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Contemporary English Version

Deuteronomy 29:23

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Admah;   Backsliders;   Brimstone;   Gomorrah;   Judgments;   Sodom;   Zeboim;   The Topic Concordance - Covenant;   Curses;   Forsaking;   Heart;   Idolatry;   Service;   Turning;   Worship;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Sea;   Sodom;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Salt;   Sodom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Genesis, Theology of;   Life;   Wrath of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Admah;   Sodom;   Zeboim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Admah;   Brimstone;   Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Gomorrah;   Salt;   Sea, the Salt;   Sodom;   Zeboim, Valley of;   Zoar;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Admah;   Brimstone;   Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Minerals and Metals;   Sodom and Gomorrah;   Zeboiim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Admah;   Brimstone;   Salt;   Zeboiim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Eternal Fire (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Admah ;   Hosea ;   Zeboim, Zeboiim ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Gomorrha;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gomorrah;   Sodom;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Salt;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Adama;   Brimstone;   Salt;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Admah;   Brimstone;   Salt;   Text of the Old Testament;   Zeboiim;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Admah;   Brimstone;  

Parallel Translations

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.
Hebrew Names Version
[and that] the whole land of it is sulfur, and salt, [and] a burning, [that] it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sedom and `Amorah, Admah and Tzevoyim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
King James Version
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:
Lexham English Bible
‘All its land is brimstone and salt left by fire, none of its land will be sown, and it will not make plants sprout out and it will not grow any vegetation; it is as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Adman and Zeboiim, which Yahweh overturned in his anger and in his wrath.'
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—
New Century Version
"The land is nothing but burning cinders and salt. Nothing is planted, nothing grows, and nothing blooms. It is like Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed because he was very angry."
New English Translation
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.
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.'
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.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
(For all that land shall burne with brimstone and salt: it shall not be sowen, nor bring forth, nor any grasse shall growe therein, like as in the ouerthrowing of Sodom, and Gomorah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord ouerthrewe in his wrath and in his anger)
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.'
Complete Jewish Bible
then all the nations will ask, ‘Why did Adonai do this to this land? What is the meaning of such frenzied, furious anger?'
Darby Translation
[that] the whole ground thereof is brimstone and salt, [and] burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, and no grass groweth in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger and in his fury:
Easy-to-Read Version
All the land will be useless—destroyed by burning sulfur and covered with salt. The land will have nothing planted in it. Nothing will be growing—not even weeds. The land will be destroyed like Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, the cities the Lord destroyed when he was very angry.
George Lamsa Translation
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;
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.
Literal Translation
The whole land shall be burned with brimstone and salt; it shall not be sown, nor shall it sprout; nor shall there be any herb in it. It shall be like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which Jehovah overthrew in His anger and in His fury.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that he hath brent vp all their londe with brymstone and salt, so yt it cannot be sowne, ner is frutefull, nether groweth there eny grasse therin, Like as Sodom, Gomor, Adama and Zeboim are ouerthrowne, which the LORDE ouerthrewe in his wrath and 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:
Bible in Basic English
And that all the land is a salt and smoking waste, not planted or giving fruit or clothed with grass, but wasted like Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, on which the Lord sent destruction in the heat of his wrath:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe all the lande is burnt vp with brimstone and salt, and that it is neither sowen, nor beareth, nor any grasse groweth therin, lyke as in the place of ye ouerthrowyng of Sodome, Gomor, Adama, and Zeboim, which the Lorde ouerthrewe in his wrath and anger.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
even all the nations shall say 'Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?'
King James Version (1611)
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt, and burning, that it is not sowen, nor beareth, nor any grasse groweth therein, like the ouerthrow of Sodome, and Gomorah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord ouerthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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:)—
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:
Berean Standard Bible
All its soil will be a burning waste of brimstone 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
brennynge `that lond with brymston and heete of the sunne, so that it be no more sowun, nether bringe forth ony grene thing, in to ensaumple of destriyng of Sodom and of Gommorre, of Adama and of Seboym, whiche the Lord destriede in his ire and stronge veniaunce.
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,) --
Update Bible Version
[and that] the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, [and] a burning, [that] it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahweh 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
[and that] the whole land of it is sulfur, and salt, [and] a burning, [that] it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahweh 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 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.'
New Life Bible
‘The whole land is sulphur and salt, a burning waste, not planted and not giving any plants, and no grass grows in it. It is like Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in His anger.'
New Revised Standard
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—
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
brimstone and salt burning up all the land thereof, it shall not be sown neither shall it shoot forth neither shall there come up thereon any herbage, - like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahweh overthrow in his anger and in his wrath:
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:
Revised Standard Version
the whole land brimstone and salt, and a burnt-out waste, unsown, and growing nothing, where no grass can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomor'rah, Admah and Zeboi'im, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath--
New American Standard Bible (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.'

