New International Version However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: New Living Translation “But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you: English Standard Version “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Berean Standard Bible 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: Berean Literal Bible And it shall come to pass, if you do not listen to the voice of YHWH your God, to observe carefully to do all His commandments and His statutes that I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. King James Bible 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: New King James Version “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: New American Standard Bible “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to be careful to follow all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: NASB 1995 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: NASB 1977 “But it shall come about, if you will not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Legacy Standard Bible “But it will be, if you do not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep and to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Amplified Bible “But it shall come about, if you do not listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Berean Annotated Bible If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Christian Standard Bible “But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all his commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you: Holman Christian Standard Bible But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you: American Standard Version But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah 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. Contemporary English Version Israel, today I am giving you the laws and teachings of the LORD your God. And if you don't obey them all, he will put many curses on you. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Obey the LORD your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don't, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you: Good News Translation "But if you disobey the LORD your God and do not faithfully keep all his commands and laws that I am giving you today, all these evil things will happen to you: International Standard Version "But if you don't obey the LORD your God and faithfully carry out all his commands and statutes that I'm giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overwhelm you. NET Bible "But if you ignore the LORD your God and are not careful to keep all his commandments and statutes I am giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you in full force: New Heart English Bible But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day, that all these curses shall come on you, and overtake you. Webster's Bible Translation But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to 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: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf, 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: World English Bible But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to Yahweh your God’s voice, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it has been, if you do not listen to the voice of your God YHWH, to observe to do all His commands and His statutes which I am commanding you today, that all these revilings have come on you and overtaken you: Berean Literal Bible And it shall come to pass, if you do not listen to the voice of YHWH your God, to observe carefully to do all His commandments and His statutes that I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Young's Literal Translation 'And it hath been, if thou dost not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God to observe to do all His commands, and His statutes, which I am commanding thee to-day, that all these revilings have come upon thee, and overtaken thee: Smith's Literal Translation And it being, if thou shalt not hear to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to watch to do all his commands and his laws which I command thee this day; and all these curses came upon thee, and overtook thee: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep and to do all his commandments and ceremonies, which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. Catholic Public Domain Version But if you are not willing to listen to the voice of the Lord your God, so as to keep and do all his commandments and ceremonies, which I instruct to you this day, all these curses shall come to you, and take hold of you. New American Bible But if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, your God, carefully observing all his commandments and statutes which I give you today, all these curses shall come upon you and overwhelm you: New Revised Standard Version But if you will not obey the LORD your God by diligently observing all his commandments and decrees, which I am commanding you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you: Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut if you will not hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and do not observe and do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And if you will not hear the voice of LORD JEHOVAH your God and you do not keep and do all of his commandments and his laws that I command you today, all these curses shall come upon you, and they shall overtake you: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe all his commandments, as many as I charge thee this day, then all these curses shall come on thee, and overtake thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Curses of Disobedience15 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: 16You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.… Cross References If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God Leviticus 26:14-15 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, / and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 1 Samuel 12:15 But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers. Jeremiah 11:3 You must tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant, by carefully following all His commandments and statutes Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good? Deuteronomy 5:31-33 But you stand here with Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and statutes and ordinances you are to teach them to follow in the land that I am giving them to possess.” / So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. / You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 11:1 You shall therefore love the LORD your God and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments. I am giving you today, Deuteronomy 8:1 You must carefully follow every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and enter and possess the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. Deuteronomy 11:8 You shall therefore keep every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, Deuteronomy 6:6 These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Deuteronomy 30:1 “When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you call them to mind in all the nations to which the LORD your God has banished you, Deuteronomy 11:26-28 See, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse— / a blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, / 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. Leviticus 26:16-17 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. / And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you. Isaiah 1:19-20 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Jeremiah 17:5-6 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. / He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. Lamentations 2:17 The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His decree, which He ordained in days of old; He has overthrown you without pity. He has let the enemy gloat over you and exalted the horn of your foes. 2 Kings 17:13-18 Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. / They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. … Treasury of Scripture But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day; that all these curses shall come on you, and overtake you: if thou wilt Leviticus 26:14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; Lamentations 2:17 The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. Daniel 9:11-13 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him… Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 27:15-26 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen… Deuteronomy 29:20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. Jump to Previous Care Careful Carefully Charge Command Commanding Commandments Commands Curses Hearken Heed However Obey Observe Orders Overtake Overtaken Revilings Statutes Today To-Day Voice WiltJump to Next Care Careful Carefully Charge Command Commanding Commandments Commands Curses Hearken Heed However Obey Observe Orders Overtake Overtaken Revilings Statutes Today To-Day Voice WiltDeuteronomy 28 1. The blessings for obedience15. The curses for disobedience If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God Israel’s covenant relationship with the LORD required faithful submission to His revealed will. At Moab, before entering Canaan, the nation faced a decisive choice between covenant faithfulness and rebellion. Israel’s history would repeatedly demonstrate that turning from God brought judgment, while obedience preserved fellowship with Him. Lev 26:14-15 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out… by carefully following all His commandments and statutes God required wholehearted obedience rather than selective observance. The commandments and statutes given through Moses governed Israel’s worship, morality, community life, and separation from surrounding nations. Jesus fulfilled the Law and calls His people to love Him through obedience, enabled by the Holy Spirit. Deu 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you… I am giving you today, Moses presented God’s commands as an urgent summons for the generation about to cross the Jordan. The covenant demanded a present response, not merely agreement with God’s past acts or future promises. Every generation of Israel would be accountable for its response to the word God had given. Deu 8:1 You must carefully follow every commandment… all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: The curses described in the following verses include famine, disease, military defeat, oppression, and exile. They were covenant judgments upon Israel for persistent rebellion and were fulfilled in the nation’s later downfall before Assyria and Babylon. Christ bore the curse of the Law for all who trust in Him, delivering them from condemnation and bringing them into the blessing promised through faith. Deu 30:1 When all these things come upon you—the blessings and curses… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and commandments to the Israelites. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, receiving the laws and warnings from Moses. 3. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim The locations where blessings and curses were proclaimed to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 27). 4. The Promised Land The land of Canaan, which the Israelites were about to enter, contingent on their obedience to God's laws. 5. Covenant The agreement between God and the Israelites, which included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Teaching Points The Importance of ObedienceObedience to God's commandments is central to the covenant relationship. It reflects our love and reverence for God. Consequences of Disobedience Disobedience leads to curses, which are not just punishments but natural consequences of turning away from God's protection and guidance. The Role of the Law The law serves as a guide to living a life that is pleasing to God. It reveals our need for a Savior, as no one can perfectly keep the law. Covenant Faithfulness God's faithfulness to His covenant is unwavering. Our response should be one of faithfulness and commitment to His commands. New Covenant Perspective In Christ, we are empowered to live in obedience through the Holy Spirit, who writes God's laws on our hearts. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 28:15?2. What consequences does Deuteronomy 28:15 describe for disobedience to God's commandments? 3. How can we ensure we "obey the voice of the LORD your God"? 4. Compare Deuteronomy 28:15 with Romans 6:23 on sin's consequences. 5. What steps can you take to avoid the curses mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:15? 6. How does Deuteronomy 28:15 emphasize the importance of obedience in your daily life? 7. Why does Deuteronomy 28:15 emphasize curses for disobedience rather than blessings for obedience? 8. How does Deuteronomy 28:15 align with the concept of a loving and forgiving God? 9. What historical evidence supports the fulfillment of curses in Deuteronomy 28:15? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 28? What Does Deuteronomy 28:15 Mean If, however“However” signals a clear pivot from the promises of blessing in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. God’s covenant is laid out with two possible outcomes—blessing for obedience or cursing for rebellion (see Deuteronomy 30:15-18 and Joshua 24:15). The verse’s opening reminds us that real choices carry real consequences; the Lord honors human agency but also holds people accountable (Leviticus 26:14-15). you do not obey the LORD your God The issue is not merely breaking rules but breaking relationship. “Obey” in the Old Testament consistently means to listen with the intent of doing (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • The phrase “the LORD your God” underscores that Israel belonged to Him in covenant love (Exodus 19:5-6). • To refuse obedience is to reject His rightful authority and protective care (Psalm 81:11-12). Jesus echoes the same heart standard: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today “Carefully” highlights diligence, accuracy, and continuity—half-hearted compliance is not enough (Deuteronomy 5:32-33; 6:17). • The standard is the whole law, not a selective list (James 2:10). • Moses delivers it “today,” pressing the urgency of immediate obedience; delaying is disobedience (Hebrews 3:15). For Israel, these commands shaped every sphere of life—worship, justice, family, economy—so nothing was outside God’s rule. all these curses will come upon you and overtake you The warnings in verses 16-68 are not empty threats; they are promised realities if Israel rebels. “Come upon” and “overtake” paint the image of a relentless pursuer—judgment that cannot be outrun (Proverbs 13:21; Galatians 3:10). Key features of the coming curses: • Societal breakdown—famine, disease, defeat in war (Deuteronomy 28:20-26). • Economic ruin—lost crops, debt, foreign domination (28:30-44). • Exile—ultimate removal from the land, the severest covenant penalty (28:64-68; Leviticus 26:33). God does not delight in judgment but in faithfulness; yet His holiness demands He keep every word He has spoken (Numbers 23:19). summary Deuteronomy 28:15 sets the stage for the sobering list of curses that follow. It teaches that: • Obedience and blessing, disobedience and cursing, are covenant certainties. • Rejecting God’s commands is personal rebellion against the God who redeemed and owns His people. • Total, careful obedience is the only acceptable response to His covenant; selective compliance is disobedience. • The threatened curses are literal, comprehensive, and inescapable apart from repentance. For Israel then—and for all who read now—this verse is a loving but urgent warning: choose faithful obedience and live under God’s favor, or resist Him and experience consequences just as surely promised. Deuteronomy 28:15-48. THE CURSE OF DISOBEDIENCE.(15) But it shall come to pass.—The following verses to the end of 48 are the contrast to the first fourteen, which declare the blessings of obedience. Verses 15-68. - The curse. In case of disobedience and apostasy, not only would the blessing be withheld, but a curse would descend, blighting, destructive, and ruinous. As the blessing was set forth in six announcements (vers. 3-6), the curse is proclaimed in form and number corresponding (vers. 16-19). The curse thus appears as the exact counterpart of the blessing. The different forms in which the threatened curse should break forth are then detailed in five groups.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew If, however,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 תִשְׁמַע֙ (ṯiš·ma‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently the LORD יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative by carefully לִשְׁמֹ֤ר (liš·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to following לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 6213: To do, make all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every His commandments מִצְוֺתָ֣יו (miṣ·wō·ṯāw) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4687: Commandment and statutes וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו (wə·ḥuq·qō·ṯāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute I אָנֹכִ֥י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I am giving you today, מְצַוְּךָ֖ (mə·ṣaw·wə·ḵā) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every these הָאֵ֖לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those curses הַקְּלָל֥וֹת (haq·qə·lā·lō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7045: Vilification will come וּבָ֧אוּ (ū·ḇā·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go upon you עָלֶ֛יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against and overtake you: וְהִשִּׂיגֽוּךָ׃ (wə·hiś·śî·ḡū·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singular Strong's 5381: To reach, overtake Additonal Resources Deuteronomy 28:15 Blue Letter BibleDeuteronomy 28:15 Bible Gateway Deuteronomy 28:15 Bible.com Deuteronomy 28:15 NIV |
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