Deuteronomy 28:26
Deuteronomy 28:26 in Multiple Translations
Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the air and beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away.
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
And thy dead body shall be food unto all birds of the heavens, and unto the beasts of the earth; and there shall be none to frighten them away.
Your bodies will be meat for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth; there will be no one to send them away.
Your dead bodies will be food for birds of prey and wild animals, and there won't be anyone to scare them away.
And thy carkeis shall be meate vnto all foules of the ayre, and vnto the beasts of the earth, and none shall fray them away.
and thy carcase hath been for food to every fowl of the heavens, and to the beast of the earth, and there is none causing trembling.
Your dead bodies will be food to all birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth; and there will be no one to frighten them away.
And thy carcass shall be food to all fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth, and no man shall drive them away.
And be thy carcass meat for all the Fowls of the air, and the beasts of the earth, and be there none to drive them away.
You will die, and birds and wild animals will come and eat your corpses, and there will not be anyone to scare/shoo them away.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 28:26
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 28:26 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיְתָ֤ה
נִבְלָֽתְ/ךָ֙
לְ/מַאֲכָ֔ל
לְ/כָל
ע֥וֹף
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
וּ/לְ/בֶהֱמַ֣ת
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
וְ/אֵ֖ין
מַחֲרִֽיד
וְ/הָיְתָ֤ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3fs
נִבְלָֽתְ/ךָ֙
nᵉbêlâh
H5038
carcass
N-fs | Suff
לְ/מַאֲכָ֔ל
maʼăkâl
H3978
food
Prep | N-ms
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
bird
N-ms
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
shâmayim
H8064
heaven
Art | N-mp
וּ/לְ/בֶהֱמַ֣ת
bᵉhêmâh
H929
animal
Conj | Prep | N-fs
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
וְ/אֵ֖ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Conj | Part
מַחֲרִֽיד
chârad
H2729
to tremble
V-Hiphil
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 28:26
וְ/הָיְתָ֤ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3fs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
נִבְלָֽתְ/ךָ֙
nᵉbêlâh
H5038
"carcass"
N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to a dead body or carcass, whether human or animal, often translated as 'dead body' or 'carcass'. It can also symbolize an idol.
Definition: 1) carcass, corpse 1a) of humans, idols, animals
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself. See also: Leviticus 5:2; Joshua 8:29; Psalms 79:2.
לְ/מַאֲכָ֔ל
maʼăkâl
H3978
"food"
Prep | N-ms
This word means food or something to eat, like fruit or meat, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in Genesis. It's about nourishment and survival.
Definition: food, fruit, meat
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: food, fruit, (bake-)meat(-s), victual. See also: Genesis 2:9; Job 33:20; Psalms 44:12.
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
"bird"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word simply means a bird, like the ones that fly in the sky. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms, often symbolizing freedom.
Definition: 1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds 1a) fowl, birds 1b) winged insects Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: bird, that flieth, flying, fowl. See also: Genesis 1:20; 1 Samuel 17:46; Psalms 50:11.
הַ/שָּׁמַ֖יִם
shâmayim
H8064
"heaven"
Art | N-mp
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Definition: 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Usage: Occurs in 395 OT verses. KJV: air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). See also: Genesis 1:1; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 28:21.
וּ/לְ/בֶהֱמַ֣ת
bᵉhêmâh
H929
"animal"
Conj | Prep | N-fs
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Definition: 1) beast, cattle, animal 1a) beasts (coll of all animals) 1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals) 1c) wild beasts
Usage: Occurs in 172 OT verses. KJV: beast, cattle. See also: Genesis 1:24; Deuteronomy 28:11; Psalms 8:8.
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
וְ/אֵ֖ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Conj | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
מַחֲרִֽיד
chârad
H2729
"to tremble"
V-Hiphil
This Hebrew word means to tremble with fear or anxiety, like when the Israelites trembled at Mount Sinai. It can also mean to hasten or be careful. In the Bible, it appears in Exodus and other books.
