Deuteronomy 28:55

Deuteronomy 28:55 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates.

King James Version KJV

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

American Standard Version ASV

so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat, because he hath nothing left him, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And will not give to any of them the flesh of his children which will be his food because he has no other; in the cruel grip of your haters on all your towns.

Free Bible Version FBV

He will refuse to share with any of them the flesh of his children that he's forced to eat because he doesn't have anything else because of the siege and suffering your enemy has caused you in all your towns.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

For feare of giuing vnto any of them of the flesh of his children, whom he shall eate, because he hath nothing left him in that siege, and straitnesse, wherewith thine enemie shall besiege thee in all thy cities.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

against giving to one of them of the flesh of his sons whom he eateth, because he hath nothing left to him, in the siege, and in the straitness with which thine enemy doth straiten thee in all thy gates.

World English Bible WEB

so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege and in the straitness with which thy enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

So that he will not give them of the flesh of his children, which he shall eat: because he hath nothing else in the siege and the want, wherewith thy enemies shall distress thee within all thy gates.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 28:55

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Deuteronomy 28:55 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB מִ/תֵּ֣ת לְ/אַחַ֣ד מֵ/הֶ֗ם מִ/בְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנָי/ו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאכֵ֔ל מִ/בְּלִ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר ל֖/וֹ כֹּ֑ל בְּ/מָצוֹר֙ וּ/בְ/מָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצִ֥יק לְ/ךָ֛ אֹיִבְ/ךָ֖ בְּ/כָל שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ

מִ/תֵּ֣ת nâthan H5414 to give Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a

לְ/אַחַ֣ד ʼechâd H259 one Prep | Adj

מֵ/הֶ֗ם Prep | Suff

מִ/בְּשַׂ֤ר bâsâr H1320 flesh Prep | N-ms

בָּנָי/ו֙ bên H1121 son N-mp | Suff

אֲשֶׁ֣ר ʼăsher H834 which Rel

יֹאכֵ֔ל ʼâkal H398 to eat V-Qal-Imperf-3ms

מִ/בְּלִ֥י bᵉlîy H1097 without Prep | N-ms

הִשְׁאִֽיר shâʼar H7604 to remain V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms

ל֖/וֹ Prep | Suff

כֹּ֑ל kôl H3605 all N-ms

בְּ/מָצוֹר֙ mâtsôwr H4692 siege Prep | N-ms

וּ/בְ/מָצ֔וֹק mâtsôwq H4689 distress Conj | Prep | N-ms

אֲשֶׁ֨ר ʼăsher H834 which Rel

יָצִ֥יק tsûwq H6693 to press V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms

לְ/ךָ֛ Prep | Suff

אֹיִבְ/ךָ֖ ʼôyêb H341 enemy V-Qal | Suff

בְּ/כָל kôl H3605 all Prep | N-ms

שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ shaʻar H8179 gate N-mp | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 28:55

מִ/תֵּ֣ת nâthan H5414 "to give" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a

This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.

Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon

Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.

לְ/אַחַ֣ד ʼechâd H259 "one" Prep | Adj

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.

Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.

מֵ/הֶ֗ם "" Prep | Suff

מִ/בְּשַׂ֤ר bâsâr H1320 "flesh" Prep | N-ms

The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.

Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)

Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.

בָּנָי/ו֙ bên H1121 "son" N-mp | Suff

In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.

Definition: : child/son

Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.

אֲשֶׁ֣ר ʼăsher H834 "which" Rel

This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.

Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.

יֹאכֵ֔ל ʼâkal H398 "to eat" V-Qal-Imperf-3ms

This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.

Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.

מִ/בְּלִ֥י bᵉlîy H1097 "without" Prep | N-ms

This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.

Definition: subst 1) wearing out adv of negation 2) without, no, not

Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without. See also: Genesis 31:20; Job 38:41; Psalms 19:4.

הִשְׁאִֽיר shâʼar H7604 "to remain" V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms

To remain or be left over, as in Joshua 10:20. It can also mean to spare or reserve something, like God sparing Noah in Genesis 7:23. This word is used to describe the remnant of Israel.

Definition: 1) to remain, be left over, be left behind 1a) (Qal) to remain 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be left over, be left alive, survive 1b1a) remainder, remnant (participle) 1b2) to be left behind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to leave over, spare 1c2) to leave or keep over 1c3) to have left 1c4) to leave (as a gift)

Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: leave, (be) left, let, remain, remnant, reserve, the rest. See also: Genesis 7:23; 1 Kings 22:47; Isaiah 4:3.

ל֖/וֹ "" Prep | Suff

כֹּ֑ל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms

The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.

בְּ/מָצוֹר֙ mâtsôwr H4692 "siege" Prep | N-ms

This word refers to a siege or a place of entrenchment, like a fortress or stronghold. It's used in the Bible to describe a city under attack, such as in 2 Kings 17:5. It can also mean a defense or bulwark.

Definition: 1) siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works 1a) siege 1b) enclosure, siege-works, rampart

Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress, siege, strong (hold), tower. See also: Deuteronomy 20:19; Jeremiah 19:9; Psalms 31:22.

וּ/בְ/מָצ֔וֹק mâtsôwq H4689 "distress" Conj | Prep | N-ms

This word means a narrow or difficult place, causing stress or anguish. It's used in the Bible to describe hard times, like in the book of Exodus. People felt trapped and distressed.

Definition: straitness, straits, distress, stress, anguish

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: anguish, distress, straitness. See also: Deuteronomy 28:53; 1 Samuel 22:2; Psalms 119:143.

אֲשֶׁ֨ר ʼăsher H834 "which" Rel

This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.

יָצִ֥יק tsûwq H6693 "to press" V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms

To press means to squeeze or compress something. It can also mean to oppress or distress someone, making their situation difficult or hard to bear. This word is used to describe a challenging or tough circumstance.

Definition: (Hiphil) to constrain, press, bring into straits, straiten, oppress

Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: constrain, distress, lie sore, (op-) press(-or), straiten. See also: Deuteronomy 28:53; Job 32:18; Isaiah 29:2.

לְ/ךָ֛ "" Prep | Suff

אֹיִבְ/ךָ֖ ʼôyêb H341 "enemy" V-Qal | Suff

This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.

Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national

Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.

בְּ/כָל kôl H3605 "all" Prep | N-ms

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

שְׁעָרֶֽי/ךָ shaʻar H8179 "gate" N-mp | Suff

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.

Definition: : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven

Usage: Occurs in 302 OT verses. KJV: city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). See also: Genesis 19:1; 1 Chronicles 9:18; Psalms 9:14.

Study Notes — Deuteronomy 28:55

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:55 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 28:55
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 28:55
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:55
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 28:55
Sermons on Deuteronomy 28:55

Context — The Curses of Disobedience

53Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. 54The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived,

55refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates.

56The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter 57the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Jeremiah 34:2	The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
2	Jeremiah 52:6	By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.
3	Jeremiah 5:10	Go up through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not finish them off. Strip off her branches, for they do not belong to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 28:55 Summary

Deuteronomy 28:55 describes a horrific scene where, due to extreme hunger caused by an enemy siege, a person refuses to share the flesh of their children with others, highlighting the devastating consequences of disobeying God. This verse, although disturbing, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of following God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-2. It warns us against the dangers of rebellion and the pursuit of our own desires, encouraging us instead to seek God's will and obedience, as taught in Romans 12:1-2. By reflecting on this verse, we can deepen our understanding of God's love and justice, and our need for faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the context of Deuteronomy 28:55 and why is it so disturbing?

Deuteronomy 28:55 is part of a larger section, Deuteronomy 28:53-57, that describes the severe consequences of disobedience to God, including the horrific act of eating one's own children due to extreme hunger caused by enemy siege, as also warned in Leviticus 26:29 and Jeremiah 19:9.

Is Deuteronomy 28:55 a prediction of a specific historical event?

While Deuteronomy 28:55 has been associated with historical events such as the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 2 Kings 25:1-3 and the Roman siege in 70 AD, its primary purpose is to serve as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 and Deuteronomy 30:19.

How can a loving God allow such horrific things to happen as described in Deuteronomy 28:55?

The Bible teaches that God is both loving and just, and while He does not cause evil, He can allow it to occur as a consequence of human rebellion against Him, as seen in Isaiah 45:7 and Romans 11:22, emphasizing the importance of obedience to His commands.

What is the spiritual significance of Deuteronomy 28:55 for believers today?

Deuteronomy 28:55 reminds believers of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God, warning against the dangers of spiritual complacency and the pursuit of worldly desires, as cautioned in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 and Hebrews 3:12-14.

Reflection Questions

How does the severity of the punishment in Deuteronomy 28:55 reflect the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands?
In what ways can I ensure that I am not contributing to a culture of disobedience and rebellion against God in my own life and community?
What are some modern-day 'sieges' or challenges that believers might face, and how can we prepare ourselves spiritually to endure them, as encouraged in Ephesians 6:10-18?
How can the warning in Deuteronomy 28:55 motivate me to share the Gospel with those around me who may be living in spiritual darkness and rebellion against God?

Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 28:55

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat,.... Neither give to a brother, nor to a wife, nor to any of his remaining children, the least bit of the flesh

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 28:55

So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:55

(55) So that he will not give to any of them.-A complication of horrors is here described. They shall eat some of their children and refuse to share even this food with those that are left.

Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 28:55

47–57. A Further Development of the Curses Invasion by a far-off, unknown nation, who shall ruthlessly devastate the land and besiege Israel’s cities; with the horrors of his siege. All this is not threatened conditionally on the possible disobedience of the people, but predicted absolutely because of their actual failure to serve God.

Sermons on Deuteronomy 28:55

	Sermon	Description
	Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet by Philip Powell	In this sermon, the preacher discusses how Jeremiah was supernaturally equipped and commissioned by God to carry out his mission. Jeremiah was sent to root out, pull down, destroy,

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