Deuteronomy 29:23
New International Version
The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.

New Living Translation
They will exclaim, ‘The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his intense anger.’

English Standard Version
the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath—

Berean Standard Bible
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

King James Bible
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

New King James Version
‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’

New American Standard Bible
‘All its land is brimstone and salt, burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.’

NASB 1995
‘All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.’

NASB 1977
‘All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.’

Legacy Standard Bible
‘All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and nothing sprouting, and no grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahweh overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.’

Amplified Bible
‘The whole land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it; it is like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and wrath.’

Christian Standard Bible
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown, producing nothing, with no plant growing on it, just like the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD demolished in his fierce anger.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown, producing nothing, with no plant growing on it, just like the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD demolished in His fierce anger.

American Standard Version
and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

Contemporary English Version
has become a scorching desert of salt and sulfur, where nothing is planted, nothing sprouts, and nothing grows. It will be as lifeless as the land around the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, after the LORD became angry and destroyed them.

English Revised Version
and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will see all the soil poisoned with sulfur and salt. Nothing will be planted. Nothing will be growing. There will be no plants in sight. It will be as desolate as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, cities the LORD destroyed in fierce anger.

Good News Translation
The fields will be a barren waste, covered with sulfur and salt; nothing will be planted, and not even weeds will grow there. Your land will be like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed when he was furiously angry.

International Standard Version
The whole land will be covered with salt pits and burning sulfur, with nothing planted, nothing sprouting, and producing no vegetation—overthrown like Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, when the LORD overthrew them in his raging fury.

Majority Standard Bible
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

NET Bible
The whole land will be covered with brimstone, salt, and burning debris; it will not be planted nor will it sprout or produce grass. It will resemble the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his intense anger.

New Heart English Bible
and that the whole land of it is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

Webster's Bible Translation
And that the whole land of it is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor doth it bear, nor doth any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath:

World English Bible
that all of its land is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, doesn’t produce, nor does any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which Yahweh overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The whole land is burned [with] brimstone and salt, it is not sown, nor does it shoot up, nor does any herb go up on it there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which YHWH overturned in His anger and in His fury.

Young's Literal Translation
(with brimstone and salt is the whole land burnt, it is not sown, nor doth it shoot up, nor doth there go up on it any herb, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which Jehovah overturned in His anger, and in His fury,) --

Smith's Literal Translation
Pitch and burning salt, all its land; it shall not be sown, and it shall not sprout, and no green herb shall come up upon it, as the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger and in his wrath:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Burning it with brimstone, and the heat of salt, so that it cannot be sown any more, nor any green thing grow therein, after the example of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, Adama and Seboim, which the Lord destroyed in his wrath and indignation:

Catholic Public Domain Version
having burned it with sulphur and molten salt, so that it can no longer be sown. And certainly no greenery would spring up, as in the example of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overturned with his wrath and fury.

New American Bible
all its soil burned out by sulphur and salt, unsown and unfruitful, without a blade of grass, like the catastrophe of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his furious wrath—

New Revised Standard Version
all its soil burned out by sulfur and salt, nothing planted, nothing sprouting, unable to support any vegetation, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his fierce anger—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Laying it waste with brimstone and with scorched salt, that the whole land is not sown, nor any grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Brimstone and salt burning all the land, it will not be sown and will not grow and no grass will come up in it, but it will be as Sadom and like Amora and like Adma and like Tseboim, for LORD JEHOVAH overturned them in his wrath and in his anger:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
brimstone and burning salt, (the whole land shall not be sown, neither shall any green thing spring, nor rise upon it, as Sodom and Gomorrha were overthrown, Adama and Seboim, which the Lord overthrew in his wrath and anger:) -

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant in Moab
22Then the generation to come—your sons who follow you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land—will see the plagues of the land and the sicknesses the LORD has inflicted on it. 23All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger. 24So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’…

Cross References
Genesis 19:24-25
Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. / Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.

Jeremiah 49:18
As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown along with their neighbors,” says the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Amos 4:11
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

Luke 17:29
But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

2 Peter 2:6
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Revelation 11:8
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.

Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.

Matthew 11:23-24
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Romans 9:29
It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

Isaiah 1:9
Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.

Lamentations 4:6
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.


