Deuteronomy 28:38-40
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This verse highlights the cruel irony of God's judgment: you'll pour immense effort and precious seed into the land, only to have it devoured by locusts, leaving you with barely anything to show for your labor. It's not just about a bad harvest; it's about the frustration of diligent work yielding next to nothing because of a force beyond your control.
You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a lengthy list of curses laid out in Deuteronomy 28, describing the devastating consequences for Israel if they disobey God. Following warnings about various diseases, military defeat, and the destruction of their homes and families, this passage focuses on agricultural devastation. It paints a picture of immense effort in planting yielding almost nothing, directly attributing this failure to the consumption of crops by locusts.
Imagine pouring all your energy into planting, only to watch your crops wither before harvest. This isn't just bad luck; it's a consequence of a broken covenant.
Deuteronomy 28 lays out the stark reality of the covenant between God and Israel. When they obeyed, blessings flowed. But when they turned away, the curses described here would fall upon them. Verse 38 paints a vivid picture of this: 'You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it.'
The Cycle of Futility
This curse speaks to a profound disconnect between effort and outcome. You sow generously, you invest your labor, but the result is meager. The reason given – the locust – highlights how natural forces, when unleashed by God's judgment, can devastate what was meant to sustain life. This isn't about a lack of trying; it's about a lack of God's favor on that effort.
The consequences of disobedience weren't confined to distant battles or foreign lands; they infiltrated the very fabric of daily life.
Deuteronomy 28 makes it clear that disobedience would affect every aspect of Israelite life. The curses weren't limited to grand national disasters but seeped into the ordinary rhythms of existence. Verse 38 focuses specifically on agriculture, the backbone of their economy and sustenance. 'You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little...' This wasn't just about a bad year; it was a systematic dismantling of their provision.
The Scope of the Curse
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This curse on their agricultural efforts is part of a larger pattern described in the chapter. Whether in the city or the field, in their basket or their store, the fruit of their bodies and land – nothing would be spared. The locust consuming the seed is a tangible symbol of how their efforts would be rendered fruitless, affecting their ability to provide for themselves and their families directly from the land God had given them.
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.
tole`ah · Hebrew Noun
A physical or spiritual infestation; in this context, it represents a blight or pest that destroys the fruit of one’s labor as part of a curse for disobedience.
suk · Hebrew Verb
To smear or rub with oil, often used for medicinal purposes, grooming, or—most significantly—as a religious act signifying consecration, divine favor, or being set apart for a holy purpose.
This verse paints a vivid picture of agricultural ruin as a consequence of disobedience, a stark reality for an agrarian society like ancient Israel. The mention of locusts directly links to specific historical plagues and the devastating impact of famine when a nation turns its back on God's covenant.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses Delivers the Law
Moses reiterates God's covenant laws to the Israelites at the plains of Moab, including the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience found in Deuteronomy 28.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquer and begin to settle in Canaan, the land promised to their ancestors.
c. 1070-586 BC
Period of Judges and Monarchy
Israel experiences cycles of disobedience, oppression, and repentance, followed by periods of relative peace and prosperity under the Judges and later the Kings of Israel and Judah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event serves as a warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population. This fulfills many of the curses in Deuteronomy 28.
This passage vividly describes the destructive power of locusts, echoing the consequence of disobedience in Deuteronomy and showing how natural disasters can be instruments of divine judgment.
Jeremiah 5:15-17Jeremiah foretells a foreign invasion that will consume the land's produce, directly paralleling the 'eating up' of crops by enemies and locusts as a result of forsaking God.
Haggai 1:6-11This prophetic passage directly links the people's neglect of rebuilding the temple to a lack of harvest and provision, demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship between faithfulness and the land's fruitfulness, much like Deuteronomy.
Matthew 6:25-30Jesus teaches not to worry about food and clothing, highlighting God's care for even the smallest creatures like the birds and lilies, which stands in stark contrast to the devastating failure of crops described in Deuteronomy when God withdraws His favor.
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.
This verse highlights the cruel irony of God's judgment: you'll pour immense effort and precious seed into the land, only to have it devoured by locusts, leaving you with barely anything to show for your labor. It's not just about a bad harvest; it's about the frustration of diligent work yielding next to nothing because of a force beyond your control.
This verse is part of a lengthy list of curses laid out in Deuteronomy 28, describing the devastating consequences for Israel if they disobey God. Following warnings about various diseases, military defeat, and the destruction of their homes and families, this passage focuses on agricultural devastation. It paints a picture of immense effort in planting yielding almost nothing, directly attributing this failure to the consumption of crops by locusts.
This verse is part of a lengthy list of curses laid out in Deuteronomy 28, describing the devastating consequences for Israel if they disobey God. Following warnings about various diseases, military defeat, and the destruction of their homes and families, this passage focuses on agricultural devastation. It paints a picture of immense effort in planting yielding almost nothing, directly attributing this failure to the consumption of crops by locusts.
"You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. You…" — This verse highlights the cruel irony of God's judgment: you'll pour immense effort and precious seed into the land, only to have it devoured by locusts, leaving you with barely anything to show for…
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Last reviewed October 2026
