Deuteronomy 28:64

Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses delivers this warning to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, concluding the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28. The verse directly follows the declaration that God will uproot them from the land they are about to possess.

The words — The Hebrew verb וְהֱפִיצְךָ (ve/hefiṣṯîḵâ) means "and He will scatter you," indicating forced dispersion. The phrase מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵה (miqṣêḥāʾereṣ wəʿaḏ-qṣê) literally reads "from [the] end of the earth and to [the] end," marking complete geographical coverage.

The thread — The same scattering language runs through Leviticus 26:33, Deuteronomy 4:27, and Deuteronomy 28:36. These passages collectively trace a pattern of covenant breach leading to national exile.

Why it lands — The text states that exile will result in worship of unfamiliar wooden and stone idols. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant failure produces irreversible cultural and spiritual displacement.

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 the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

Cross-references

Leviticus 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
Deuteronomy 4:27 Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
Deuteronomy 28:36 The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone.
Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
Jeremiah 16:13 So I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’
Jeremiah 50:17 Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Ezekiel 11:16 Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’