What does Deuteronomy 28:14 mean?
"And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them." - Deuteronomy 28:14
Deuteronomy 28:14 (KJV) states, "And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them." This verse is part of the larger passage in which Moses is delivering a series of blessings and curses to the Israelites, depending on whether they choose to obey or disobey the commandments of the Lord. In this particular verse, Moses is emphasizing the importance of unwavering obedience to the commandments of the Lord and the potential consequence of straying from His word.
The theme of obedience is central to the message of Deuteronomy 28:14. The Israelites are being reminded that they must remain steadfast in their commitment to following the commandments of the Lord. This theme of obedience runs throughout the entire Bible, with numerous instances of God's people being called to heed His word and to remain faithful in their obedience. The consequences for disobedience are often severe, and the Israelites are being warned that straying from God's commandments can lead them to serve other gods, which is a grave sin in the eyes of the Lord.
The context of this verse is also important to consider. Moses is delivering this message to the Israelites as they are preparing to enter the promised land. They have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and now they are on the brink of entering a land flowing with milk and honey. However, this land is also inhabited by people who worship false gods, and the Israelites are being warned against being influenced by these practices. The context of this verse serves as a reminder that the Israelites must remain faithful and obedient to God even in the midst of a land filled with temptation and idolatry.
Symbolism is also present in Deuteronomy 28:14. The "right hand" and "left" are often used in the Bible as symbols of choice and direction. In this verse, the Israelites are being instructed to stay on the path of righteousness and to not deviate to the right or left to follow after other gods. The symbolism of the "right hand" and "left" serves as a visual representation of the Israelites' need to remain focused and unwavering in their commitment to God's commandments.
Overall, Deuteronomy 28:14 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's commandments. The verse carries a warning against the allure of false gods and the temptation to stray from the path of righteousness. It also conveys the message that the consequences of disobedience can be severe. The themes of obedience, the context of entering the promised land, and the symbolism of direction and choice all contribute to the richness of this verse and its enduring relevance in guiding God's people towards a life of faithful obedience.
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Deuteronomy 28:14 - "And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
"And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them." - Deuteronomy 28:14
Deuteronomy 14:28 - "¶ At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:"
Deuteronomy 28:28 - "The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:"
Deuteronomy 28:5 - "Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store."
Deuteronomy 14:14 - "And every raven after his kind,"
Deuteronomy 28:17 - "Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store."
Deuteronomy 32:28 - "For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them."
"The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:" - Deuteronomy 28:28
Deuteronomy 28:16 - "Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field."
Deuteronomy 28:3 - "Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field."
Deuteronomy 28:42 - "All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume."
Deuteronomy 28:46 - "And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever."
Genesis 28-14
John 14:28
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 - "At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
Deuteronomy 28:34 - "So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see."
Deuteronomy 14:17 - "And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,"
"¶ At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:" - Deuteronomy 14:28
Deuteronomy 22:28 - "¶ If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;"
Deuteronomy 28:27 - "The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed."
Deuteronomy 28:23 - "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron."
Deuteronomy 28:41 - "Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity."
"And every raven after his kind," - Deuteronomy 14:14
Deuteronomy 28:47 - "Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;"
Deuteronomy 28:50 - "A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:"
Deuteronomy 14:16 - "The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,"
Deuteronomy 28:19 - "Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out."
Acts 14:28 - "And there they abode long time with the disciples."
Deuteronomy 28:10 - "And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee."