Deuteronomy 29:20

The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, warning them about a future covenant-breaker who will falsely claim personal peace while persisting in stubborn rebellion.

The words — יֹאבֶ֣ה (yo.Veh) translates literally as "he will be willing," paired with לֹא־ (lo') meaning "not," forming the absolute denial of divine forbearance. יֶעְשַׁ֨ן (ye'.Shan) means "it will smoke," describing the visible manifestation of God's anger.

The thread — The motif of divine anger and jealousy burning like fire appears in Psalms 79:5 and Psalms 74:1, while the promise to blot out a name from under heaven echoes Moses' own appeal in Deuteronomy 9:14.

Why it lands — The text declares that God will actively withhold forgiveness, pour out covenant curses, and erase the rebel's identity, demanding readers reject self-deceived security and submit to the written Law.

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

לֹא־lo'-not יֹאבֶ֣הyo.Vehhe will be willing יְהוָה֮Yah.wehYahweh סְלֹ֣חַֽse.Lo.achto forgiveלוֹ֒l/o<to> <the>/ himכִּ֣יkifor אָ֠ז'azthen יֶעְשַׁ֨ןye'.Shanit will smoke אַף־'af-[the] anger of יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh וְקִנְאָתוֹ֙ve./kin.'a.T/oand/ jealousy/ his בָּאִ֣ישׁba./'Ishon the/ man הַה֔וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that וְרָ֤בְצָהve./Ra.ve.tzahand/ it will lie downבּוֹ֙b/oon <the>/ himכָּל־kol-every הָ֣אָלָ֔הha./'a.Lah<the>/ oath הַכְּתוּבָ֖הha./ke.tu.Vahthat/ is written בַּסֵּ֣פֶרba./Se.ferin the/ book הַזֶּ֑הha./Zeh<the>/ this וּמָחָ֤הu./ma.Chahand/ he will wipe out יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh אֶת־'et-<obj.>שְׁמ֔וֹshe.M/oname/ his מִתַּ֖חַתmi./Ta.chatfrom/ under הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens

King James Version

The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Cross-references

Psalms 74:1 A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
Deuteronomy 9:14 Leave Me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation mightier and greater than they are.”
Psalms 79:5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Ezekiel 14:7 For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.
Ezekiel 23:25 And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire.
Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Exodus 34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Psalms 18:8 Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.
Nahum 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”