And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where Yahweh will lead you away.
- BSB You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
- NKJV And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you.
- NASB And you will become an object of horror, a song of mockery, and an object of taunting among all the peoples where the Lord drives you.
- NLT You will become an object of horror, ridicule, and mockery among all the nations to which the Lord sends you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel will become an object of horror, a proverb and a byword among the nations.
Overview
Once meant to draw nations to reverence God, Israel becomes a cautionary tale. Their downfall makes them a symbol of ruin among the peoples. This tragic reversal of their high calling shows the public shame of covenant unfaithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Jer 24:9And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
- Jer 25:9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
- 1 Kgs 9:7–8Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
- 2 Chr 7:20Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
- Ps 44:13–14Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
- Zech 8:13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
- Deut 29:22–28So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;
- Deut 28:28The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
- Joel 2:17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 28:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.