The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way and flee before thee seven ways.Deuteronomy 28:7 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: If you live under God's covenant, He promises to defeat your enemies — when they attack you in one direction, they will run away from you in many directions. - Big idea: God promises sovereign protection and decisive victory to His people as part of the covenant blessings. - Key points: - This verse is part of a larger set of covenant blessings promised for obedience. - The language (“one way… seven ways”) uses vivid, symbolic imagery to describe total rout and safety. - It’s a promise tied to Israel’s national, covenant context — not a blanket license for personal aggression. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Deuteronomy 28 contains the “blessings and curses” section of Moses’ farewell speeches. Verses 1–14 list blessings that follow obedience to the covenant; 15ff. list the curses for disobedience. Verse 7 falls early in the blessings list. - Story timeline: Spoken by Moses to the people of Israel on the plains of Moab just before they enter the Promised Land (late Bronze / early Iron Age context). The audience is the whole nation of Israel; Moses is restating the covenant terms they are to live under. - Surrounding passage: - Verses just before (vv. 1–6): Begin the blessings — promises of exaltation, fertility, prosperity, and success in city and field when Israel obeys God. - Verses just after (vv. 8–14): Continue with promises of abundant provision, protection from enemies, victory in warfare, and national prosperity (trade, fertility, and divine favor). ## Explanation - Quick take: Deuteronomy 28:7 promises that, as part of covenant blessing, God will defeat and rout Israel’s enemies so completely that an attack from one direction will end in a chaotic, multi-directional flight. - In Depth: - Divine protection within covenant: The verse is framed by a larger conditional promise — if Israel obeys God, blessings will follow. This promise of military victory is one of many signs that God’s presence and favor rest on the nation. - Military imagery and hyperbole: “They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways” uses vivid language. In ancient Near Eastern speech, “seven” often symbolizes completeness or perfection; the phrase communicates total collapse of the enemy’s power, not a literal tactical formula. - Presence and honor: Phrases like “before thy face” suggest public defeat — enemies are humbled openly, showing God’s vindication of His people. - Limits and application: The promise addresses national deliverance in a covenant context. It does not give individuals a general theological license to pursue violence. Later biblical writers and Jesus reframe how God’s people are to treat enemies (see application section). ## Key Words - YHWH (יהוה, “the LORD”) — The covenant name of God; stresses God’s personal, covenantal relationship with Israel. - nakah / hit (נָכָה / הִכָּה) — “to strike, smite, defeat” (the action of overthrowing an enemy). - yatsaʻ (יֵצְאוּ) — “to go out, come out” (attacking or moving out against). - yāratz (יָרָצוּ) — “to flee, run away” (describes the enemy’s flight). (Note: Hebrew words above are provided as transliterations with brief glosses to aid basic understanding.) ## Background - Ancient treaty language: Deuteronomy is framed like an ancient suzerain-vassal treaty: if the vassal obeys, the suzerain provides protection and blessings. Promises of victory were common features of such treaties. - Warfare worldview: In the ancient Near East gods were regularly invoked as patrons in war. For Israel, this verse expresses that Yahweh, not foreign gods, fights on behalf of His covenant people. - Symbolic numerology: “Seven” frequently connotes completeness or perfection in Hebrew thought, so “seven ways” means a total, comprehensive rout rather than a literal count. ## Theology - God’s sovereignty and protection: God acts on behalf of His covenant people; protection is an aspect of His faithfulness. - Covenant conditionality: The promise is given in the context of obedience — blessings come as part of the covenant relationship. - Divine justice and vindication: The public defeat of enemies shows God’s justice and vindication of His people, and serves as a sign to other nations. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: Trust that God’s care includes protection and vindication; work with integrity and remember that lasting security is rooted in dependence on God, not only on personal strategy. - For parents: Reassure children that God cares for and protects His people. Use the verse to talk about God’s faithfulness, but also teach kindness and restraint toward others. - For leaders: Lead with responsibility — promises of protection don’t remove the need for wise planning, ethics, or peacemaking. - For seekers and the anxious: This verse can bring comfort that God is powerful and cares for those connected to Him. It’s also a reminder to seek relationship with God, not just safety. - Practical caution: Don’t use this verse to justify personal revenge or aggression. The Bible elsewhere calls believers to love enemies and pursue peace (e.g., Jesus’ teachings). - Reflection questions: - In what areas do I look for security outside of God? - How does trusting God’s protection change how I respond to those who oppose me? - Where might I be tempted to claim Scripture as permission for anger or retaliation? - Short prayer: Lord, thank You that You are for Your people; give me the humility to rely on Your protection and the wisdom to act with love and restraint. ## Translation Comparison - King James Version (KJV): “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” - New International Version (NIV): “The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” - English Standard Version (ESV): “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” - New Living Translation (NLT): “If enemies come against you from one direction, they will run from you in seven.” - Why differences matter: Older translations like the KJV use phrasing such as “smitten” and “before thy face” that feel formal or martial to modern ears. Modern translations aim for clarity (“defeated”) and readability. Choices influence tone (harsh vs. pastoral) and clarity about agency (God “causes” vs. “grants” victory). The “seven” is preserved across versions because it conveys completeness, not a statistical claim. ## FAQs - Q: Is this promise unconditional — does God always protect believers from enemies? - Short answer: No. Deuteronomy 28 is part of a covenantal promise tied to obedience. Verse 1 sets the condition: if Israel obeys, then these blessings follow. Throughout the Bible God protects and delivers His people in various ways, but not always in the way we expect or on our timeline. Later biblical writers and the New Testament show that God’s protection may be spiritual, communal, or future-oriented (ultimate deliverance in God’s timing), and that suffering can still be part of faithful life. So the verse gives assurance of God’s care within a covenant framework rather than a universal guarantee that no harm will ever come to a faithful person. - Q: Can this verse be used to justify violence or revenge against outsiders? - Short answer: No. This verse describes a national promise within ancient Israel’s covenant context and explains God’s role in national deliverance. It shouldn’t be used as a personal license for revenge or violence. The broader biblical teaching balances God’s justice with commands to love enemies, pursue peace, and entrust judgment to God (see Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5–7). Interpreting Deuteronomy responsibly means honoring its historical context and its place in the larger biblical witness that calls God’s people to mercy and peacemaking. ## Cross References - Deuteronomy 20:4 — God goes with you to give you victory in battle (same theme of divine help in war). - Exodus 14 (Red Sea) — God defeats Israel’s enemies publicly, demonstrating His power. - Psalm 18:39 — God trains hands for war and bends enemies under the people’s feet (victory as divine aid). - Joshua 10:10–11 — Example of enemies being thrown into confusion and routed as God fights for Israel. - 2 Chronicles 20 — God delivers Judah from a vast army, illustrating trust and divine deliverance. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis: Most commentators read this verse as part of the covenantal blessings formula. The promise is both theological (God’s faithfulness) and rhetorical (vivid war imagery). “One way… seven ways” is widely understood as symbolic language describing complete defeat rather than a tactical prescription. Scholars highlight the treaty-like structure of Deuteronomy and the way it frames obedience and national destiny together. - Group study bullets: - Read Deuteronomy 28 as a covenantal document — how does the promise of protection function within a treaty? - Discuss modern implications: How should contemporary believers apply national promises from an ancient covenant text? - Examine examples in Scripture where God delivers a people (Exodus 14; 2 Chronicles 20) and compare circumstances and responses. - Reflect on ethics: How do we balance God’s protection with Jesus’ command to love enemies? ## Related verses (compare and contrast — and why) - Exodus 23:27–29 — God promises to send terror before the people and drive out enemies gradually; comparison shows the recurring promise of divine aid in conquest and highlights differences in how God’s deliverance is pictured. - Deuteronomy 20:4 — “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies” — similar theological claim about God’s presence in battle; compares the immediate practical assurance for troops. - Psalm 18:39 — “For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise up against me sink under me.” — Personal psalm of deliverance that echoes the theme of God granting victory, showing how the motif migrates from national promise to individual praise. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to explore this verse further. Suggested prompts: - “Explain Deuteronomy 28:7 in its ancient Near Eastern treaty context and how 'seven ways' functions as a symbol.” - “How do New Testament writers and Jesus reinterpret promises like Deut 28:7 for followers of Christ?” - “Give a modern, pastoral talk (5–7 minutes) that responsibly applies Deut 28:7 to a congregation facing fear or opposition.”
