Deuteronomy 29:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moses warns against hidden rebellion: some may turn from God to serve foreign gods, becoming bitter poison in the community.
The Context of Deuteronomy 29:18
Moses warns of hidden spiritual rebellion spreading through Israel.
What Does Deuteronomy 29:18 Mean?
The warning is specific: not open rebellion but secret turning away. Someone's heart may turn—inwardly, privately—from God while outwardly remaining part of Israel. Then they begin serving foreign gods. This internal apostasy spreads like a poisonous root through a community.
The imagery of 'gall and wormwood' is strong: bitterness and poison. One person's hidden rebellion does not stay private. It spreads. It contaminates. A family follows, then a tribe. What begins as one heart turning away becomes a poison affecting the whole community.
Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Original Language
Gall (רֹאש rosh) often refers to a bitter plant; wormwood (לַעֲנָה la'ana) is an intensely bitter herb. Together they symbolize bitterness and toxicity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 29:18
What does Deuteronomy 29:18 mean?
Moses warns against hidden rebellion: some may turn from God to serve foreign gods, becoming bitter poison in the community.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 29:18?
Moses warns of hidden spiritual rebellion spreading through Israel.