Deuteronomy 28:58

If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, concluding his covenant speech just before they cross the Jordan into the promised land.

The words — תִשְׁמֹר (tishmor) translates literally to "you will take care" or "observe," and דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה (divrei haTorah) means "the words of the law."

The thread — The conditional warning anchors directly to the surrounding covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:57 and Deuteronomy 28:59, which detail the siege starvation and chronic plagues that follow violation. The appeal to God's name aligns with the identity declarations in Exodus 3:14, Exodus 6:2, and Isaiah 42:8, which establish Yahweh's self-existence and exclusive glory rather than issuing a command to fear.

Why it lands — The text demands deliberate obedience to the written covenant as the necessary condition for maintaining reverence for God's name, linking fear directly to careful adherence rather than abstract awe.

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

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

Cross-references

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 6:2 God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.
Exodus 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD.
Leviticus 26:14 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments,
Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
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:
Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting: Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.
Psalms 50:7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.