Treasury of Scripture

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

brimstone

Job 18:15
It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

Isaiah 34:9
And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

Luke 17:29
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

salt

Judges 9:45
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Psalm 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Jeremiah 17:6
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

like the

Genesis 14:2
That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

Genesis 19:24,25
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; …

Jeremiah 20:16
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

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Deuteronomy 29
1. Moses exhorts them to obedience, reminding of the works they had seen
10. All are presented before the Lord to enter into his covenant
18. The great wrath on him who flatters himself in his wickedness
29. Secret things belong unto God














All its land
This phrase refers to the entirety of the land that is under discussion, emphasizing the totality of the judgment. In the Hebrew context, "land" (אֶרֶץ, eretz) often signifies not just physical territory but also the people and the covenant relationship they have with God. The land is a gift from God, and its condition reflects the spiritual state of its inhabitants.

will be a burning waste
The imagery of a "burning waste" evokes a scene of utter desolation and destruction. The Hebrew word for "waste" (שְׁרֵפָה, sherephah) can imply a consuming fire, symbolizing divine judgment. This reflects the seriousness of turning away from God's covenant, as fire often represents purification and judgment in the Bible.

of sulfur and salt
Sulfur and salt are elements associated with destruction and barrenness. Sulfur (גָּפְרִית, gophrith) is often linked with divine wrath, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Salt (מֶלַח, melach) signifies desolation and sterility, rendering the land uninhabitable. This combination underscores the irreversible nature of God's judgment when His covenant is broken.

unseeded, unproductive
These terms highlight the futility and hopelessness of the land's condition. "Unseeded" (לֹא תִזָּרֵעַ, lo tizara) and "unproductive" (לֹא תַצְמִיחַ, lo tatsmiach) suggest a land that cannot fulfill its purpose. In the biblical narrative, fruitfulness is a sign of God's blessing, and its absence indicates a withdrawal of divine favor.

and no plant will grow on it
This phrase reinforces the idea of complete barrenness. The inability for any plant to grow signifies a curse, as growth and life are often seen as blessings from God. The Hebrew word for "grow" (יַעֲלֶה, ya'aleh) implies natural flourishing, which is absent here due to divine judgment.

like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim
These cities are synonymous with divine judgment due to their sinfulness. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) serves as a historical and moral lesson about the consequences of wickedness. Admah and Zeboiim, lesser-known cities, were also destroyed, emphasizing the completeness of God's judgment. This reference serves as a warning to Israel about the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness.

which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger
The phrase underscores the active role of God in executing judgment. "Overthrew" (הָפַךְ, haphak) indicates a complete reversal or destruction, while "fierce anger" (אַף, aph) conveys the intensity of God's righteous indignation. This serves as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of His covenant with His people. The LORD's actions are just and purposeful, aiming to bring His people back to righteousness.

(23) And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein.--Can this be a description of the same country of which it was written in Deuteronomy 8:7-9, "A good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness;" and (Deuteronomy 11:12) "a land which the Lord thy God careth for"? Yet every one knows which of these two descriptions has been nearer to the actual fact for many centuries.

Verse 23. - And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, etc.; rather, sulfur and salt, a burning the whole land thereof, it shall not be sown, etc. The words "sulfur," etc., are in apposition to the "plagues and sicknesses" of ver. 22, and thus so far depend on the "see." The description here is taken from the country around the Dead Sea, to which there is an express allusion in the close of the verse (cf. Genesis 19:23, etc.). As this country, which before had been as the garden of the Lord, became, when the wrath of God was poured upon it, utterly desolate and waste; so should it be with the land of Israel when the plagues and sicknesses threatened were laid on it by the Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

its soil
אַרְצָהּ֒ (’ar·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

will be a burning waste
שְׂרֵפָ֣ה (śə·rê·p̄āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8316: Cremation

of brimstone
גָּפְרִ֣ית (gā·p̄ə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1614: Cypress-resin, sulphur

and salt,
וָמֶלַח֮ (wā·me·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4417: Powder, salt

unsown
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and unproductive,
תַצְמִ֔חַ (ṯaṣ·mi·aḥ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6779: To sprout, spring up

with no
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

plant
עֵ֑שֶׂב (‘ê·śeḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6212: Herb, herbage

growing on it,
יַעֲלֶ֥ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

just like the destruction
כְּֽמַהְפֵּכַ֞ת (kə·mah·pê·ḵaṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4114: A destruction

of Sodom
סְדֹ֤ם (sə·ḏōm)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5467: Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea

and Gomorrah,
וַעֲמֹרָה֙ (wa·‘ă·mō·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6017: Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley

Admah
אַדְמָ֣ה (’aḏ·māh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 126: Admah -- a city near Sodom and Gomorrah

and Zeboiim,
וּצְבוֹיִ֔ם (ū·ṣə·ḇō·w·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6636: Zeboiim -- a place near Sodom

which
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

overthrew
הָפַ֣ךְ (hā·p̄aḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

in His fierce anger.
בְּאַפּ֖וֹ (bə·’ap·pōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 29:23 And that the whole land of it (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 29:22
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