Deuteronomy 28:38
You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights the devastating irony of laboring diligently, sowing abundant seed only to reap so little. This isn't just about bad luck; it's God's judgment, where the very sustenance of life is snatched away by locusts, a stark picture of effort rendered futile by divine decree.
This verse is part of a lengthy section detailing the severe curses that will befall Israel if they disobey God's covenant. Following the blessings promised for obedience, these curses illustrate the devastating consequences of turning away from God, impacting every aspect of their lives, from their crops and labor to their very existence. This specific curse describes agricultural failure, where hard work yields little due to pests like locusts, a direct result of their disobedience.
Imagine pouring all your effort into planting, only to watch it be devoured before your eyes. This verse paints a vivid picture of agricultural ruin.
Deuteronomy 28 lays out the consequences of disobedience, and verse 38 focuses on a specific agricultural disaster.
The Cycle of Effort and Loss
The curse of the locust wasn't an isolated incident; it was part of a broader pattern of destruction that touched every aspect of life.
Deuteronomy 28 presents a comprehensive system of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The specific example of the locusts in verse 38 is just one instance of a far-reaching consequence.
The Pervasive Nature of the Curse
Understand the original words
arbeh · Hebrew Noun
A small, migratory insect that appears in swarms and is frequently used in Scripture as an instrument of divine judgment to devour crops and bring famine upon a land.
This verse describes agricultural devastation through locusts, a direct consequence of the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28. Its most potent historical fulfillment occurred during and after the Babylonian exile, when famine and destruction of crops were rampant due to the nation's disobedience and subsequent downfall.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Covenant at Sinai
After leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, God establishes a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, presenting blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin to conquer and settle the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
c. 1406-1070 BC
Period of the Judges
A time of recurring cycles of disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and deliverance by judges, highlighting the consequences of straying from God's commands.
c. 931 BC
Division of the United Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, leading to further spiritual decline.
This passage describes a devastating locust plague consuming crops, directly paralleling the 'locust shall consume it' in Deuteronomy, illustrating the destructive power of such infestations when they come as divine judgment.
Haggai 1:6This verse speaks of planting much but bringing in little, a direct echo of Deuteronomy's curse, showing the futility of labor when God withholds His blessing due to disobedience.
Amos 7:1-3Amos pleads with God to relent after seeing a vision of locusts sent as judgment; this highlights the theological understanding of such natural disasters as divinely permitted or sent, aligning with the curses in Deuteronomy.
Proverbs 22:7This proverb states, 'The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender,' which resonates with the broader theme in Deuteronomy 28 where disobedience leads to loss of prosperity and subjugation, even to strangers.
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…
pooleDeuteronomy 28:38: "Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The verse highlights the devastating irony of laboring diligently, sowing abundant seed only to reap so little. This isn't just about bad luck; it's God's judgment, where the very sustenance of life is snatched away by locusts, a stark picture of effort rendered futile by divine decree.
This verse is part of a lengthy section detailing the severe curses that will befall Israel if they disobey God's covenant. Following the blessings promised for obedience, these curses illustrate the devastating consequences of turning away from God, impacting every aspect of their lives, from their crops and labor to their very existence. This specific curse describes agricultural failure, where hard work yields little due to pests like locusts, a direct result of their disobedience.
This verse is part of a lengthy section detailing the severe curses that will befall Israel if they disobey God's covenant. Following the blessings promised for obedience, these curses illustrate the devastating consequences of turning away from God, impacting every aspect of their lives, from their crops and labor to their very existence. This specific curse describes agricultural failure, where hard work yields little due to pests like locusts, a direct result of their disobedience.
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722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and marking a significant fulfillment of the curses for disobedience.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling much of the population. This event profoundly fulfills the prophetic curses of Deuteronomy 28.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and begin rebuilding the Temple, offering a glimmer of hope after severe judgment.
"You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it." — The verse highlights the devastating irony of laboring diligently, sowing abundant seed only to reap so little. This isn't just about bad luck; it's God's judgment, where the very sustenance of life…
