Deuteronomy 28:15
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse doesn't just outline consequences; it paints a picture of God's justice being active. The curses aren't just waiting passively; they "shall come upon you, and overtake you," suggesting a relentless pursuit by God's judgment against those who refuse to listen. This isn't about random misfortune, but a directed and inescapable consequence of turning away from the divine voice.
“But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the transition from the blessings of obedience to the severe consequences of disobedience. Following God's promises of prosperity and protection, Moses now outlines the curses that will inevitably fall upon Israel if they fail to heed God's commands. These curses are presented as the direct antithesis to the blessings, demonstrating that just as faithfulness brings favor, so disobedience brings ruin.
God's blessings weren't just handed out; they were tied to a condition. What does it truly mean to 'hearken' to His voice?
Deuteronomy 28 lays out a clear covenant between God and Israel. The blessings for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) are matched by severe curses for disobedience, beginning in verse 15. The opening phrase, 'if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God,' is crucial. It's not just about hearing God's words, but actively listening and paying attention (hearken) to them. This isn't passive; it requires a conscious effort to 'be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes.' True obedience flows from a heart that values God's voice above all else, recognizing His authority and wisdom.
The consequences of disobedience aren't just theoretical; they are described as active forces that will 'come upon you and overtake you.' What does this relentless pursuit signify?
The language used for the curses is powerful and intentional. They don't just 'happen'; they 'come upon' and 'overtake' the disobedient. This imagery suggests an inescapable and persistent judgment. As commentators note, these curses are not random misfortunes but the direct, though sometimes delayed, outworking of God's covenant justice. They are described as pursuing, seizing, and consuming, leaving no room for escape. This highlights that turning away from God’s path has tangible, devastating, and thorough consequences that will ultimately catch up to the offender.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
Formal, written, or decreed regulations/ordinances given by God that clarify and enforce the obligations of the covenant.
qelalah · Hebrew Noun
A formal declaration of judgment or adverse consequence resulting from the violation of God's covenantal requirements.
Deuteronomy 28:15 lays out the foundational principle of the Mosaic Covenant: obedience brings blessings, while disobedience brings severe curses. The historical context of Israel's repeated cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, leading to both periods of prosperity and devastating exile, powerfully illustrates the stark reality of these consequences.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israel's Covenant at Sinai
God establishes a formal covenant with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, outlining blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience as recorded in Deuteronomy.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy Established
The tribes of Israel unite under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, marking a period of relative stability and national flourishing.
c. 930 BC
Divided Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased idolatry and internal conflict.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting its population and scattering them, a stark example of the curses of disobedience.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile a significant portion of the population, fulfilling many of the curses.
This passage outlines consequences for disobedience to God's commands, echoing the theme of curses in Deuteronomy 28, specifically mentioning refusal to listen and the resulting destruction and plague.
Joshua 24:20Joshua warns the Israelites that if they forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, He will turn and do them harm and consume them, directly paralleling the consequence of disobedience and divine judgment seen in Deuteronomy 28:15.
1 Samuel 15:22-23Samuel declares that obedience is better than sacrifice, linking rebellion and stubbornness (like not hearkening to God's voice) to the sin of idolatry and the consequences of rejection by the Lord, mirroring the core message of Deuteronomy 28:15.
Nehemiah 9:26-27This prayer recounts Israel's history of rebellion and God's subsequent judgment through enemies and exile, directly reflecting the curses prophesied in Deuteronomy 28 for failing to obey God's law.
Jeremiah 7:23-24Jeremiah prophesies that if Israel does not obey God's voice, He will cast them out, drawing a clear parallel to Deuteronomy 28:15 where disobedience leads to severe consequences and God's abandonment.
calvinDeuteronomy 28:15-68: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:"
- But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake th…
gillDeuteronomy 28:15: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:"
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God,.... As directed, exhorted, and encouraged to, Deuteronomy 28:1 , &c. to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day;…
This verse doesn't just outline consequences; it paints a picture of God's justice being active. The curses aren't just waiting passively; they "shall come upon you, and overtake you," suggesting a relentless pursuit by God's judgment against those who refuse to listen. This isn't about random misfortune, but a directed and inescapable consequence of turning away from the divine voice.
This verse marks the transition from the blessings of obedience to the severe consequences of disobedience. Following God's promises of prosperity and protection, Moses now outlines the curses that will inevitably fall upon Israel if they fail to heed God's commands. These curses are presented as the direct antithesis to the blessings, demonstrating that just as faithfulness brings favor, so disobedience brings ruin.
This verse marks the transition from the blessings of obedience to the severe consequences of disobedience. Following God's promises of prosperity and protection, Moses now outlines the curses that will inevitably fall upon Israel if they fail to heed God's commands. These curses are presented as the direct antithesis to the blessings, demonstrating that just as faithfulness brings favor, so disobedience brings ruin.
"“But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you." — This verse doesn't just outline consequences; it paints a picture of God's justice being active. The curses aren't just waiting passively; they "shall come upon you, and overtake you," suggesting a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
