Deuteronomy 11:28
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The phrase "other gods that you have not known" isn't just about foreign deities; it emphasizes the stark contrast with the God they do know intimately through His powerful actions and covenant love. Turning to these unknown gods is presented as a profound act of amnesia, forgetting the living God who has already proven Himself to them.
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)
This verse is the direct consequence of Moses' powerful presentation of a choice: obedience leading to blessings and disobedience leading to curses, set to be proclaimed from specific mountains once they entered the Promised Land. Just after declaring the stark alternatives of blessing and curse, he spells out what the curse entails: turning away from God's commands to worship unknown gods, a direct contrast to the known, experienced God of Israel. This warning sets the stage for the detailed list of blessings and curses to follow in chapter 28.
Ever feel like your choices don't really matter in the grand scheme of things? God, through Moses, lays it out plain: obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings a curse.
The Divine Setup
God doesn't leave us guessing. He explicitly presents a choice to the Israelites: follow His commands, and life and blessing flow. But if they turn away, a curse is the inevitable outcome. This isn't a maybe; it's a direct consequence, set up by God Himself.
The 'Why'
This isn't about a capricious God setting traps. It's about establishing a righteous order where His ways lead to life and flourishing, and rejecting His ways leads to ruin. The whole land, from the mountains of blessing to the mountains of cursing (Gerizim and Ebal), becomes a living testament to this reality.
The verse mentions 'other gods that you have not known.' What's so tempting about the unknown, and why is it so dangerous in God's eyes?
The Deceptive Draw
The 'other gods' aren't just idols of stone or metal. They represent any power, ideology, or pursuit that claims ultimate allegiance apart from the one true God. The allure is often novelty, perceived freedom, or a promise of something 'more' – especially when life with God feels challenging or routine.
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An Ignorant Bondage
These 'unknown gods' are a trap precisely because they are unknown. You can't experience their 'power, wisdom, or goodness' because they have none. Unlike the LORD, who has revealed Himself through mighty acts and steadfast love, these false gods offer only emptiness and ultimately, bondage. To turn to them is to trade true relationship and experienced faithfulness for illusion and ultimate loss.
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 follows Deuteronomy 11 and elaborates on the specific curses that will come upon Israel if they disobey God, mirroring the warning in verse 28.
Joshua 24:14-15Joshua reiterates the call to obedience and warns against serving other gods, echoing the foundational choice presented in Deuteronomy 11.
1 Samuel 12:20-25Samuel warns Israel against turning to 'worthless things' (idols) after choosing a king, highlighting the theme of forsaking the LORD for the unknown and the consequences that follow.
Jeremiah 2:11-13The prophet critiques Israel for exchanging their faithful God for 'no gods at all,' emphasizing the folly of abandoning the known, living God for empty idols.
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 phrase "other gods that you have not known" isn't just about foreign deities; it emphasizes the stark contrast with the God they do know intimately through His powerful actions and covenant love. Turning to these unknown gods is presented as a profound act of amnesia, forgetting the living God who has already proven Himself to them.
This verse is the direct consequence of Moses' powerful presentation of a choice: obedience leading to blessings and disobedience leading to curses, set to be proclaimed from specific mountains once they entered the Promised Land. Just after declaring the stark alternatives of blessing and curse, he spells out what the curse entails: turning away from God's commands to worship unknown gods, a direct contrast to the known, experienced God of Israel. This warning sets the stage for the detailed list of blessings and curses to follow in chapter 28.
This verse is the direct consequence of Moses' powerful presentation of a choice: obedience leading to blessings and disobedience leading to curses, set to be proclaimed from specific mountains once they entered the Promised Land. Just after declaring the stark alternatives of blessing and curse, he spells out what the curse entails: turning away from God's commands to worship unknown gods, a direct contrast to the known, experienced God of Israel. This warning sets the stage for the detailed list of blessings and curses to follow in chapter 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." — The phrase "other gods that you have not known" isn't just about foreign deities; it emphasizes the stark contrast with the God they do know intimately through His powerful actions and covenant lov…
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Last reviewed October 2026
