Deuteronomy 28:56
New International Version
The most gentle and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot—will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter

New Living Translation
The most tender and delicate woman among you—so delicate she would not so much as touch the ground with her foot—will be selfish toward the husband she loves and toward her own son or daughter.

English Standard Version
The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces, to her son and to her daughter,

Berean Standard Bible
The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter

King James Bible
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

New King James Version
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter,

New American Standard Bible
The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and tenderness, will be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,

NASB 1995
“The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and refinement, shall be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,

NASB 1977
“The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and refinement, shall be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,

Legacy Standard Bible
The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and refinement, shall be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,

Amplified Bible
The most refined and well-bred woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and pampered, will be cruel and hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,

Christian Standard Bible
The most sensitive and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her refinement and sensitivity, will begrudge the husband she embraces, her son, and her daughter,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The most sensitive and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her refinement and sensitivity, will begrudge the husband she embraces, her son, and her daughter,

American Standard Version
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

English Revised Version
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The most tender and sensitive woman among you-so sensitive and tender that she wouldn't even step on an ant-will become stingy toward the husband she loves or toward her own son or daughter.

International Standard Version
The most tender and sensitive lady among you, who doesn't venture to touch the soles of her feet to the ground on account of her daintiness, will look with hostility in her eyes against her beloved husband, her sons, and her daughters.

Majority Standard Bible
The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter

NET Bible
Likewise, the most tender and delicate of your women, who would never think of putting even the sole of her foot on the ground because of her daintiness, will turn against her beloved husband, her sons and daughters,

New Heart English Bible
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

Webster's Bible Translation
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil towards the husband of her bosom, and towards her son, and towards her daughter,

World English Bible
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye will be evil toward the husband that she loves, toward her son, toward her daughter,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The tender woman in you, and the delicate, who has not tried the sole of her foot to place on the ground because of delicateness and because of tenderness—her eye is evil against the husband of her bosom, and against her son, and against her daughter,

Young's Literal Translation
'The tender woman in thee, and the delicate, who hath not tried the sole of her foot to place on the ground because of delicateness and because of tenderness -- her eye is evil against the husband of her bosom, and against her son, and against her daughter,

Smith's Literal Translation
She tender and delicate in thee, who tried not to set the sole of her foot upon the earth from delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil upon the husband of her bosom, and upon her son, and upon her daughter,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The tender and delicate woman, that could not go upon the ground, nor set down her foot for over much niceness and tenderness, will envy her husband who lieth in her bosom, the flesh of her son, and of her daughter,

Catholic Public Domain Version
The tender and pampered woman, who would not walk upon the soil, nor step firmly with her foot due to her very great softness and tenderness, will vie with her husband, who lies at her bosom, over the flesh of son and of daughter,

New American Bible
The most fastidious woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, so refined and fastidious is she, will begrudge her beloved husband and her son and daughter

New Revised Standard Version
She who is the most refined and gentle among you, so gentle and refined that she does not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge food to the husband whom she embraces, to her own son, and to her own daughter,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The woman who abounds in delights, who lives a luxurious life among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground because of her delicacy and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward her husband and toward her son and toward her daughter

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
She who holds feasts among you and lives in luxury who would not put the sole of her foot to stand on the ground, by her daintiness and by her delicateness, her eye shall stare at her husband and at her son and at her daughter,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil against the husband of her bosom, and against her son, and against her daughter;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she that is tender and delicate among you, whose foot has not assayed to go upon the earth for delicacy and tenderness, shall look with an evil eye on her husband in her bosom, and her son and her daughter,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Curses of Disobedience
55refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. 56The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter 57the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates.…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:28-29
Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ / So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”

Lamentations 4:10
The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Jeremiah 19:9
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

Leviticus 26:29
You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.

Ezekiel 5:10
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

2 Kings 6:25
So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

Isaiah 3:16-26
The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— / the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” / In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; ...

Jeremiah 6:2
Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.

Micah 7:2-6
The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net. / Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together. / The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion. ...

