Deuteronomy 29:19-20
19When such a person ▼ hears the words of this oath he secretly ▼▼ Heb “in his heart.”
blesses himself ▼▼ Or “invokes a blessing on himself.” A formalized word of blessing is in view, the content of which appears later in the verse.
and says, “I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.” ▼▼ Heb “heart.”
This will destroy ▼▼ Heb “thus destroying.” For stylistic reasons the translation begins a new sentence here.
the watered ground with the parched. ▼▼ Heb “the watered with the parched.” The word “ground” is implied. The exact meaning of the phrase is uncertain although it appears to be figurative. This appears to be a proverbial observation employing a figure of speech (a merism) suggesting totality. That is, the Israelite who violates the letter and even spirit of the covenant will harm not only himself but everything he touches – “the watered and the parched.” Cf. CEV “you will cause the rest of Israel to be punished along with you.”
20The Lord will be unwilling to forgive him, and his intense anger ▼▼ Heb “the wrath of the Lord and his zeal.” The expression is a hendiadys, a figure in which the second noun becomes adjectival to the first.
will rage ▼▼ Heb “smoke,” or “smolder.”
against that man; all the curses ▼▼ Heb “the entire oath.”
written in this scroll will fall upon him ▼▼ Or “will lie in wait against him.”
and the Lord will obliterate his name from memory. ▼▼ Heb “blot out his name from under the sky.”
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