Deuteronomy 11:28
New International Version
the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

New Living Translation
But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

English Standard Version
and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

Berean Standard Bible
but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God and turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

King James Bible
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

New King James Version
and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

New American Standard Bible
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

NASB 1995
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

NASB 1977
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

Legacy Standard Bible
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by walking after other gods which you have not known.

Amplified Bible
and the curse, if you do not listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following (acknowledging, worshiping) other gods which you have not known.

Christian Standard Bible
and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the LORD your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the LORD your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.

American Standard Version
and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Contemporary English Version
But if you disobey him and worship those gods that have never done anything for you, the LORD will put a curse on you.

English Revised Version
and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You'll be cursed if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God, if you turn from the way I'm commanding you to live today, and if you worship other gods you never knew.

Good News Translation
but a curse, if you disobey these commands and turn away to worship other gods that you have never worshiped before.

International Standard Version
or a curse if you don't obey the commands of the LORD your God, by turning from the way that I'm commanding you today and following other gods whom you have not known."

Majority Standard Bible
but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God and turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

NET Bible
and the curse if you pay no attention to his commandments and turn from the way I am setting before you today to pursue other gods you have not known.

New Heart English Bible
and the curse, if you shall not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.

Webster's Bible Translation
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which ye have not known.

World English Bible
and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn away out of the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the reviling if you do not listen to the commands of your God YHWH, and have turned aside from the way which I am commanding you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

Young's Literal Translation
and the reviling, if ye do not hearken unto the commands of Jehovah your God, and have turned aside out of the way which I am commanding you to-day, to go after other gods which ye have not known.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a cursing if ye shall not hear to the commands of Jehovah your God, and ye turned aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which thou knewest not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A curse, if you obey not the commandments of the Lord your. God, but revolt from the way which now I shew you, and walk after strange gods which you know not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It will be a curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but instead you withdraw from the way, which I am revealing to you now, and you walk after foreign gods that you have not known.

New American Bible
a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, but turn aside from the way I command you today, to go after other gods, whom you do not know.

New Revised Standard Version
and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And curses, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, and if you turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a curse if you will not hear the commandments of LORD JEHOVAH your God and if you turn away from the way that I command you today, and you go after other gods that you do not know.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the curse, if ye do not hearken to the commands of the Lord our God, as many as I command you this day, and ye wander from the way which I have commanded you, having gone to serve other gods, which ye know not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Blessing and a Curse
27a blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, 28but a curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your God and turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. 29When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Deuteronomy 30:17-18
But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, / I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Joshua 23:16
If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”

Judges 2:11-15
And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. / Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, / for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. ...

1 Kings 9:6-9
But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. / And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ ...

2 Kings 17:7-23
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

Jeremiah 11:10-11
They have returned to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers. / Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.

Jeremiah 25:4-7
And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. / The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. / Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’ ...

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Malachi 2:2
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

Matthew 7:26-27
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Luke 6:46-49
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? / I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: / He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ...

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”


Treasury of Scripture

And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.

Deuteronomy 28:15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deuteronomy 29:19-28
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: …

Leviticus 26:14
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

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Command Commanding Commandments Commands Curse Disobey Ear Hearken Obey Today To-Day Turn Turned Way Yourselves
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Deuteronomy 11
1. Another exhortation to obedience
2. by their own experience of God's great works
8. by promise of God's great blessings
16. and by threatenings
18. A careful study is required in God's words
26. The blessing and curse set before them














but a curse
The Hebrew word for "curse" is "קְלָלָה" (qelalah), which signifies a solemn pronouncement of judgment or misfortune. In the ancient Near Eastern context, curses were understood as powerful declarations that could bring about real consequences. Theologically, this highlights the seriousness of disobedience to God's commandments. The curse is not merely punitive but serves as a divine warning to steer the Israelites back to the covenantal path.

if you do not obey
The phrase "do not obey" comes from the Hebrew "לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ" (lo tishme'u), which literally means "do not listen." In the Hebrew mindset, listening is closely tied to obedience. To hear God's word is to act upon it. This reflects the covenantal relationship where obedience is a response to God's grace and love. The emphasis is on active engagement with God's commandments, not passive acknowledgment.

the commandments of the LORD your God
The term "commandments" is "מִצְוֹת" (mitzvot) in Hebrew, referring to the divine laws given by God. These are not arbitrary rules but are rooted in God's character and His desire for His people to live in a way that reflects His holiness. The phrase "the LORD your God" underscores the personal relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing that these commandments are given by a personal, covenant-keeping God who desires the best for His people.

and turn aside from the path
"Turn aside" is translated from "סָרָה" (sarah), meaning to deviate or stray. The "path" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) symbolizes the way of life prescribed by God. In biblical imagery, the path represents a journey or a way of living that aligns with God's will. Turning aside implies a deliberate choice to abandon God's ways, which leads to spiritual and moral decline.

I command you today
The immediacy of "today" (הַיּוֹם, hayom) stresses the urgency and relevance of God's commandments. It is a call to action in the present moment, reminding the Israelites that obedience is not a future consideration but a present responsibility. The use of "I command" highlights the authority of Moses as God's spokesperson, reinforcing the divine origin of these instructions.

by following other gods
The phrase "following other gods" (לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, lalekhet acharei elohim acherim) indicates idolatry, which was a constant temptation for Israel. In the ancient world, polytheism was prevalent, and the Israelites were often enticed to worship the deities of surrounding nations. This phrase serves as a warning against syncretism and the abandonment of exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

which you have not known
The Hebrew "אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְדַעְתֶּם" (asher lo yedatem) emphasizes the foreignness and unfamiliarity of these gods. The Israelites are reminded that these gods have no history of relationship or covenant with them. Unlike Yahweh, who has revealed Himself and acted on their behalf, these "other gods" are unknown and unproven, underscoring the folly of turning to them.

Verse 28. - Other gods, which ye have not known; in contradistinction to Jehovah, the revealed God, made known to them by word and deed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
but a curse
וְהַקְּלָלָ֗ה (wə·haq·qə·lā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7045: Vilification

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ (ṯiš·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the commandments
מִצְוֺת֙ (miṣ·wōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4687: Commandment

of the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

and turn aside
וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם (wə·sar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the path
הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

I
אָנֹכִ֛י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

command
מְצַוֶּ֥ה (mə·ṣaw·weh)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

you today
הַיּ֑וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

by following
לָלֶ֗כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

other
אֲחֵרִ֖ים (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods,
אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

which you have not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

known.
יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ (yə·ḏa‘·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 11:28 And the curse if you shall not (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 11:27
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