Deuteronomy 7:15
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This promise isn't just about avoiding general sickness; it specifically exempts Israel from the unique and devastating diseases associated with Egypt. It highlights that God's protection extends beyond common ailments to shield them from afflictions they had personally witnessed and experienced among their oppressors.
And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a covenant promise God makes to Israel, assuring them of protection and blessing if they remain faithful. Following passages that detail God's faithfulness and the blessings of obedience, this verse specifically contrasts the health and well-being Israel will experience with the diseases that plagued Egypt. It's a promise that continues into the detailed curses and blessings described later in Deuteronomy.
Imagine a promise of health, a shield against illness that sets you apart. This verse offers just that, but what does it truly mean for us today?
In Deuteronomy 7:15, God makes a profound promise to Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. He declares He will 'take away from you all sickness' and keep them free from the 'evil diseases of Egypt.'
A Covenant of Well-being
This wasn't just a casual wish; it was a tangible sign of His covenant faithfulness. Just as Egypt's plagues were a sign of God's judgment against their oppression of Israel, this promise was a sign of His protective blessing for His chosen people.
Think of it as a divine health plan, rooted in their obedience to His commands. When they honored their covenant with Him, they could expect His active protection against the prevalent and terrifying ailments known to plague Egypt, both common diseases and possibly even miraculous judgments.
Not About Never Getting Sick
It's crucial to understand that this wasn't a guarantee of absolute, lifelong immunity from any illness for every individual Israelite. Rather, it was a national, covenantal promise. As scholars note, Egypt was known as a source of many diseases. God was promising to spare them as a people from those specific, notorious ailments that afflicted their oppressors, a testament to His power and His commitment to them.
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The verse takes a sharp turn at the end, pointing to a different fate for those who oppose God and His people. What does this reveal about God's character?
The latter half of Deuteronomy 7:15 delivers a striking contrast: 'but he will lay them upon all who hate you.' This isn't about petty dislike; it's about active opposition to God and His chosen people.
Divine Retribution
This passage underscores a fundamental biblical truth: God is both merciful and just. While He promises protection and blessing to those who love and obey Him, He also promises judgment and affliction upon those who actively oppose Him and His purposes. The 'evil diseases' that are removed from Israel are redirected to fall upon their enemies.
A Prophetic Warning
This serves as a powerful warning to anyone who chooses to be an enemy of God's people or His plans. It’s a reminder that God’s justice is real and that opposition to Him will ultimately be met with His righteous judgment. The nations surrounding Israel, who often harbored hatred towards them, were put on notice. Their antagonism would not go unnoticed or unanswered by the Almighty.
Understand the original words
choli · Hebrew Noun
Physical or spiritual harm, infirmity, or calamity. In this context, it refers to the plagues and miseries associated with the godless nature and judgment of Egypt.
ra'ah · Hebrew Adjective
Morally wicked, harmful, or calamitous. It describes that which is contrary to God’s nature, will, and the well-being of His people.
This passage parallels Deuteronomy 7:15 by promising that God will bless Israel's food and take away sickness, directly linking His blessing to obedience.
Deuteronomy 28:27This verse lists specific diseases as part of God's curse for disobedience, which contrasts with the blessing of health promised in Deuteronomy 7:15 for obedience, highlighting the conditional nature of God's promises.
Psalm 105:37This Psalm recounts Israel's exodus from Egypt, stating they came out 'with silver and gold, and there was not a weak person among their tribes,' directly reflecting the promise of freedom from sickness found in Deuteronomy 7:15.
Isaiah 53:4-5While focusing on spiritual healing, these verses speak of the Suffering Servant bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows, offering a profound spiritual parallel to God's physical protection and healing for His people.
gillDeuteronomy 7:15: "And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee."
And will take away from thee all sickness,.... Bodily sickness and diseases, prevent the coming of them, or remove them when come: and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt which thou knowest upon thee; meaning either the plagues that were inflicted upon them to oblige them to let the Israeli…
calvinDeuteronomy 7:9-15: "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"
And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Diliget quoq…
This promise isn't just about avoiding general sickness; it specifically exempts Israel from the unique and devastating diseases associated with Egypt. It highlights that God's protection extends beyond common ailments to shield them from afflictions they had personally witnessed and experienced among their oppressors.
This verse is part of a covenant promise God makes to Israel, assuring them of protection and blessing if they remain faithful. Following passages that detail God's faithfulness and the blessings of obedience, this verse specifically contrasts the health and well-being Israel will experience with the diseases that plagued Egypt. It's a promise that continues into the detailed curses and blessings described later in Deuteronomy.
This verse is part of a covenant promise God makes to Israel, assuring them of protection and blessing if they remain faithful. Following passages that detail God's faithfulness and the blessings of obedience, this verse specifically contrasts the health and well-being Israel will experience with the diseases that plagued Egypt. It's a promise that continues into the detailed curses and blessings described later in Deuteronomy.
"And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you." — This promise isn't just about avoiding general sickness; it specifically exempts Israel from the unique and devastating diseases associated with Egypt. It highlights that God's protection extends bey…
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Last reviewed October 2026
