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Deuteronomy 29:18

“Beware lest there be among you a man or a woman or a clan or a tribe whose heart is turning away today from YHWH our Elohim to go and serve the gods of those nations; lest there be among you a root bearing poison and wormwood.”

Deuteronomy 29:18 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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18

Allusion · Hebrews 12:15

Go to Hebrews 12:15

Both texts say, in Greek, “root of bitterness springing up”: Hebrews 12:15 and Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Septuagint. The Hebrew of Deuteronomy says “a root bearing poison and wormwood.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

Words of the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the OT (Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Septuagint numbering; Swete's text, CC BY-SA 4.0):

Allusion · Acts 8:23

Go to Acts 8:23

Both texts join “gall” and “bitterness”: Acts 8:23 and Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Septuagint.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

Words of the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the OT (Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Septuagint numbering; Swete's text, CC BY-SA 4.0):

Deuteronomy 29:18, word by word

a manאִישׁish

man

An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.

Where else “ish” appears
a womanאִשָּׁהisha

woman

An adult female person: single, married or widowed.

Where else “isha” appears
a clanמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpacha

family

A group of relatives within a tribe.

Where else “mishpacha” appears
a tribeשֵׁבֶטshevet

tribe

Literally "the rod": one of the twelve great clans of Israel.

Where else “shevet” appears
heartלְבָבlevav

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, desire and decide.

Where else “levav” appears
is turning awayפֹנֶהfone

turn

To turn toward something, someone or God.

Where else “fone” appears
todayיּוֹםyom

today

This very day in which one speaks, the present moment.

Where else “yom” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
our Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears
to goלֶכֶתlechet

go

To head for a place, to leave where one is in order to reach another.

Where else “lechet” appears
and serveעֲבֹדavod

worship

To honor and obey God, or other gods, as his people.

Where else “avod” appears
nationsגּוֹיִםgoyim

Gentiles

The peoples other than Israel.

Where else “goyim” appears
a rootשֹׁרֶשׁshoresh

shoot

What gives rise to something; a shoot from a stock, like a descendant of Jesse.

Where else “shoresh” appears
bearingפֹּרֶהpore

be fruitful

Bear fruit; be fruitful, have descendants.

Where else “pore” appears
poisonרֹאשׁrosh

poison plant

A bitter, harmful plant.

Where else “rosh” appears
and wormwoodלַעֲנָהlaana

wormwood

Wormwood: a very bitter plant; an image of what ends in bitterness.

Where else “laana” appears

Translation note

Hebrews 12:15 also speaks of a “root of bitterness” springing up, in words that recall this verse.

The context

17and you saw their detestable things and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them.

18 · This verse (above)

19And it happen, when he hears the words of this oath of imprecation, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, “I will have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,” so as to sweep away the watered with the thirsty.

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