Hosea 13:16
Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

Matthew 24:19
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

Luke 21:23
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

Mark 13:17
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

Matthew 10:21
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

Luke 12:53
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”


Treasury of Scripture

The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

and delicate

Isaiah 3:16
Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

Lamentations 4:3-6
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness…

her eye shall be evil

Deuteronomy 28:54
So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

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Deuteronomy 28
1. The blessings for obedience
15. The curses for disobedience














The most gentle and refined woman among you
This phrase highlights the character of a woman who is known for her delicacy and refinement. In Hebrew, the word for "gentle" is "rak," which conveys softness and tenderness. Historically, women of such nature were often seen as the epitome of grace and virtue, embodying the ideal of femininity in ancient Israelite society. This description sets the stage for the severity of the curse, as it contrasts the expected behavior of a nurturing woman with the dire circumstances that would lead her to act against her nature.

so sensitive and tender
The Hebrew words "anug" (sensitive) and "rak" (tender) emphasize a heightened level of delicacy and care. These terms suggest a woman who is not only physically gentle but also emotionally and spiritually attuned to the needs of others. In the cultural context, such sensitivity would be highly valued, making the subsequent actions described in the verse all the more shocking and tragic.

that she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground
This phrase illustrates the extreme delicacy and privilege of the woman, indicating a lifestyle of comfort and protection. In ancient times, walking barefoot was often associated with poverty or servitude, so this imagery underscores her elevated social status and the care taken to preserve her comfort. The hyperbolic nature of this description serves to heighten the impact of the curse, as it shows how drastically her circumstances will change.

will begrudge the husband she loves
The Hebrew word "tavah" (begrudge) implies a deep-seated resentment or envy. This is a stark departure from the expected behavior of a loving wife, highlighting the unnaturalness of the situation. The use of "husband she loves" underscores the depth of the curse, as it turns the natural affection and loyalty of a marital relationship into animosity and bitterness, reflecting the breakdown of familial bonds under the weight of divine judgment.

and her own son or daughter
The mention of "her own son or daughter" emphasizes the natural bond and affection a mother has for her children. In the Hebrew culture, children were considered a blessing from God, and the maternal instinct to protect and nurture was deeply ingrained. The fact that this woman would begrudge her own children signifies the extreme desperation and moral decay brought about by the curses described in Deuteronomy 28, serving as a powerful warning of the consequences of disobedience to God's covenant.

(56) The tender and delicate woman.--This was fulfilled to the very letter in the case of Mary of Beth-ezob in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus. The story is told with horrible minuteness by Josephus, and again by Eusebius in his Church History. The secrecy of the deed was one of its horrors.

Verse 56. - So intense should be the hunger, that the delicate and sensitive woman, brought up in luxury, and who would not set her foot on the ground lest she should be fatigued by the exertion or offended by coming in contact with the base soil, but when she went abroad must be carried in a litter or borne by a camel or an ass, - even she should break through all restraints of delicacy and affection, and would secretly devour the very infant she had borne during the siege.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The most gentle
הָרַכָּ֨ה (hā·rak·kāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7390: Tender, delicate, soft

and refined woman
וְהָעֲנֻגָּ֗ה (wə·hā·‘ă·nug·gāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6028: Luxurious

among you,
בְךָ֜ (ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

so gentle
וּמֵרֹ֑ךְ (ū·mê·rōḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7391: Tenderness, delicacy

and refined
מֵהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג (mê·hiṯ·‘an·nêḡ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6026: To be soft, pliable, effeminate, luxurious

she would not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

venture
נִסְּתָ֤ה (nis·sə·ṯāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt

to set
הַצֵּ֣ג (haṣ·ṣêḡ)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3322: To place permanently

the sole
כַף־ (ḵap̄-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

of her foot
רַגְלָהּ֙ (raḡ·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the ground,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

will begrudge
תֵּרַ֤ע (tê·ra‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

the husband
בְּאִ֣ישׁ (bə·’îš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

she embraces
חֵיקָ֔הּ (ḥê·qāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2436: The bosom

and her son
וּבִבְנָ֖הּ (ū·ḇiḇ·nāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughter
וּבְבִתָּֽהּ׃ (ū·ḇə·ḇit·tāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 28:55
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