New King James Version
Deuteronomy 29:19
19and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.
Deuteronomy 29:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
- New International Version (NIV)When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
- English Standard Version (ESV)one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!
Context of Deuteronomy 29:19
17and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); 18so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. 20“The Lord would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. 21And the Lord would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law,
Read all of Deuteronomy 29Deuteronomy 29:19 word by word
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּשָׁמְעוֹ֩ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֨י הָֽאָלָ֜ה הַזֹּ֗את וְהִתְבָּרֵ֨ךְ בִּלְבָב֤וֹ לֵאמֹר֙ שָׁל֣וֹם יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֔י כִּ֛י בִּשְׁרִר֥וּת לִבִּ֖י אֵלֵ֑ךְ לְמַ֛עַן סְפ֥וֹת הָרָוָ֖ה אֶת־הַצְּמֵאָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it come to pass, when he hearethשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- of this curseאָלָה'âlâh · oathH423
- that he blessבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
- himself in his heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I shall have peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peace: well-beingH7965
- thoughכִּיkîy · forH3588
- I walkיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- in the imaginationשְׁרִירוּתsherîyrûth · stubbornnessH8307
- of mine heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- to addסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
- drunkennessרָוֶהrâveh · wateredH7302
- to thirstצָמֵאtsâmê' · thirstyH6771
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 29:19
- Deuteronomy 29:12that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today,
- Genesis 2:17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
- Deuteronomy 17:2“If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing His covenant,
- Numbers 15:30‘But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people.
- Psalms 10:4The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
- Psalms 49:18Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
- Psalms 94:6They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.
- Proverbs 29:1He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
- Jeremiah 5:12They have lied about the Lord, And said, “It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine.
- Jeremiah 7:3Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
- Jeremiah 28:15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
- Jeremiah 44:16“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you!
- Jeremiah 17:27“But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”
- Ezekiel 13:16that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ ” says the Lord God.
- Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 29:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19To add drunkenness to thirst - A proverbial expression denoting the utmost indulgence in all sensual gratifications.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Compare on the thought Jeremiah 23:17. The secret and presumptuous sinner is meant who flatters himself that all is well and will be well with him, since he follows his own devices and prospers. Compare Psalm 73:11 ff. To add drunkenness to thirst - The sense is probably: “Himself, drinking iniquity like water, Job 15:16, he corrupts and destroys others who are thirsting for it or prone to it.” The sense of the whole passage from Deuteronomy 29:16 onward…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-21Verses 10-21 The national covenant made with Israel, not only typified the covenant of grace made with true believers, but also represented the outward dispensation of the gospel. Those who have been enabled to consent to the Lord's new covenant of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, and to give up themselves to be his people, should embrace every opportunity of renewing their open profession of relation to him, and their obligation to him, as the God of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19Being careless or overly confident about God's judgment would lead to complete ruin.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-2910-29. Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God--The whole congregation of Israel, of all ages and conditions, all--young as well as old; menials as well as masters; native Israelites as well as naturalized strangers--all were assembled before the tabernacle to renew the Sinaitic covenant. None of them were allowed to consider themselves as exempt from the terms of that national compact, lest any lapsing into idolatry might prove a root of…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 29:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries