Deuteronomy 28:11
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This verse isn't just about having enough, but about overflowing. The Hebrew suggests God will cause you to "abound for good," meaning not just material wealth, but that this prosperity will bring genuine well-being and joy, directly linked to the land promised to their ancestors.
And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a powerful discourse where Moses lays out the consequences of obedience and disobedience for the Israelites. Immediately before this, Moses detailed the specific blessings that would follow if they faithfully followed God's commands, promising they'd be set high above all nations. This verse then elaborates on that blessing, focusing on abundant prosperity flowing from their families, livestock, and land, all within the promised inheritance.
Ever wondered why God promises such specific blessings? This verse isn't just about getting rich; it's about a deeper covenant relationship.
Deuteronomy 28 lays out a clear covenant between God and Israel. Verse 11 is a beautiful example of the promised blessings for obedience.
Abounding in Goodness
The Hebrew phrase here can be translated as 'to have an excess of prosperity' or 'to abound for good.' It suggests not just having enough, but an overflowing abundance that leads to well-being and happiness.
A Sign to the Nations
This prosperity wasn't meant to be hoarded. It was a tangible sign to all the surrounding nations of God's faithfulness and His special relationship with Israel. When they were blessed, it pointed to the One who blessed them.
Land as a Divine Gift
The verse specifically mentions 'the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.' This highlights that even the physical blessings were tied to God's promises and His covenant faithfulness.
Where does true prosperity come from? This verse points us to a single, divine source, reminding us where to place our ultimate trust.
Deuteronomy 28:11 explicitly names the LORD as the one who causes this abundance. This isn't a passive observation; it's an active declaration of God's sovereignty.
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God's Active Blessing
The language used emphasizes God's direct involvement. He doesn't just create the conditions for prosperity; He actively 'makes' His people abound. This applies to every aspect mentioned: family ('fruit of your womb'), livestock ('fruit of your cattle'), and agriculture ('fruit of your ground').
Beyond Human Effort
While human effort is involved in farming, raising families, and tending livestock, the verse attributes the abundance and success to God's blessing. Our hard work is important, but it's God's favor that turns labor into overflowing prosperity.
Trust in the Covenant Giver
This focus on God as the source encourages trust not in our own abilities or in the land itself, but in the covenant-keeping God who promised these provisions.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His personal, self-existent, and faithful nature toward His people.
tobah · Hebrew Noun
Material or relational well-being granted by God; it encompasses success, abundance, and the state of being free from adversity.
shaba · Hebrew Verb
A solemn, binding vow or promise made before God, often invoking His name, to ensure the fulfillment of an agreement or oath.
This verse describes the abundant blessings promised to Israel *if* they obey God's commands. Its context in Deuteronomy, delivered just before entering the Promised Land, serves as a powerful reminder of the conditional nature of God's favor. The subsequent history of Israel, marked by periods of prosperity followed by devastating exile, underscores the profound significance of these promises and warnings.
~1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, initiating their journey towards the Promised Land.
~1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites began the military conquest of the land of Canaan, a process that would take several years.
~1375 BC - c. 1046 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel experienced cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, highlighting their need for continued faithfulness.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy Established
Saul, David, and Solomon ruled a united Israel, a period often seen as a peak of national prosperity and divine favor.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered and deported the northern tribes of Israel, a severe consequence of their disobedience to God's covenant.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the population, demonstrating the severe consequences of prolonged disobedience.
This passage echoes the promise of abundant offspring and prosperity given to Abraham, which is the foundation for the specific blessings detailed in Deuteronomy 28, underscoring the fulfillment of God's covenant promises.
Leviticus 26:3-6These verses describe similar blessings of prosperity and security that are conditioned on obedience, highlighting that the abundance mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 is part of a larger covenant framework emphasizing faithfulness.
Psalm 128:1-2This psalm celebrates the blessings of a God-fearing life, including the fruit of one's labor and family, mirroring the specific outcomes of prosperity promised in Deuteronomy 28 for those who walk with the Lord.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' teaching to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' offers a spiritual parallel, suggesting that seeking God's favor and will is the ultimate pathway to experiencing His provision and blessings, both material and spiritual.
1 Timothy 4:8This verse speaks of godliness having promise of the 'life that now is and of the life that is to come,' reflecting the multifaceted nature of God's blessings, which Deuteronomy 28 describes in terms of earthly prosperity and temporal well-being.
ellicottDeuteronomy 28:11: "And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee."
(11) In goods. —Rather, in good or goodness, i.e., in prosperity. “Goodness” in Jeremiah 33:9 .
calvinDeuteronomy 28:1-14: "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:"
- And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all natio…
This verse isn't just about having enough, but about overflowing. The Hebrew suggests God will cause you to "abound for good," meaning not just material wealth, but that this prosperity will bring genuine well-being and joy, directly linked to the land promised to their ancestors.
This verse is part of a powerful discourse where Moses lays out the consequences of obedience and disobedience for the Israelites. Immediately before this, Moses detailed the specific blessings that would follow if they faithfully followed God's commands, promising they'd be set high above all nations. This verse then elaborates on that blessing, focusing on abundant prosperity flowing from their families, livestock, and land, all within the promised inheritance.
This verse is part of a powerful discourse where Moses lays out the consequences of obedience and disobedience for the Israelites. Immediately before this, Moses detailed the specific blessings that would follow if they faithfully followed God's commands, promising they'd be set high above all nations. This verse then elaborates on that blessing, focusing on abundant prosperity flowing from their families, livestock, and land, all within the promised inheritance.
"And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you." — This verse isn't just about having enough, but about overflowing. The Hebrew suggests God will cause you to "abound for good," meaning not just material wealth, but that this prosperity will bring…
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Last reviewed October 2026
