Deuteronômio 29:19 Comentário: Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra & Sforno

יעשן אף ה׳ THE ANGER OF THE LORD SHALL SMOKE [AGAINST THAT MAN] — Through anger the body becomes heated and smoke, as it were, issues from the nostrils. And thus does it state, (Psalms 18:9) “Smoke rose up in his nostril”. Although this idea is not really applicable to God, Scripture makes the human ear hear the matter (i.e. it tells it to him) in the manner that it is accustomed and able to understand according to the ordinary course of the world (i.e. when speaking of God it uses language that properly is applicable only to human beings because this the only language we have at our command).

THE ANGER OF THE ETERNAL AND HIS JEALOUSY SHALL BE KINDLED AGAINST THAT MAN — this refers to the curse against the individual sinner, man or woman.

wrath will fume The fire of wrath shall bum him until smoke appears. If he is an individual, he will die immediately; if it is a whole family, then all of the curse will alight — i.e., the curse shall alight upon that family, until its name is obliterated; if it is a whole tribe, then God will single it out for disaster. Each enumerated consequence applies to a different possibility, like “…shall be dedicated to God , and I shall offer it up for a burnt offering” [Judges 11: 31], as I have explained [comment on Judges 11: 31].

וקנאתו — This is a term denoting wrath, emportment in old French; it means: retaining one’s hold on the 'garment of vengeance', and not forgoing one’s right to punish.