Deuteronomy 28:35 Meaning: When Suffering is Incurable
Yahweh will strike you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil, of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
Jehovah will smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, whereof thou canst not be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the crown of thy head.
`Jehovah doth smite thee with an evil ulcer, on the knees, and on the legs (of which thou art not able to be healed), from the sole of thy foot even unto thy crown.
Jehovah will smite thee in the knees and in the legs with evil ulcers, whereof thou canst not be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God promise incurable boils in Deuteronomy 28:35? This verse shows the reality of covenant brokenness and points to our need for a healer.
Context
Moses is giving his final speech to Israel. They stand on the plains of Moab, about to cross into the Promised Land. In chapter 28, he lays out the terms of the covenant in vivid detail: blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. Verse 35 belongs to the curses. It pictures a severe, spreading affliction that covers the body completely. The language echoes the plagues of Egypt (see Deuteronomy 28:27) and looks ahead to Job's suffering. This is covenant language, grounded in a treaty relationship where Israel agreed to follow God alone.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. Nakhah (strike) is not a gentle touch. It is the same verb used for divine judgment throughout the Old Testament. When God strikes, something serious is happening. Shechin (boil) describes an inflamed swelling, painful and visible. It is the same kind of sore that came upon Egypt and later upon Job. And rapha (to heal) appears here in the passive form: you cannot be healed. Human hands cannot fix it. The combination shows what happens when the source of life is rejected. No doctor, no remedy, no escape. Yet the same word for heal is used elsewhere when God restores His people. Our helplessness is meant to drive us toward the only Healer.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. John Calvin saw it as God's just proportion of punishment for the wicked, a visible sign of His anger at sin. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary identifies the specific disease as elephantiasis, a horrible condition affecting the lower limbs. Matthew Henry treats it as part of the serious curses for breaking covenant. Others notice the strong parallel to Job 2:7, where Satan strikes Job with sores from head to foot. Across these readings, Christians share a common conviction: sin has real consequences, and human suffering in Scripture often points toward the deeper problem only God can solve.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
You may carry something today that feels incurable. A habit you cannot break, a relationship you cannot mend, a illness that will not leave. This verse does not tell you God is punishing you. But it does tell you that sin and its consequences are real, and human strength has limits. Let the verse drive you not to despair but to the One who heals. The same God who gave the curse also promised restoration. Bring your incurable to Him. He has taken the ultimate curse on Himself.
Main takeaway: God's covenant warnings show the seriousness of sin, but they are not His last word; His last word is Christ, who heals.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God’s words here are very serious. He wants His people to know that sin hurts. But He also gave them a way to say sorry and be forgiven.
For ages 9, 12
This verse is part of the covenant God made with Israel. He promised to bless them if they obeyed, and warned them about the hard results of turning away. The strong language shows how much God cares about His people. Even when they failed, God gave them a way to be forgiven through sacrifices, and later He sent Jesus to take the curse for everyone who trusts Him.
Questions People Ask
Does this verse mean God sends sickness as punishment today?
This verse was part of the old covenant between God and Israel. Christians have different views on how these curses apply today. Many see them as a historical warning, not a direct cause for every illness. The New Testament teaches that Christ took the curse for us.
Why does God use such harsh language in Deuteronomy 28?
The harsh language reflects the seriousness of breaking a sacred covenant. Ancient treaties often included blessings and curses. God uses vivid images to show that sin is not trivial and that His covenant demands wholehearted loyalty.
How does this verse relate to Job's suffering?
Job 2:7 uses almost the same words: Satan struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head. Job's story shows that suffering is not always direct punishment for sin. It raises deep questions about God's justice, which are answered not by explanations but by God's presence and power.
What does 'incurable' mean for us today?
It highlights that human effort cannot fix the deepest problem, our broken relationship with God. Only God can heal that. It points to our need for a Savior who can cure what no doctor can.
Is this verse only for Old Testament Israel, or does it apply to Christians?
Many Christians believe the principles still teach about God's holiness and the consequences of sin, but the specific curse is fulfilled in Christ. The warning should lead us to repentance and faith in the One who bore our curse on the cross.
For pastors & researchers
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