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Deuteronomy 28:23 The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.

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(Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/28.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/28.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The skies above will be as unyielding as bronze, and the earth beneath will be as hard as iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/28.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/28.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And thy heaven that <i>is</i> over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that <i>is</i> under thee <i>shall be</i> iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/28.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And your heavens which <i>are</i> over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you <i>shall be</i> iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/28.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />&#8220;And the heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze [giving no rain and blocking all prayers], and the earth which is under you, iron [hard to plow and yielding no produce].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sky above you will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sky above you will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/28.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/28.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/28.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />The sky above will look like bronze, and the ground below will be as hard as iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/28.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No rain will fall, and your ground will become as hard as iron. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/28.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The sky above your head will become bronze while the ground beneath you will become iron. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/28.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The sky above your heads will be bronze and the earth beneath you iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Your sky that is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth that is under you shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/28.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Your sky that is over your head will be bronze, and the earth that is under you will be iron. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And your heavens which [are] over your head have been bronze, and the earth which [is] under you iron;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And thy heavens which are over thy head have been brass, and the earth which is under thee iron;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the heavens which over thy head were brass, and the earth which is under thee, iron.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Be the heaven, that is over thee, of brass: and the ground thou treadest on, of iron. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />May the heavens which are above you be of brass, and may the ground upon which you tread be of iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/28.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The heavens over your heads will be like bronze and the earth under your feet like iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The sky over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you iron.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the heaven that is over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/28.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Heavens above your head shall be brass and Earth under you, iron.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/28.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/28.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And thou shalt have over thine head a sky of brass, and the earth under thee shall be iron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=7536" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/28.htm">The Curses of Disobedience</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">22</span>The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew; these will pursue you until you perish. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: &#353;&#257;&#183;me&#183;&#7733;&#257; (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">The sky</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: &#8217;a&#774;&#183;&#353;er (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: &#8216;al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">over</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: r&#333;&#183;&#353;&#601;&#183;&#7733;&#257; (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">your head</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: w&#601;&#183;h&#257;&#183;y&#363; (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">will be</a> <a href="/hebrew/5178.htm" title="5178: n&#601;&#183;&#7717;&#333;&#183;&#353;e&#7791; (N-fs) -- Copper, bronze. For nchuwshah; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. Coin, a fetter; figuratively, base.">bronze,</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: w&#601;&#183;h&#257;&#183;&#8217;&#257;&#183;re&#7779; (Conj-w, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">and the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: &#8217;a&#774;&#183;&#353;er- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta&#7717;&#183;te&#183;&#7733;&#257; (Prep:: 2ms) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">beneath you</a> <a href="/hebrew/1270.htm" title="1270: bar&#183;zel (N-ms) -- Iron. Perhaps from the root of Birzowth; iron; by extension, an iron implement.">iron.</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-19.htm">Leviticus 26:19</a></span><br />I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-35.htm">1 Kings 8:35</a></span><br />When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/6-26.htm">2 Chronicles 6:26</a></span><br />When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-1.htm">Jeremiah 14:1-6</a></span><br />This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: / &#8220;Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. / The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/4-7.htm">Amos 4:7</a></span><br />&#8220;I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/haggai/1-10.htm">Haggai 1:10-11</a></span><br />Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops. / I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-6.htm">Isaiah 5:6</a></span><br />I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-6.htm">Isaiah 29:6</a></span><br />you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-24.htm">Ezekiel 22:24</a></span><br />&#8220;Son of man, say to her, &#8216;In the day of indignation, you are a land that has not been cleansed, upon which no rain has fallen.&#8217;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/14-17.htm">Zechariah 14:17</a></span><br />And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45</a></span><br />that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-25.htm">Luke 4:25</a></span><br />But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-17.htm">James 5:17-18</a></span><br />Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-6.htm">Revelation 11:6</a></span><br />These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Acts 14:17</a></span><br />Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.&#8221;</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And your heaven that is over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-19.htm">Leviticus 26:19</a></b></br> And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/17-1.htm">1 Kings 17:1</a></b></br> And Elijah the Tishbite, <i>who was</i> of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, <i>As</i> the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/18-2.htm">1 Kings 18:2</a></b></br> And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And <i>there was</i> a sore famine in Samaria.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/28-13.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/8-9.htm">Brass</a> <a href="/numbers/31-22.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-10.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/26-6.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-13.htm">Head</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-25.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-12.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-3.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-5.htm">Iron</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-12.htm">Sky</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/33-13.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-25.htm">Brass</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-25.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-25.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-54.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-35.htm">Head</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-10.htm">Heads</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-24.