of the earth:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
If thou shalt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God, and obserue and do all his commaudementes which I commaunde thee this day: the Lorde wyll set thee on hye aboue all nations of the earth.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth.

King James Version (1611)
And it shall come to passe, if thou shalt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God, to obserue and to doe all his Commandements which I command thee this day; that the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all nations of the earth.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it shall come to pass, if thou wilt indeed hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, that the Lord thy God shall set thee on high above all the nations of the earth;

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth:

Berean Standard Bible
Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe if thou herist the vois of thi Lord God, that thou do and kepe alle hise comaundementis, whiche Y comaunde to thee to dai, thi Lord God schal make the hiyere than alle folkis that lyuen in erthe.

Young's Literal Translation
`And it hath been, if thou dost hearken diligently to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all His commands which I am commanding thee to-day, that Jehovah thy God hath made thee uppermost above all the nations of the earth,

Update Bible Version
And it shall come to pass, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that Yahweh your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth:

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently to the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day; that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

World English Bible
It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command you this day, who Yahweh your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth:

New King James Version
Leviticus 26:1-13; Deuteronomy 7:12-24">[xr] "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

New Living Translation
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.

New Life Bible
"Be faithful in obeying the Lord your God. Be careful to keep all His Laws which I tell you today. And the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

New Revised Standard
If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it shall be, if thou wilt, hearken, unto the voice of Yahweh thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I am commanding thee to-day, then will Yahweh thy God set thee on high, above all the nations of the earth;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now if thou wilt hear the voice of all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord thy God will make thee higher than all the nations that are on the earth.

Revised Standard Version
"And if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you this day, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Contextual Overview

¹If you listen obediently to the Voice of God , your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God , your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God , your God: God 's blessing inside the city, God 's blessing in the country; God 's blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks. God 's blessing on your basket and bread bowl; God 's blessing in your coming in, God 's blessing in your going out. ⁷ God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads. ⁸ God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that God , your God, is giving you. ⁹ God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God , your God, and live the way he has shown you. ¹⁰ All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe. ¹¹ God will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that God promised your ancestors that he would give you. God will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won't have to take out a loan. God will make you the head, not the tail; you'll always be the top dog, never the bottom dog, as you obediently listen to and diligently keep the commands of God , your God, that I am commanding you today. Don't swerve an inch to the right or left from the words that I command you today by going off following and worshiping other gods.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If thou shalt: Deuteronomy 11:13, Deuteronomy 15:5, Deuteronomy 27:1, Exodus 15:26, Leviticus 26:3-13, Psalms 106:3, Psalms 111:10, Isaiah 1:19, Isaiah 3:10, Isaiah 55:2, Isaiah 55:3, Jeremiah 11:4, Jeremiah 12:16, Jeremiah 17:24, Luke 11:28

to do all: Psalms 119:6, Psalms 119:128, Luke 1:6, John 15:14, Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, James 2:11

will set: Deuteronomy 26:19, Psalms 91:14, Psalms 148:14, Luke 9:48, Romans 2:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:5 - if ye Exodus 23:25 - And ye Exodus 34:11 - Observe Leviticus 25:18 - and ye Deuteronomy 4:40 - keep Deuteronomy 7:12 - if Deuteronomy 11:27 - General Deuteronomy 15:4 - greatly bless Deuteronomy 20:6 - eaten of it Deuteronomy 28:13 - if that thou Deuteronomy 30:15 - General Joshua 8:34 - blessings Joshua 23:14 - not one thing 1 Samuel 12:14 - If ye will 1 Kings 9:4 - And if thou 2 Kings 21:8 - only if they 2 Chronicles 7:17 - if thou wilt 2 Chronicles 33:8 - so that they Ezra 7:6 - the law Psalms 119:4 - General Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness Isaiah 44:8 - have declared Jeremiah 11:7 - in the Daniel 1:15 - their 1 Timothy 4:8 - having

Cross-References

Genesis 27:46
Rebekah spoke to Isaac, "I'm sick to death of these Hittite women. If Jacob also marries a native Hittite woman, why live?"

Genesis 28:3
"And may The Strong God bless you and give you many, many children, a congregation of peoples; and pass on the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants so that you will get this land in which you live, this land God gave Abraham."

Genesis 28:16
Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, " God is in this place—truly. And I didn't even know it!" He was terrified. He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven."

Genesis 49:28
All these are the tribes of Israel, the twelve tribes. And this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each one with his own special farewell blessing.

Deuteronomy 33:1
Moses, man of God, blessed the People of Israel with this blessing before his death. He said, God came down from Sinai, he dawned from Seir upon them; He radiated light from Mount Paran, coming with ten thousand holy angels And tongues of fire streaming from his right hand. Oh, how you love the people, all his holy ones are palmed in your left hand. They sit at your feet, honoring your teaching, The Revelation commanded by Moses, as the assembly of Jacob's inheritance. Thus God became king in Jeshurun as the leaders and tribes of Israel gathered.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God,.... In his law, and by his prophets:

to observe [and] to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day; for without observing them to do them, hearing them would be to little purpose, and they were all of them to be observed and done, the lesser and weightier matters of the law as they were commanded by Moses in the name of the Lord, and as they would be taught, explained, and enforced by the prophets:

that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: as they were in the times of David and Solomon;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A comparison of this chapter with Exodus 23:20-23 and Leviticus 26:0 will show how Moses here resumes and amplifies the promises and threats already set forth in the earlier records of the Law. The language rises in this chapter to the sublimest strains, especially in the latter part of it; and the prophecies respecting the dispersion and degradation of the Jewish nation in its later days are among the most remarkable in scripture. They are plain, precise, and circumstantial; and the fulfillment of them has been literal, complete, and undeniable.

The Blessing. The six repetitions of the word “blessed” introduce the particular forms which the blessing would take in the various relations of life.

Deuteronomy 28:5

The “basket” or bag was a customary means in the East for carrying about whatever might be needed for personal uses (compare Deuteronomy 26:2; John 13:29).

The “store” is rather the kneading-trough Exodus 8:3; Exodus 12:34. The blessings here promised relate, it will be observed, to private and personal life: in Deuteronomy 28:7 those which are of a more public and national character are brought forward.

Deuteronomy 28:9

The oath with which God vouchsafed to confirm His promises to the patriarchs (compare Genesis 22:16; Hebrews 6:13-14) contained by implication these gifts of holiness and eminence to Israel (compare the marginal references).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXVIII

The blessings which God pronounces on the obedient, 1-6.

Particular privileges which the faithful shall receive, 7-13.

The curses pronounced against the ungodly and idolatrous, 14-19.

A detailed account of the miseries which should be inflicted on

them, should they neglect the commandments of the Lord, 20.

They shall be smitten with the pestilence, 21;

with consumption, fever, c., 22

drought and barrenness, 23, 24;

they shall be defeated by their enemies, 25, 26;

they shall be afflicted with the botch of Egypt, 27;

with madness and blindness, 28, 29;

they shall be disappointed in all their projects, 30;

deprived of all their possessions, and afflicted in all their

members, 31-35;

they and their king shall go into captivity, 36,

and become a by-word among the nations, 37.

Their land shall be unfruitful, and they shall be the lowest of

all people, 38-44.

All these curses shall come on them should they be disobedient,

45-48.

Character of the people by whom they should be subdued, 49, 50.

Particulars of their dreadful sufferings, 51-57.

A recapitulation of their wretchedness, 58-63.

The prediction that they shall be scattered among all the

nations of the earth, 64-68.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVIII