And they shall be vpon thee for a signe, and for a wonder, and vpon thy seed for euer: Deuteronomy 28:46 (KJV)
Deuteronomy 28 is part of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites, delivered just before they entered the Promised Land. In this chapter Moses outlines a series of blessings that will come upon the Israelites if they obey God’s commandments and follow His ways, and conversely warns of the curses that will befall them if they turn away from God and His statutes.
Deuteronomy 28:46 falls within the section of curses, specifically verses 45‑48. The broader context reads (KJV): “Moreover the LORD shall bring thee, and thy king that is with thee, into a nation whither thou goest not; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known. And they shall be upon thee for a sign, and for a wonder, and upon thy seed forever. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”
The phrase “for a sign and for a wonder” indicates that the curses would serve as a visible testimony of God’s judgment, a striking evidence that would draw attention to the consequences of disobedience. The addition “upon thy seed forever” emphasizes that these consequences would not be limited to the immediate generation but would extend to future descendants, making the judgment a lasting reminder.
While the passage underscores the severity and relentless nature of the curses—servitude to enemies, hunger, thirst, nakedness, and lack of basic necessities—it also cautions against interpreting the verse as an eternal, irrevocable curse on all Israel. Throughout Scripture God repeatedly offers forgiveness, restoration, and the opportunity for repentance. Thus, Deuteronomy 28:46 stands as a solemn warning of the results of turning away from God, while the broader biblical narrative affirms God’s mercy for those who return to Him with a contrite heart.