Contextual Overview

10Today everyone in our nation is standing here in the Lord 's presence, including leaders and officials, parents and children, and even those foreigners who cut wood and carry water for us. We are at this place of worship to promise that we will keep our part of the agreement with the Lord our God. 13In this agreement, the Lord promised that you would be his people and that he would be your God. He first made this promise to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and today the Lord is making this same promise to you. But it isn't just for you; it is also for your descendants. 16When we lived in Egypt, you saw the Egyptians worship disgusting idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold. Then as we traveled through other nations, you saw those people worship other disgusting idols. 18 So make sure that everyone in your tribe remains faithful to the Lord and never starts worshiping gods of other nations. If even one of you worships idols, you will be like the root of a plant that produces bitter, poisonous fruit. 19 You may be an Israelite and know all about the Lord 's agreement with us, but he won't bless you if you rebel against him. You may think you can get away with it, but you will cause the rest of Israel to be punished along with you. 20The Lord will be furious, and instead of forgiving you, he will separate you from the other tribes. Then he will destroy you, by piling on you all the curses in The Book of God's Law, and you will be forgotten forever. 22 The Lord will strike your country with diseases and disasters. Your descendants and foreigners from distant countries will see that your land 23 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. 24 People from other nations will ask, "Why did the Lord destroy this country? Why was he so furious?" 25 And they will be given this answer: Our ancestors worshiped the Lord , but after he brought them out of Egypt and made an agreement with them, they rejected the agreement

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

brimstone: Job 18:15, Isaiah 34:9, Luke 17:29, Revelation 19:20

salt: Judges 9:45, Psalms 107:34, Jeremiah 17:6, Ezekiel 47:11, Zephaniah 2:9, Luke 14:34, Luke 14:35

like the: Genesis 14:2, Genesis 19:24, Genesis 19:25, Jeremiah 20:16, Hosea 11:8, Hosea 11:9, Amos 4:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:32 - And I 2 Kings 22:13 - great 2 Kings 22:19 - a desolation Job 18:20 - astonied Job 39:6 - barren land Psalms 18:8 - went Isaiah 1:9 - we should Isaiah 5:6 - I will lay Isaiah 13:19 - when God overthrew Isaiah 24:3 - shall Jeremiah 4:26 - the fruitful Jeremiah 14:4 - the ground Jeremiah 15:14 - a fire Jeremiah 18:16 - make Jeremiah 22:8 - General Jeremiah 49:18 - in the Jeremiah 50:40 - General Ezekiel 5:8 - in the Ezekiel 16:46 - thy younger sister Ezekiel 16:50 - therefore Ezekiel 36:30 - reproach Ezekiel 36:34 - General Zechariah 8:13 - a curse 2 Peter 2:6 - turning Revelation 14:10 - be Revelation 18:9 - the smoke

Cross-References

Genesis 29:14
Laban said, "You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family." After Jacob had been there for a month,
Genesis 29:15
Laban said to him, "You shouldn't have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?"
Micah 7:5
Don't trust anyone, not even your best friend, and be careful what you say to the one you love.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[And that] the whole land thereof [is] brimstone and salt,

[and] burning,.... That is, is become exceeding barren, as all such land is where there are sulphureous mines, or salt pits, or burning mountains; not that this would be, or has been the case of the land of Judea in a strict literal sense; only these are expressions made use of to show the barrenness of it, which is its case at this day, not through the nature of its soil being changed, but through the slothfulness of the inhabitants of it; to which time it better agrees than to the time of its falling into the hands of the Chaldeans, who left men in it for husbandmen and vinedressers. Aben Ezra understands this as a prayer to God, that the land might be burnt up; that is, for the sins of the people:

[that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein; not being sown, it would bear and produce no corn for men; and not being manured, no grass would spring up for the cattle: and so would be

like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Admah and Zeboim; which indeed are, strictly speaking, become a sulphurous and bituminous lake, called the salt sea, and the lake Asphaltites, and where no green grass or corn, or any kind of fruit grow: which the Lord overthrew in his anger and in his wrath the Targum of Jonathan is,

"which the Word of the Lord overthrew;''

and it was Jehovah, the Word, or Son of God, who rained, from Jehovah the Father, out of heaven, fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, and the rest of the cities; :-, in which chapter is the history of this fatal overthrow.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The description is borrowed from the local features of the Dead Sea and its vicinity. The towns of the vale of Siddim were fertile and well watered (compare Genesis 13:10) until devastated by the wrath of God Genesis 19:24-25. The ruin of Israel and its land should be of the like sort (compare Leviticus 26:31-32; Psalms 107:34; Zephaniah 2:9). The desolate state of Palestine at present, and the traces of former fertility and prosperity, are attested by every traveler.


 
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