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Deuteronomy 28:3
Blessedshalt thoube in the city, and blessedshalt thoube in the field.

Proverbs 3:33
The curse of the LORDis in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Isaiah 24:6-12
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left…

in the field

Deuteronomy 28:55
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

Genesis 3:17,18
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursedis the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eatof it all the days of thy life; …

Genesis 4:11,12
And nowart thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; …

and cursed in the country.
The countryside represents agricultural life, which was the backbone of Israel's economy. A curse in the country suggests failed crops, famine, and loss of livestock, leading to economic ruin and starvation. This aligns with the covenant curses outlined inLeviticus 26:20, where the land would not yield produce due to disobedience. The agricultural curses are a direct reversal of the blessings promised for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:3-5). This phrase underscores the totality of the curse, affecting every aspect of life, both urban and rural. It serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God's laws, emphasizing the need for faithfulness and obedience.

Deuteronomy 28:15 introduces the whole section: “But if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God… all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” The statement “You will be cursed” flows straight out of that warning.

• It is a solemn declaration, not a mere possibility. The covenant Lord promises sure consequences for rebellion, just as He earlier guaranteed blessing for obedience (vv. 1–14; cf.Leviticus 26:14–17).

• Scripture shows these curses arriving exactly as spoken—during Israel’s exile (2 Kings 17:6; 25:1–7) and in later dispersions (Daniel 9:11). God’s words prove historically reliable and morally binding.

•Galatians 3:10 cites the same principle for every generation: “All who rely on works of the Law are under a curse,” driving us to Christ, who “redeemed us from the curse of the Law” (Galatians 3:13).

The Lord’s intention is corrective as well as judicial: He disciplines His people so they may return to Him (Hebrews 12:5–11).

“Cursed in the city” means daily urban life—markets, workplaces, homes—would turn bitter.

• Economic collapse (Lamentations 1:1, 11).

• Sickness spreading in crowded quarters (Deuteronomy 28:21–22).

• Civil unrest and foreign siege (Jeremiah 21:9–10).

The city had symbolized covenant prosperity (“Blessed shall you be in the city,” v. 3). Disobedience flips that blessing into misery, proving that location or social standing cannot shield anyone from God’s hand (Psalm 127:1;Amos 4:6–10).

Leaving town offered no refuge: “and cursed in the country.”

• Failed harvests: “Cursed shall be your basket and kneading bowl” (v. 17); “locusts will consume all your trees” (v. 42).

• Livestock loss: “Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes” (v. 31).

• Natural calamities: drought, blight, mildew (vv. 23–24;2 Chronicles 7:13).

For Israel, agriculture underpinned the entire economy. When the land groaned, every household felt the sting—just as God had forewarned inLeviticus 26:19–20.

Deuteronomy 28:16 paints a sweeping picture: disobedience brings comprehensive ruin, from bustling streets to quiet fields. God’s curse is thorough because His covenant is all-encompassing. Yet the same chapter that details judgment also implies hope: when God’s people return to Him, He restores (Deuteronomy 30:1–3). The verse ultimately drives us to value wholehearted obedience and to trust the One who bore the curse for us, securing everlasting blessing.

Parallel Commentaries ...