Deuteronomy 11:28

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, establishing the immediate consequence of their upcoming entry into Canaan based on their response to his instructions.

The words — קְלָלָה (ke.la.Lah) translates literally as "curse," while מִצְוֹת (mitz.Vot) means "commandments," anchoring the verse's conditional warning in specific legal terminology.

The thread — This conditional structure directly follows the blessing in Deuteronomy 11:27 and reappears in Deuteronomy 28:15 and Galatians 3:10, where failure to maintain obedience triggers the same stated penalty.

Why it lands — The text demands a direct choice: follow the commanded path of Yahweh or face the declared curse by turning to unfamiliar gods, requiring immediate compliance rather than passive acknowledgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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.

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:
Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Leviticus 26:14 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments,
Deuteronomy 29:19 because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
Isaiah 1:20 But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.