THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
The statement reads, "let there be no root among you that bringeth forth poison and wormwood," a phrase also referenced by Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:15).
Deuteronomy 29:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
Lest perhaps there should be among you a man or a woman, a family or a tribe, whose heart is turned away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations: and there should be among you a root bringing forth gall and bitterness.
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּשָׁמְעוֹ֩ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֨י הָֽאָלָ֜ה הַזֹּ֗את וְהִתְבָּרֵ֨ךְ בִּלְבָב֤וֹ לֵאמֹר֙ שָׁל֣וֹם יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֔י כִּ֛י בִּשְׁרִר֥וּת לִבִּ֖י אֵלֵ֑ךְ לְמַ֛עַן סְפ֥וֹת הָרָוָ֖ה אֶת־הַצְּמֵאָֽה׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
One Church Father comments on this verse
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Heb 12:15Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder and by it many be defiled:
- Deut 11:16Beware lest perhaps your heart be deceived, and you depart from the Lord, and serve strange gods, and adore them:
- Deut 11:17And the Lord being angry shut up heaven, that the rain come not down, nor the earth yield her fruit, and you perish quickly from the excellent land, which the Lord will give you.
- Deut 13:1If there rise in the midst of thee a prophet or one that saith he hath dreamed a dream, and he foretell a sign and a wonder,
- Deut 13:15Thou shalt forthwith kill the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, and shalt destroy it and all things that are in it, even the cattle.
- Jer 9:15Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will feed this people with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
- Heb 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.
- Amos 6:12For behold the Lord hath commanded, and he will strike the greater house with breaches, and the lesser house with clefts.