In the morning thou shalt say Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.Deuteronomy 28:67 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: You’ll be so anxious and terrified that in the morning you’ll wish it were evening, and at night you’ll wish it were morning — you won’t be able to find relief because of the dread in your heart and the awful things your eyes will see. - Big idea: This verse paints a picture of relentless fear as one of the consequences of turning away from God and breaking the covenant. - Key points: - The verse uses everyday times of day (morning/evening) to stress how constant and exhausting the experience of fear will be. - The fear is both internal (the heart’s dread) and external (the frightening things people will witness). - It belongs to a long list of covenant curses meant to warn Israel of the serious consequences of disobedience. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Deuteronomy 28 is Moses’ major “blessings and curses” speech. The chapter lists blessings for obedience (beginning) and an extended set of curses for disobedience (the latter half). Verse 67 is part of the graphic description of those curses. - Story timeline: Spoken by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab (just before they enter the Promised Land). The audience is the whole covenant community of Israel; Moses is reminding them of the terms of the covenant and warning them of what will follow if they abandon God. - Surrounding passage: The verses immediately before and after continue the theme of escalating curses: preceding verses describe terror, disease, defeat, and socio-economic collapse; following verses (e.g., v. 68) complete the warning by picturing exile and loss of national independence (including being taken back to Egypt in servitude as an ultimate humiliation). ## Explanation - Quick take: Deuteronomy 28:67 uses the ordinary markers of day — morning and evening — to emphasize that the curses will produce unending anxiety. People won’t be able to rest because their hearts are full of dread and their eyes see awful things; daily life will be turned upside down. - In Depth: - Literary shape: The verse is rhythmic and repetitive: the wish for evening in the morning and for morning at evening. That inversion shows how the normal pattern of life is disturbed by fear. - Emotional scope: “Fear of thine heart” points to internal terror — anxiety, dread, panic. “The sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see” points to external horrors — what people will witness: suffering, violence, or shame. - Covenant meaning: In Deuteronomy’s framework, blessings flow from faithfulness and curses from unfaithfulness. This verse intends to motivate obedience by describing vivid consequences of breaking the covenant. - Rhetorical purpose: Rather than give a slow theological argument, Moses uses vivid images so the people will feel the urgency of remaining faithful. ## Key Words - Morning (Hebrew: boker, בֹּקֶר) — the beginning of the day; here it stands for a daily, normal moment. - Evening (Hebrew: 'ereb, עֶרֶב) — the close of the day; paired with “morning” to show the whole day disturbed. - Fear (Hebrew: yirah, יִרְאָה) — dread, terror; an inner emotional state that dominates a person. - See (Hebrew verb ra'ah, רָאָה) — to witness or behold; here it suggests frightening or shameful sights. ## Background - Cultural/historical: In ancient covenants, blessings and curses were standard features used to secure community fidelity to a treaty-like relationship. Deuteronomy’s list of curses is deliberately stark, reflecting real threats ancient peoples faced: warfare, exile, famine, disease, social breakdown. - Literary: The curse language often uses hyperbole and vivid imagery to make a theological point: disobedience leads not just to bad luck but to a comprehensive life-disruption — emotional, social, and national. ## Theology - Theological insights: - God links human choices and communal consequences: abandoning the covenant leads to real, painful outcomes. - The passage highlights how sin fractures both inner life (fear) and external reality (sights of disaster). - The sharp warnings serve both a judicial and pastoral purpose: they are meant to deter sin and to call the community back to faithful dependence on God. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: If your daily rhythms are ruled by anxiety (wishing for the day to pass), examine what’s controlling your trust — is it financial fear, ethical compromise, or exhaustion? Practical steps: set healthy boundaries, bring real concerns to God, and pursue integrity at work. - For parents: Kids pick up on your fear and steady rhythms. Model trust by working through fear realistically (talk about worries, show prayer and action, seek wise help). - For seekers: This verse shows that turning away from what keeps communities whole (trust in God, love for neighbor) can create persistent unrest. Seek stability in practices and communities that build trust and reduce fear. - For those struggling with anxiety: While this verse describes judgment language, it also speaks honestly to how consuming fear can be. Seek pastoral care, community, and professional help; bring your fears to God. - Reflection questions: - What fears dominate my daily life, morning and night? - Are there choices or patterns that are creating this ongoing dread? - Where and how can I place trust in God and seek practical help to break the cycle? - Short prayer: Lord, meet the fears in my heart and help me to find rest in You; give me courage to change what I can and peace for what I cannot. