Deuteronomy 28:68 - Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I told to you that you would never see it again. There you will sell yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves, and nobody will buy you.
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What does "Deuteronomy 28:68" mean?
Deuteronomy 28:68 is a chilling prophecy that forms part of a longer section (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) outlining the curses that will befall the Israelites if they disobey God's commandments. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:
"Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again with ships...": This is the core of the prophecy. It's important to understand that "Egypt" here is not just a geographical location. It represents a place of slavery, oppression, and servitude. The Israelites were famously delivered from Egypt and slavery, so the idea of being returned there, even figuratively, is a complete reversal of God's promise of freedom and blessing. "With ships" suggests a forced and humiliating return. They will be transported back to this state of bondage, not by their own free will. The specific mode of transport (ships) is a detail emphasizing the completeness of their subjection; they are not even in control of how they are enslaved.
"...by the way of which I told you that you would never see it again.": This emphasizes the utter futility of their disobedience. God had explicitly promised that they would never return to slavery in Egypt. This part of the verse underscores the severity of their transgression. They were warned. This isn't an unforeseen accident; it's a direct consequence of breaking their covenant with God.
"There you will sell yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves...": In their desperation, they will attempt to sell themselves into slavery to their enemies, hoping for basic survival. This highlights the extreme degradation and destitution they will face. They will be so utterly broken and impoverished that their only option will be to sell themselves and their families into the most abject form of slavery.
"...and nobody will buy you.": This is the most crushing element of the prophecy. Even their desperate attempt to secure a minimal level of existence through slavery will be denied. No one will want them. This means their value is so diminished, their state is so deplorable, and the market is so glutted with slaves (likely due to widespread conquest and enslavement) that they are considered worthless. It signifies complete abandonment and utter worthlessness in the eyes of their enemies.
Overall Meaning and Interpretation:
The verse paints a picture of utter devastation and national humiliation. It signifies:
Loss of Freedom and Divine Protection: The Israelites will be stripped of their freedom and returned to a state of servitude worse than their original enslavement in Egypt. They have lost God's protection and are at the mercy of their enemies.
Consequences of Disobedience: The prophecy is a powerful warning about the dire consequences of breaking the covenant with God. It illustrates that blessings are contingent upon obedience.
Total Degradation: The Israelites will be reduced to such a state of poverty and despair that they are willing to sell themselves into slavery, and even that avenue of last resort will be closed to them.
Historical Interpretations:
Historical Events: Some interpret this verse as a prophecy fulfilled during the various periods of exile and persecution experienced by the Jewish people throughout history, particularly after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE when many Jews were sold into slavery by the Romans.
Figurative Interpretation: Others see Egypt less as a specific geographic location and more as a symbol of spiritual bondage to sin and worldly values.
In summary, Deuteronomy 28:68 is a stark warning and a devastating prophecy about the potential consequences of Israel's disobedience to God. It depicts a future of exile, slavery, and complete national humiliation.
Deuteronomy 28:68 - Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I told to you that you would never see it again. There you will sell yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves, and nobody will buy you.
What does "Deuteronomy 28:68" mean?
Deuteronomy 28:68 is a chilling prophecy that forms part of a longer section (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) outlining the curses that will befall the Israelites if they disobey God's commandments. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:
"Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again with ships...": This is the core of the prophecy. It's important to understand that "Egypt" here is not just a geographical location. It represents a place of slavery, oppression, and servitude. The Israelites were famously delivered from Egypt and slavery, so the idea of being returned there, even figuratively, is a complete reversal of God's promise of freedom and blessing. "With ships" suggests a forced and humiliating return. They will be transported back to this state of bondage, not by their own free will. The specific mode of transport (ships) is a detail emphasizing the completeness of their subjection; they are not even in control of how they are enslaved.
"...by the way of which I told you that you would never see it again.": This emphasizes the utter futility of their disobedience. God had explicitly promised that they would never return to slavery in Egypt. This part of the verse underscores the severity of their transgression. They were warned. This isn't an unforeseen accident; it's a direct consequence of breaking their covenant with God.
"There you will sell yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves...": In their desperation, they will attempt to sell themselves into slavery to their enemies, hoping for basic survival. This highlights the extreme degradation and destitution they will face. They will be so utterly broken and impoverished that their only option will be to sell themselves and their families into the most abject form of slavery.
"...and nobody will buy you.": This is the most crushing element of the prophecy. Even their desperate attempt to secure a minimal level of existence through slavery will be denied. No one will want them. This means their value is so diminished, their state is so deplorable, and the market is so glutted with slaves (likely due to widespread conquest and enslavement) that they are considered worthless. It signifies complete abandonment and utter worthlessness in the eyes of their enemies.
Overall Meaning and Interpretation:
The verse paints a picture of utter devastation and national humiliation. It signifies:
Loss of Freedom and Divine Protection: The Israelites will be stripped of their freedom and returned to a state of servitude worse than their original enslavement in Egypt. They have lost God's protection and are at the mercy of their enemies.
Consequences of Disobedience: The prophecy is a powerful warning about the dire consequences of breaking the covenant with God. It illustrates that blessings are contingent upon obedience.
Total Degradation: The Israelites will be reduced to such a state of poverty and despair that they are willing to sell themselves into slavery, and even that avenue of last resort will be closed to them.
Historical Interpretations:
Historical Events: Some interpret this verse as a prophecy fulfilled during the various periods of exile and persecution experienced by the Jewish people throughout history, particularly after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE when many Jews were sold into slavery by the Romans.
Figurative Interpretation: Others see Egypt less as a specific geographic location and more as a symbol of spiritual bondage to sin and worldly values.
In summary, Deuteronomy 28:68 is a stark warning and a devastating prophecy about the potential consequences of Israel's disobedience to God. It depicts a future of exile, slavery, and complete national humiliation.