You will have olive trees throughout all your borders, but you won’t anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives will drop off.
Parallel translations
- KJV Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
- BSB You will have olive trees throughout your territory but will never anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off.
- NKJV You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off.
- NASB You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, because your olives will drop off prematurely.
- NLT You will grow olive trees throughout your land, but you will never use the olive oil, for the fruit will drop before it ripens.
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
They will have olive trees but no oil, for the olives will drop off prematurely.
Overview
Even the olive groves, a staple of the land, will fail to yield usable oil. The loss of oil meant the loss of anointing, light, and daily comfort. This continues the pattern of labor without enjoyment under judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Mic 6:15You will sow, but won’t reap. You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won’t drink the wine.
- Ps 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
- Ps 104:15wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 28:40 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.