· Translation: KJV

Deuteronomy 28:25Yahweh will cause you to be struck before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them, and shall flee seven ways before them: and you shall be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.

The setting

Plains of Moab, ~1400 BC. Moses warns of military catastrophe. The people are about to become a mighty nation, but disobedience will scatter them. Modern-day Jordan.

The emotion here: prophetic grief, seeing future exile and dispersion

The original word

nagaph (נָגַף) — to be struck down, defeated utterly, routed in battle

Why it matters

Going out 'one way' but fleeing 'seven ways' describes complete military panic and rout

Read with care

What most readers miss in Deuteronomy 28:25

This describes not just defeat, but total demoralization — an organized army becoming scattered refugees

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about losing battles, but 'tossed among all kingdoms' prophesied the exact pattern of Jewish exile that would happen 800 years later.

Bible Genome reading

Deuteronomy 28:25 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerMoses
Eraexodus
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typeprophecy
MarkProphecy

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability50%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance90%
Standalone60%
Themes:military defeatnational humiliation

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28:25 comes from the book of Deuteronomy, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Moses. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include military defeat, national humiliation. Notable phrases: go out one way; flee seven ways. This verse contains prophecy.

Your reflection

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