Definition: 1) to tremble, quake, move about, be afraid, be startled, be terrified 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tremble, quake (of a mountain) 1a2) to tremble (of people) 1a3) to be anxiously careful 1a4) to go or come trembling (with prep) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to tremble 1b2) to drive in terror, rout (an army)
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble. See also: Genesis 27:33; Isaiah 17:2; Isaiah 10:29.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 28:26
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 28:26 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 28:26
Context — The Curses of Disobedience
24The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed.
25The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
26Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the air and beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away.
27The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured. 28The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 34:20 | I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 16:4 | “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 7:33 | The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 19:7 | And in this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 8:1 | “At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. |
| 6 | Isaiah 34:3 | Their slain will be left unburied, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will flow with their blood. |
| 7 | Psalms 79:1–3 | The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 39:17–20 | And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. And at My table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, of mighty men and warriors of every kind,’ declares the Lord GOD. |
| 9 | 1 Samuel 17:44–46 | “Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. |
Deuteronomy 28:26 Summary
This verse, Deuteronomy 28:26, is a warning from God that if we disobey Him, we will face severe consequences, including physical and spiritual death. It's like when we see a dead animal on the side of the road, and it's been eaten by birds and other animals - it's a sad and shameful thing. But God wants us to choose life and follow His commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19-20, so we can have a good and blessed life, as promised in Psalm 37:3-4 and Jeremiah 29:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for corpses to be food for birds and beasts?
This verse, Deuteronomy 28:26, describes a severe judgment where the dead bodies of God's people will be left unburied and uneaten, a sign of great shame and defeat, as seen in other scriptures like Jeremiah 7:33 and Ezekiel 29:5.
Is this verse only talking about physical death?
While Deuteronomy 28:26 does describe physical death, it also symbolizes spiritual death and separation from God, as warned in Deuteronomy 30:17-18 and Ezekiel 18:4.
How does this verse relate to God's love and mercy?
Although this verse describes severe judgment, it is a call to repentance and a reminder of God's holiness, as seen in Leviticus 11:44-45 and Deuteronomy 28:1-2, where obedience to God's commands brings blessings and life.
Can this verse be applied to modern times?
While the historical context of Deuteronomy 28:26 is specific to the Israelites, the principle of God's judgment and the importance of obedience to His commands remains relevant today, as seen in Romans 6:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can examine my own heart to ensure I am not under God's judgment, as described in Deuteronomy 28:26?
- How can I apply the principle of obedience to God's commands in my daily life, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1-2?
- In what ways can I trust in God's love and mercy, even in the face of judgment and discipline, as described in Hebrews 12:5-11?
- What are some practical steps I can take to 'choose life' and follow God's commands, as encouraged in Deuteronomy 30:19-20?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 28:26
And thy carcass shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth,.... Which was always reckoned a very grievous calamity, have no other burial than in the bowels of beasts
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 28:26
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away. Thy carcass shall be meat unto ... the beasts of the earth.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
Deuteronomy 28:26 And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray [them] away.Ver. 26. And thy carcass shall be meat.] Thou shalt want the honour of honest burial; which the Jews accounted worse than death, and the Gentiles extreme misery.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
(26) And thy carcase shall be meat.—Repeated in Jeremiah 7:33, and to be fulfilled in Tophet, when they had buried until there was no more room. (Comp. also Jeremiah 15:3.) No man shall fray (i.e., frighten) them away.—Not even a woman like Rizpah, who at the foot of the gallows watched her children’s bodies for half the year, and “suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night” (2 Samuel 21:10). There shall be no one to do it.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 28:26
26. Jeremiah 7:33; cp. Jeremiah 16:4, Jeremiah 19:7, Jeremiah 34:20.
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:26
26. Meat unto all fowls of the air — The corpses of the slain in battle would be food for birds and beasts. The ancients looked with dread upon the idea of the body lying unburied. Comp. Jeremiah 7:33; also 1 Kings 14:11.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 28:26
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A Psalm of Asaph by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army. He describes the defilement of the holy temple and the suffering of the people. Th |
|
The Burden of the Hour by Phil Beach Jr. | Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the urgency of recognizing the spiritual state of God's people as reflected in Psalms 79 and 80. He highlights the importance of humility and the cry for |
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(The Church in the Last Days) 12 - the Harlot Church by Milton Green | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following the Word of God rather than the traditions of men. He encourages listeners to listen to the entire series of tape |