Deuteronomy 11:28
and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The striking phrase "other gods that you have not known" emphasizes that turning away from God isn't just choosing different gods, but pursuing idols entirely foreign and unknown to them, highlighting the foolishness of abandoning the One God they do know intimately. This highlights that the curse isn't just for disobedience, but for actively choosing the unknown and baseless over the profoundly known and experienced.
Moses is laying out the stark consequences of obedience versus disobedience as Israel stands on the brink of entering the promised land. He has just declared that a blessing awaits them if they follow God's commands and a curse if they don't. This verse details the specific nature of that curse: turning away from the God who has revealed Himself to them, to worship unknown, powerless idols.
God doesn't just give rules; He lays out a path with real consequences. This verse highlights a pivotal choice every generation faces.
Moses presents a stark reality: obedience brings blessing, while disobedience leads to a curse. This isn't a suggestion; it's a divine setup. The choice isn't about earning God's favor through perfect performance, but about responding to His covenant. Turning away from God's commands isn't just a mistake; it's a deliberate act of forsaking the known, reliable God for the unknown, the false.
Why does the verse emphasize 'other gods that you have not known'? What's so dangerous about the unfamiliar in this context?
The phrase 'other gods that you have not known' is crucial. It contrasts with the LORD, who has made Himself known to Israel through mighty acts of deliverance and covenant. These 'other gods' represent the allure of the unknown and the untested, but in reality, they are false and powerless. This isn't about exploring new spiritual paths; it's about turning to deceptive idols that offer nothing real. The danger lies in abandoning the tested, true God for the seductive, empty promises of the unknown.
Understand the original words
sur · Hebrew Verb
To deviate or wander from the path of righteousness or the prescribed way of God; often used to describe moral or spiritual backsliding.
elohim acherim · Hebrew Noun phrase
Entities or powers that human beings may worship in place of the one true God, which are inherently false, powerless, and idols that lead to destruction.
This passage directly echoes Deuteronomy 11:28, as Joshua warns the Israelites that they cannot serve the Lord and then turn to 'strange gods' without Him turning away from them and bringing disaster.
Jeremiah 2:11-13Here, the prophet laments how God's people have exchanged their 'Glory' (God) for worthless idols, highlighting the folly of abandoning the true God for gods that can bring no help, just as Deuteronomy warns against turning to 'other gods that you have not known'.
Romans 1:21-23The Apostle Paul describes how humanity, knowing God, chose not to honor Him and instead became futile in their thinking, exchanging the truth about God for a lie and worshipping created things, mirroring the turning away from the known God to the unknown that Deuteronomy condemns.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching that 'no one can serve two masters' powerfully connects to Deuteronomy's warning. He highlights the impossibility of divided loyalty, just as the verse implies that turning to 'other gods' means abandoning the LORD.
gillDeuteronomy 11:28: "And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known."
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God,.... Accursed in body and estate, in basket and store; in their families, flocks, and herds; within doors and without; in city, and country; going out, or coming in; in this world, and that to come, if divine goodness prevent…
calvinDeuteronomy 11:26-32: "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;"
And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
Quumque introduxerit te Jehova Deus tuus in terram quam tu ingrederis ut possideas eam, tunc dabis benedictionem super montem Garizim, et maledictionem super montem Ebal.
Are they not on the other side…
The striking phrase "other gods that you have not known" emphasizes that turning away from God isn't just choosing different gods, but pursuing idols entirely foreign and unknown to them, highlighting the foolishness of abandoning the One God they do know intimately. This highlights that the curse isn't just for disobedience, but for actively choosing the unknown and baseless over the profoundly known and experienced.
Moses is laying out the stark consequences of obedience versus disobedience as Israel stands on the brink of entering the promised land. He has just declared that a blessing awaits them if they follow God's commands and a curse if they don't. This verse details the specific nature of that curse: turning away from the God who has revealed Himself to them, to worship unknown, powerless idols.
Moses is laying out the stark consequences of obedience versus disobedience as Israel stands on the brink of entering the promised land. He has just declared that a blessing awaits them if they follow God's commands and a curse if they don't. This verse details the specific nature of that curse: turning away from the God who has revealed Himself to them, to worship unknown, powerless idols.
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"and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known." — The striking phrase "other gods that you have not known" emphasizes that turning away from God isn't just choosing different gods, but pursuing idols entirely foreign and unknown to them, highlight…
