Deuteronomy 28:50
New International Version
a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.

New Living Translation
a fierce and heartless nation that shows no respect for the old and no pity for the young.

English Standard Version
a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young.

Berean Standard Bible
a ruthless nation with no respect for the old and no pity for the young.

King James Bible
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

New King James Version
a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.

New American Standard Bible
a nation with a defiant attitude, who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.

NASB 1995
a nation of fierce countenance who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.

NASB 1977
a nation of fierce countenance who shall have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.

Legacy Standard Bible
a nation of fierce countenance who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.

Amplified Bible
a defiant nation who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young,

Christian Standard Bible
a ruthless nation, showing no respect for the old and not sparing the young.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
a ruthless nation, showing no respect for the old and not sparing the young.

American Standard Version
a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young,

Contemporary English Version
They won't show any mercy, and they will have no respect for old people or pity for children.

English Revised Version
a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Its people will be fierce-looking. They will show no respect for the old and no pity for the young.

Good News Translation
They will be ruthless and show no mercy to anyone, young or old.

International Standard Version
it will be a nation whose language you don't understand, whose stern appearance neither shows regard nor extends grace to anyone whether old or young.

Majority Standard Bible
a ruthless nation with no respect for the old and no pity for the young.

NET Bible
a nation of stern appearance that will have no regard for the elderly or pity for the young.

New Heart English Bible
a nation of fierce facial expressions, that shall not respect the person of the old, nor show favor to the young,

Webster's Bible Translation
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young:

World English Bible
a nation of fierce facial expressions, that doesn’t respect the elderly, nor show favor to the young.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
a nation of fierce countenance, which does not accept the face of the aged and does not favor the young;

Young's Literal Translation
a nation -- fierce of countenance -- which accepteth not the face of the aged, and the young doth not favour;

Smith's Literal Translation
A nation strong of face who shall not lift up the face to the old man, and shall not compassionate the young.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A most insolent nation, that will shew no regard to the ancients, nor have pity on the infant,

Catholic Public Domain Version
a very insolent nation, which will show no deference to elders, nor take pity on little ones.

New American Bible
a nation of fierce appearance, that shows neither respect for the aged nor mercy for the young.

New Revised Standard Version
a grim-faced nation showing no respect to the old or favor to the young.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A people of fierce countenance, who shall not regard the person of the old, nor show mercy to the young:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A people whose face is bold, that is not reverent of the face of Elders and does not show mercy upon youth:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
a nation bold in countenance, which shall not respect the person of the aged and shall not pity the young.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Curses of Disobedience
49The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand, 50a ruthless nation with no respect for the old and no pity for the young. 51They will eat the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain or new wine or oil, no calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks, until they have caused you to perish.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 5:15-17
Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand. / Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men. / They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”

Isaiah 5:26-30
He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! / None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken. / Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. ...

Habakkuk 1:6-10
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. / They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. / Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. ...

Lamentations 4:12
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 7:24
So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.

Daniel 8:23-24
In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. / His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

Isaiah 28:11
Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people

Jeremiah 6:22-23
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth. / They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”

Isaiah 33:19
You will no longer see the insolent, a people whose speech is unintelligible, who stammer in a language you cannot understand.

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 18:9-12
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it. / And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it. So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. / The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. ...

2 Kings 25:1-2
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

Jeremiah 4:16-17
Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah. / They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young:

Proverbs 7:13
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Daniel 7:7
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

shall not

2 Chronicles 36:17
Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

Isaiah 47:6
I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Luke 19:44
And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

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Accepteth Aged Countenance Expressions Kind Mercy Nation Pity Regard Regardeth Respect Show Stern Young
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Accepteth Aged Countenance Expressions Kind Mercy Nation Pity Regard Regardeth Respect Show Stern Young
Deuteronomy 28
1. The blessings for obedience
15. The curses for disobedience














a ruthless nation
This phrase refers to a foreign power that would come against Israel as a consequence of their disobedience to God's covenant. Historically, this can be seen in the invasions by Assyria and Babylon, both known for their military might and harsh treatment of conquered peoples. The term "ruthless" underscores the severity and merciless nature of these invaders. In a broader biblical context, this reflects the theme of divine judgment through foreign nations, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.

with no respect for the old
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, elders were typically revered and respected for their wisdom and experience. The lack of respect for the old by this nation highlights the complete disregard for societal norms and values, emphasizing the totality of the impending judgment. This can be connected to the broader biblical principle of honoring one's parents and elders, as outlined in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12).

and no pity for the young
The absence of pity for the young further illustrates the brutality of the invading nation. Children, often seen as symbols of innocence and the future, would not be spared in the onslaught. This phrase echoes the lamentations found in the book of Lamentations, where the destruction of Jerusalem is mourned, and the suffering of children is highlighted (Lamentations 2:11-12). It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's protection and the vulnerability of the innocent in times of judgment.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and warnings to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving the blessings and curses based on their obedience or disobedience.

3. Foreign Nation
A nation described as "ruthless," which God would use as an instrument of judgment against Israel for their disobedience.

4. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which the Israelites were to inhabit, contingent upon their faithfulness to God.

5. Covenant
The agreement between God and Israel, involving blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Disobedience
God's warnings are not idle threats; they are serious and have real consequences. The Israelites were warned that disobedience would lead to severe judgment, including invasion by a ruthless nation.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God can use any nation, even those that do not know Him, as instruments of His judgment. This demonstrates His sovereignty over all nations and events.

Respect for All Ages
The description of a nation with "no respect for the old and no pity for the young" highlights the importance of valuing and protecting all members of society, a principle that remains relevant today.

The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness
The Israelites' experience serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant. For Christians, this translates to living in obedience to Christ's teachings.

Hope in Repentance
While the passage warns of severe consequences, the broader biblical account offers hope through repentance and restoration. God is always ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to Him.(50) Which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young.--Comp. 2Chronicles 36:17, "The king of the Chaldecs had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age; and Lamentations 5:12, "Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured."

Verse 50. - A nation of fierce countenance; literally, firm or hard of face; i.e. obdurate and determined (cf. Proverbs 21:29; Daniel 8:23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
a ruthless
עַ֣ז (‘az)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh

nation
גּ֖וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

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

respect
יִשָּׂ֤א (yiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

for the old
לְזָקֵ֔ן (lə·zā·qên)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2205: Old

and no
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

pity
יָחֹֽן׃ (yā·ḥōn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

for the young.
וְנַ֖עַר (wə·na·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 28:50 A nation of fierce facial expressions that (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 28:49
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