The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:46 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:46

KJV: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

YLT: and they have been on thee for a sign and for a wonder, also on thy seed -- to the age.

Darby: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

ASV: and they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they shall be upon thee for a sign  and for a wonder,  and upon thy seed  for  ever. 

What does Deuteronomy 28:46 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 28:46 mean?

And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder and on your descendants for ever
וְהָי֣וּ בְךָ֔ לְא֖וֹת וּלְמוֹפֵ֑ת וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם

וְהָי֣וּ  And  they  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.
בְךָ֔  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לְא֖וֹת  for  a  sign 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, common singular
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
וּלְמוֹפֵ֑ת  and  a  wonder 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹופֵת  
Sense: wonder, sign, miracle, portent.
וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖  and  on  your  descendants 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
עוֹלָֽם  ever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.