Deuteronomy 28:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

Blessed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the droves of thy herds, and the folds of thy sheep.
Douay-Rheims

בָּר֧וּךְ פְּרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֛ וּפְרִ֥י אַדְמָתְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּר֥וֹת צֹאנֶֽךָ׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

"Blessed is the offspring of your womb." This refers to the offspring of sacred thoughts. "And the yield of your land." This represents the abundance of righteous deeds. "And the herd of oxen." This pertains to the apostles. "And a flock of sheep." This symbolizes the multitude of believers in the Crucified One.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Prov 10:22The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich: neither shall affliction be joined to them.
Deut 7:13And he will love thee and multiply thee, and will bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy vintage, thy oil, and thy herds, and the flocks of thy sheep upon the land, for which he swore to thy fathers that he would give it thee.
Gen 49:25The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Ps 128 (127):3
Deut 28:11The Lord will make thee abound with all goods, with the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy cattle, with the fruit of thy land, which the Lord swore to thy fathers that he would give thee.
Lev 26:9I will look on you, and make you increase: you shall be multiplied, and I will establish my covenant with you.
Ps 107 (106):38
Gen 22:17I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore; thy seed shall possess the gates of their enemies.