The Meaning of Deuteronomy 28:53 Explained

Deuteronomy 28:53

KJV: And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

YLT: and thou hast eaten the fruit of thy body, flesh of thy sons and thy daughters (whom Jehovah thy God hath given to thee), in the siege, and in the straitness with which thine enemies do straiten thee.

Darby: And in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee, thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters whom Jehovah thy God hath given thee.

ASV: And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, whom Jehovah thy God hath given thee, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt eat  the fruit  of thine own body,  the flesh  of thy sons  and of thy daughters,  which the LORD  thy God  hath given  thee, in the siege,  and in the straitness,  wherewith thine enemies  shall distress  thee: 

What does Deuteronomy 28:53 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 28:47-68 - The Bitter Fruits Of Disobeying God
These predictions against the Hebrew people were partially fulfilled in earlier invasions, as for instance, those of Nebuchadnezzar and his generals; but it is to the Roman conquest of Judea that we must look for complete fulfillment. One only needs to compare these words with the narrative of Josephus to see the exact accomplishment which took place during the wars of Vespasian and Titus. The Jews themselves admit this. Deuteronomy 28:68 was literally fulfilled when Titus transported myriads of Jews to Egypt to be employed in the public works or to fight in the amphitheater.
But if the punishments have been so heavily suffered during these weary centuries, what shall not be the joy when the Lord shall bring back His people to their own land, and all Israel shall be saved! What is this new Euphrates Valley railway but the preparing of the road for their return from the Eastern portions of the world! In the near future, our children, if not we, shall see a fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-22; Isaiah 61:1-11. See Acts 3:19-20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 28

1  The blessings for obedience
15  The curses for disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 28:53 mean?

And You shall eat the fruit of your own body the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom has given you Yahweh your God in the siege and dire straits in which shall distress your enemy
וְאָכַלְתָּ֣ פְרִֽי־ בִטְנְךָ֗ בְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־ לְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁר־ יָצִ֥יק אֹיְבֶֽךָ

וְאָכַלְתָּ֣  And  You  shall  eat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
פְרִֽי־  the  fruit 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פְּרִי  
Sense: fruit.
בִטְנְךָ֗  of  your  own  body 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
בְּשַׂ֤ר  the  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙  of  your  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ  and  your  daughters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נָֽתַן־  has  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּמָצוֹר֙  in  the  siege 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָצֹור 
Sense: siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works.
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק  and  dire  straits 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָצֹוק  
Sense: straitness, straits, distress, stress, anguish.
אֲשֶׁר־  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יָצִ֥יק  shall  distress 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צוּק  
Sense: (Hiphil) to constrain, press, bring into straits, straiten, oppress.
אֹיְבֶֽךָ  your  enemy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.