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-24.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-48.htm">Iron</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-24.htm">Sky</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 28</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-1.htm">The blessings for obedience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-15.htm">The curses for disobedience</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/28.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book&nbsp;&#9702;</a>&nbsp;<a href="/study/chapters/deuteronomy/28.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter&nbsp;</a></tr></table></div><b>The sky over your head will be bronze</b><br>This phrase is part of the curses for disobedience outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>. The imagery of the sky being "bronze" suggests a sky that is unyielding and unresponsive, symbolizing a lack of rain and divine blessing. In the ancient Near East, rain was crucial for agriculture and survival, and a sky that withheld rain would lead to drought and famine. This reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where obedience brought blessings and disobedience brought curses. The metaphor of a bronze sky also connects to the idea of prayers not reaching God, as bronze is a hard, impenetrable metal. This can be seen as a spiritual consequence of turning away from God, where communication with Him is hindered.<p><b>and the earth beneath you iron</b><br>The earth being described as "iron" further emphasizes the severity of the curse. Iron ground would be hard and unyielding, making it impossible to cultivate crops. This would lead to economic hardship and starvation, highlighting the dependence of the Israelites on God's provision. In a historical context, the Israelites were an agrarian society, and fertile land was essential for their livelihood. The imagery of iron also suggests a sense of oppression and difficulty, as iron is a strong, unbreakable metal. This can be seen as a reflection of the spiritual barrenness that results from disobedience to God's commandments. The use of metals like bronze and iron in this passage underscores the harshness and severity of the consequences of turning away from God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and blessings/curses to the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, receiving the covenant and its stipulations.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/promised_land.htm">Promised Land</a></b><br>The land of Canaan, which the Israelites are about to enter, contingent on their obedience to God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/covenant.htm">Covenant</a></b><br>The agreement between God and Israel, involving blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_ebal_and_mount_gerizim.htm">Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim</a></b><br>Locations where blessings and curses were pronounced over Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_covenant.htm">Understanding the Covenant</a></b><br>Recognize the seriousness of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The blessings and curses are not arbitrary but are tied to the faithfulness of Israel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The imagery of a bronze sky and iron earth symbolizes severe drought and hardship. This serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_drought.htm">Spiritual Drought</a></b><br>Just as physical drought affects the land, spiritual drought affects our lives. When we distance ourselves from God, we experience a lack of spiritual nourishment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>The curses are not the end of the account. God always offers a path to repentance and restoration. Reflect on the importance of returning to God in times of spiritual drought.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_obedience.htm">Faithfulness in Obedience</a></b><br>Emphasize the importance of obedience to God's commands as a demonstration of our love and commitment to Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_28.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 28</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_nature_of_god.htm">What is the nature of God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_deut._28_curses_fit_with_science.htm">In Deuteronomy 28, how can modern readers reconcile the promise of curses (verses 15&#8211;68) with our scientific understanding of disease, famine, and natural disasters? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/proof_of_divine_judgment_turning_lands_barren.htm">Psalm 107:33&#8211;34 &#8211; Is there archaeological or geological proof that fertile lands were turned into deserts or rivers dried up purely as an act of divine judgment? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible_say_on_famine's_impact.htm">How does the Bible describe famine's impact?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/28.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">Thy heaven . . . shall be brass, and the earth . . . iron.</span>--Not only in respect of the drought, but of God's refusal to remove it. See Jeremiah 14, 15 for a most pathetic intercession for Israel under this misery, answered by the order, "Pray not for this people for their good" (<a href="/jeremiah/14-11.htm" title="Then said the LORD to me, Pray not for this people for their good.">Jeremiah 14:11</a>). Only grief is permitted (<a href="/deuteronomy/28-17.htm" title="Cursed shall be your basket and your store.">Deuteronomy 28:17</a>). Relief is not given (<a href="/deuteronomy/15-1.htm" title="At the end of every seven years you shall make a release.">Deuteronomy 15:1</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/28.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 23, 24.</span> - Terrible drought is here threatened; no rain should fall (cf. <a href="/leviticus/26-19.htm">Leviticus 26:19</a>); but instead thereof dust, both light as powder and heavy as sand, should fall upon them. The allusion is probably to those clouds of dust and sand which often fill the air in Palestine, when the heat is intense and there has been no rain for a season; the wind then becomes a vehement sirocco, and the air is filled with sand and dust, and is like the glowing heat at the mouth of a furnace (Robinson, 'Bib. Res.,' 2:123; Thomson, 'Land and the Book,' 2:311). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The sky</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1513;&#1473;&#1464;&#1502;&#1462;&#1435;&#1497;&#1498;&#1464;</span> <span class="translit">(&#353;&#257;&#183;me&#183;&#7733;&#257;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct &#124; second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1506;&#1463;&#1500;&#1470;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8216;al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your head</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1512;&#1465;&#1488;&#1513;&#1473;&#1456;&#1498;&#1464;&#1430;</span> <span class="translit">(r&#333;&#183;&#353;&#601;&#183;&#7733;&#257;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct &#124; second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1456;&#1492;&#1464;&#1497;&#1445;&#1493;&#1468;</span> <span class="translit">(w&#601;&#183;h&#257;&#183;y&#363;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bronze,</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1504;&#1456;&#1495;&#1465;&#1425;&#1513;&#1473;&#1462;&#1514;</span> <span class="translit">(n&#601;&#183;&#7717;&#333;&#183;&#353;e&#7791;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5178.htm">Strong's 5178: </a> </span><span class="str2">Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the earth</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1456;&#1492;&#1464;&#1488;&#1464;&#1445;&#1512;&#1462;&#1509;</span> <span class="translit">(w&#601;&#183;h&#257;&#183;&#8217;&#257;&#183;re&#7779;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article &#124; Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">beneath you</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1514;&#1468;&#1463;&#1495;&#1456;&#1514;&#1468;&#1462;&#1430;&#1497;&#1498;&#1464;</span> <span class="translit">(ta&#7717;&#183;te&#183;&#7733;&#257;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition &#124; second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">iron.</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1489;&#1468;&#1463;&#1512;&#1456;&#1494;&#1462;&#1469;&#1500;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(bar&#183;zel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1270.htm">Strong's 1270: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iron, an iron implement</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">Deuteronomy 28:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/28-23.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 28:23 Your sky that is over your head (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 28:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 28:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 28:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 28:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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