Deuteronomy 28:13

The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Israel through Moses, positioning this promise between the agricultural and economic blessings of verse 12 and the warning against idolatry in verse 14.

The words — The Hebrew לְרֹאשׁ וְלֹא לְזָנָב (le./roSh ve./Lo' le./za.Nav) literally renders "to the head and not to the tail," establishing a position of authority rather than subjugation.

The thread — This covenantal conditionality echoes Deuteronomy 28:1, which links obedience to exaltation, while Deuteronomy 4:6 and Philippians 1:27 extend the principle of visible wisdom and gospel-worthy conduct to other biblical contexts.

Why it lands — The text demands careful hearing and precise adherence to God's commandments as the sole condition for sustained elevation and national stability.

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

וּנְתָֽנְךָ֨u./ne.ta.ne./Khaand/ he will make/ you יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh לְרֹאשׁ֙le./roShinto/ [the] head וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not לְזָנָ֔בle./za.Navinto/ [the] tail וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ve./ha.Yi.taand/ you will be רַ֣קrakonly לְמַ֔עְלָהle./Ma'.la/h<to>/ upwards/ <towards>וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not תִהְיֶ֖הtih.Yehyou will be לְמָ֑טָּהle./Ma.tah<to>/ downwards כִּֽי־ki-if תִשְׁמַ֞עtish.Ma'you will listen אֶל־'el-to מִצְוֹ֣ת׀mitz.Vot[the] commandments of יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֧י'a.no.KhiI מְצַוְּךָ֛me.tza.ve./Kha[am] commanding/ you הַיּ֖וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day לִשְׁמֹ֥רli/sh.Morto/ take care וְלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ve./la./'a.Sotand/ to/ do

King James Version

And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 28:1 “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.
Deuteronomy 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Philippians 1:27 Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,
Numbers 24:18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
Isaiah 9:14 So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.