The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:23 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:23

KJV: And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

YLT: And thy heavens which are over thy head have been brass, and the earth which is under thee iron;

Darby: And thy heavens which are over thy head shall be brass, and the earth which is under thee, iron.

ASV: And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thy heaven  that [is] over thy head  shall be brass,  and the earth  that is under thee [shall be] iron. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 28:20-46 - The Fearful Results Of Disobedience
If we compare this chapter with Exodus 23:20-23 and Leviticus 26:1-46, we shall see how Moses resumes and amplifies the promises and threatenings already set forth in the earlier editions of the Law. The blessings are declared in fourteen verses, while the curses require four times as much space. This is due to God's eagerness that men should be warned from courses that injure, and shut up to those that lead to blessedness. Note the language, which rises to the sublimest level, especially in the latter part. The forecasts of the dispersion and the degradation of the Hebrew people are especially remarkable.
It is not only that God goes out of His way to reward the obedient and to punish the ungodly, but these rewards and punishments are part of the nature of things, just as fire stings and burns, when we transgress its laws, but blesses when we obey. If we are at one with God, through Jesus Christ, we are at one with the universe. But if not, "the stars in their courses" fight against us. See Judges 5:20; 1 Corinthians 3:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 28

1  The blessings for obedience
15  The curses for disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 28:23 mean?

And shall be your heavens which [are] over your head bronze and the earth [shall be] which is under you iron
וְהָי֥וּ שָׁמֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־ רֹאשְׁךָ֖ נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְהָאָ֥רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ תַּחְתֶּ֖יךָ בַּרְזֶֽל

וְהָי֥וּ  And  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
שָׁמֶ֛יךָ  your  heavens 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  which  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
רֹאשְׁךָ֖  your  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
נְחֹ֑שֶׁת  bronze 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
וְהָאָ֥רֶץ  and  the  earth  [shall  be] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲשֶׁר־  which  is 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תַּחְתֶּ֖יךָ  under  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
בַּרְזֶֽל  iron 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּרְזֶל  
Sense: iron.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 28:23?

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