Cursed shalt thou bee when thou commest in, and cursed shalt thou bee when thou goest out. Deuteronomy 28:19 (KJV)
Cursed
shalt thou
be when thou comest in, and cursed
shalt thou
be when thou goest out. Deuteronomy 28:19 (KJV)
“Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out” is part of the larger blessings‑and‑curses section of the Mosaic covenant recorded in Deuteronomy 28. In this chapter Moses sets before Israel the blessings that would follow faithful obedience to God’s commandments and the curses that would befall the nation if they turned away from Him. The repeated phrase emphasizes the totality of the curse: wherever the Israelites went—in their homes, their work, their travels, and their daily interactions—they would experience the consequences of disobedience.
The curses described here were specific to the Israelites under the Mosaic covenant and to their historical situation. They served both as a warning of the severe repercussions of turning from God and as a motivation to remain faithful to the covenant relationship.
For Christians today, although we are no longer bound by the Mosaic covenant, Deuteronomy 28:19 still offers spiritual insight. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and inaugurated a new covenant through His sacrificial death. Believers are reconciled to God by faith in Christ and receive the blessings of salvation— forgiveness, eternal life, and a restored relationship with God. This does not nullify the principle that obedience to God’s commands remains essential. The passage reminds us that disobedience carries consequences, calling each follower of Christ to walk in obedience to God’s Word and to honor Him in every aspect of life.
In summary, the verse underscores that a curse can follow a person in every sphere of existence when they reject God’s covenant. While the specific curses were directed at ancient Israel, the broader lesson endures: obedience to God brings blessing, and turning away invites hardship. Christians are therefore urged to live faithfully, trusting in the grace provided through Christ while heeding the timeless warning that disobedience leads to negative outcomes.
