What Does Deuteronomy 29:18 Mean in the King James?

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;

Deuteronomy 29:18 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

What appears to be one person’s hidden turn can take root and bear bitterness among the whole community.

THE MEANING

This verse names the danger as a hidden source among the people: the heart turns away, and a root bears poison and wormwood. Its bitter growth begins beneath the surface, yet its effects can reach beyond the one in whom it is rooted.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that an inward departure stays private and harmless: the verse pictures it as a root whose bitter growth reaches into the community.

THE ROOT

שֹׁרֶשׁ

shōresh

GROWS FROM

שרש

Root; the hidden part of a plant from which it grows. The related verb means to take root.

“root” in this verse is shōresh. ⁨שֹׁרֶשׁ⁩ is the hidden, living source from which growth proceeds. Here that source itself bears bitter growth, showing how what is concealed can shape the shared ground.

ALSO GROWS

shorashim: roots

שָׁרָשִׁים

The plural keeps the same seed visible while showing how a hidden source can extend into multiple roots.

hishrîsh: to take root; become rooted

הִשְׁרִישׁ

This verbal form names the process of becoming rooted: the danger is growth underway, not merely an abstract origin.

THE PATTERN

What takes root out of sight eventually bears fruit that can affect the surrounding community.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Hebrews 12:15 · KJVA root of bitterness grows unseen, then troubles and defiles many.

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 5:24 · KJVThe root’s condition appears in what grows from it: rottenness below, dust above.

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:17 · KJVThe fruit made visible reflects the nature of the life growing within the tree.

THE THREAD

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isaiah 11:1 · KJV

The Hebrew root ⁨שרש⁩ (sharash, “root”) appears in both passages. Here the roots of Jesse yield a Branch, showing the same hidden source image bearing a different kind of growth.

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