Deuteronomy 28:7 - Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways.

Generated Verse: Deuteronomy 28:7

What does "Deuteronomy 28:7" mean?


Deuteronomy 28:7 is a promise of divine protection and victory for the Israelites, conditioned upon their obedience to God. Let's break down the meaning:

"Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you." This is the core promise. "Yahweh" is the name of God, emphasizing his covenant relationship with the Israelites. To be "struck before you" means God will defeat their enemies in battle. The Israelites themselves won't necessarily have to do all the fighting; God will intervene on their behalf.

"They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways." This is a vivid image emphasizing the thoroughness of the enemy's defeat and their utter panic.
"Come out against you one way": This implies the enemy initially attacks with a unified front, a singular strategy or plan. They are confident and approach with purpose.
"Flee before you seven ways": This is the key image. "Seven" in Hebrew scripture often symbolizes completeness or perfection. The enemy will be so routed and demoralized that they will scatter in every possible direction, in complete disarray. It's not just a simple retreat; it's a chaotic and total collapse. There's no organized defense; they are simply trying to escape. The verse suggests a complete and overwhelming victory, where the enemy is not just defeated but also thoroughly humiliated and dispersed.

Overall meaning:

The verse is a powerful assurance of God's help. It means that if the Israelites remain faithful to their covenant with God, they can trust that God will defend them against their enemies. Their enemies may initially appear strong and unified, but God will cause them to be utterly defeated and scattered. It highlights the consequences of being in relationship with God and following his commands.

Context is crucial:

It's important to remember that this verse is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 28) that outlines both blessings (verses 1-14) for obedience and curses (verses 15-68) for disobedience. This promise of victory is contingent upon the Israelites upholding their end of the covenant. It's not a guarantee of success regardless of their behavior.

In short, Deuteronomy 28:7 is a promise of divine intervention leading to comprehensive victory over enemies, contingent upon the faithfulness of the Israelites to God.