Deuteronomy 28:23-24
What is written? (ESV)
And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
What does it say?
The heavens that are over you shall be like bronze, and the earth beneath you like iron. God will make the rain of your land dust from heaven until you are destroyed.
What is its immediate context?
Moses is re-telling the law of God to the people before entering the Promised Land. Chapter 28 sets out blessings for obedience (vss 1-14) and curses for disobedience (vss 15-68). These verses belong to the latter section. Chapter 29 continues the covenant warnings.
How Deuteronomy 28:23-24 is applied across Bible answers
Do the “heavens and earth” equal the Law? (Preterist John Watson)
Moses likens the literal heavens to bronze and the literal earth to iron in order to make the point that their land would not be blessed with rain and food.
