Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 28:40
You will have olive trees throughout your territory but will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab, pronouncing covenant curses immediately after listing the promised blessings.
The words — The verb תָס֔וּךְ (ta.Sukh) means "you will anoint yourself," directly paired with וְ/שֶׁ֙מֶן֙ (ve./She.men) for "and oil."
The thread — This curse reappears in Micah 6:15 and contrasts with the blessing imagery found in Psalms 23:5 and Psalms 104:15.
Why it lands — The text states that possessing olive trees will produce no anointing oil because the fruit drops off, requiring the reader to acknowledge that covenant failure turns physical provision into frustration.
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
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
Cross-references
- Micah 6:15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.
- Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
- Psalms 104:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.