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: "In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see." - NIV: "In the morning you will say, 'If only it were evening!' and at evening you will say, 'If only it were morning!' because of the dread that fills your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see." - ESV: "In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were evening!' and at evening you shall say, 'If only it were morning!' because of the fear that your hearts feel, and for the sights that your eyes see." - NASB: "In the morning you will say, 'Would that it were evening!' and at evening you will say, 'Would that it were morning!' because of the dread which will fill your heart and the sights which your eyes will see." - Why differences matter: The KJV’s phrasing ("Would God it were...") is archaic and can obscure the immediacy of the wish. Modern versions use “If only” or “Would that,” which are easier to grasp. Translations of “fear” as “dread” or “fear” emphasize varying shades of intensity; likewise “sight(s) your eyes will see” can highlight either specific traumatic events (external) or a general state of horror. These choices shape how readers feel the verse — as constant anxiety, as witnessing calamity, or both. ## FAQs - Q: Is this verse meant to be taken literally — will people really wish away morning and evening? A: The verse uses a vivid, literary device to communicate an emotional reality. It’s unlikely to mean people literally believe the day should be different; rather, it means their fear will be so consuming that normal times of day offer no comfort. Morning and evening are ordinary moments that normally provide rhythm and relief; the inversion (wanting morning at night and evening by day) illustrates a life turned upside down by dread. Within Deuteronomy’s covenant framework, this vivid language is intended to make the threat of disobedience feel immediate and serious, motivating the community to choose faithfulness. - Q: Is God cruel for promising such severe consequences? A: Viewed in context, these warnings are part of a covenant relationship in which God spells out both blessings for faithfulness and consequences for rejecting the covenant. The harsh language functions as discipline and deterrent rather than cruelty — it’s meant to awaken the people to the real harms that come from turning away from God’s ways. Many biblical writers pair these warnings with calls to repentance and promises of restoration when people return (see Deuteronomy 30 and other covenant texts). The wider biblical witness balances God’s justice and holiness with mercy and the offer of reconciliation. ## Cross References - Leviticus 26:16 — God warns that rebellious behavior will bring terror and disease as consequences (links to covenant penalty language). - Deuteronomy 28:20 — Earlier in the curse section: “The LORD will send on you curses…” (shows the pattern of comprehensive curses). - Deuteronomy 28:68 — Continues the warning, picturing exile back to Egypt — an ultimate humiliation and loss of freedom. - Proverbs 12:25 — “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down” (connects the experience of persistent fear with wisdom teaching). ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators treat v. 67 as part of Deuteronomy’s rhetorical strategy: vivid, concrete images to motivate covenant fidelity. Scholars note the verse balances inner experience (dread) and outward reality (what people will see) and sees everyday time markers (morning/evening) as symbols of total life disruption. Some readings emphasize pastoral intent — to prevent the very disasters described — while others stress historical realism: exile and trauma did in fact happen when the nation failed to live by covenant. - Group study bullets: - Read the immediate section (Deut 28:15–68) aloud and note the emotional images — what stands out? - Discuss modern equivalents: What habits, systems, or choices create persistent fear in your community? - Reflect on practical steps for reducing anxiety and promoting faithful living in daily life. - Pray for groups or individuals who live with ongoing dread and plan a tangible way to support them. ## Related verses (to compare and contrast) - Leviticus 26:16 — Why: Another set of covenant warnings showing the pattern of God’s disciplinary language. - Deuteronomy 28:68 — Why: Immediately linked; completes the threat by describing exile and servitude as a consequence. - Proverbs 12:25 — Why: Offers a wisdom-medicine voice that acknowledges anxiety and points to care and encouragement as remedies. ## Talk to the Bible Try the “Talk To The Bible” feature to explore this verse interactively. Suggested prompts: - "Help me compare Deuteronomy 28:67 with verses about exile in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. What patterns emerge?" - "Explain how Deuteronomy 28:67 would have sounded to an Israelite family worried about war or famine." - "How can I use Deuteronomy 28:67 in a short teaching about anxiety and faithfulness?"
