Deuteronomy 23:3

Deuteronomy 23:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever:
• New International Version (NIV)No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever,

Context of Deuteronomy 23:3

1“He who has been castrated by having his testicles crushed or his male organ cut off shall not enter the congregation of the Lord. 2A person of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord, 4because they did not meet you with bread (food) and water on the road as you came out of Egypt, and because they hired [to act] against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5Nevertheless, the Lord your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God has loved you.

Deuteronomy 23:3 word by word

לֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א עַמּוֹנִ֛י וּמוֹאָבִ֖י בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹא־יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֛ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• An Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
• or Moabiteמוֹאָבִיmô'âbîy mô'âbîyâh mô'âbîyth · MoabiteH4125
• shall not enterבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into the congregationקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• even to their tenthעֲשִׂירִי‛ăώîyrîy · tenthH6224
• generationדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• forעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 23:3

• Ruth 4:6The closest relative (redeemer) said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because [by marrying a Moabitess] I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption (purchase) yourself, because I cannot redeem it.”
• Nehemiah 4:3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall.”
• Nehemiah 13:1On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses so that the people could hear [its words], and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever enter the assembly of God,
• Isaiah 56:3Do not let the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will most certainly separate me from His people.” And do not let the eunuch say, “Look, I am a dry tree.”

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3An Ammonite or Moabite - These nations were subjected for their impiety and wickedness, (see Deuteronomy 23:4; and Deuteronomy 23:5;), to peculiar disgrace, and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. But this did not disqualify them from being proselytes: Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and she became one of the progenitors of our Lord. Even to their tenth generation - That is, for ever, as the next…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-5Verses 3-5 This law forbids only the naturalization of those against whom it is directed. It does not forbid their dwelling in the land; and seems to refer rather to the nations than to individuals. It was not understood at any rate to interdict marriage with a Moabitess; compare Rth 1:4 ; Rth 4:13 . Ruth however, and her sister were doubtless proselytes. Deuteronomy 23:4 Compare the marginal reference. The Moabites and the Ammonites are to be regarded as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3No Ammonite or Moabite: The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot (see study notes on 2:9, 19). Their origin came from an unlawful family relationship. Later, these nations refused to let Israel pass through their land during the wilderness journey (23:4). The phrase even to the tenth generation does not mean only ten literal generations. It refers to a very long or indefinite period of time.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251-3. He that is wounded ..., shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord--"To enter into the congregation of the Lord" means either admission to public honors and offices in the Church and State of Israel, or, in the case of foreigners, incorporation with that nation by marriage. The rule was that strangers and foreigners, for fear of friendship or marriage connections with them leading the people into idolatry, were not admissible till their…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 23:3

• Ammonites
• Congregation
• Inhospitableness
• Malice

In the dictionaries

• Ammonite
• Moabite
• Ammon, Ammonite
• Moab, Moabite
• Alien
• Citizenship
• Congregation
• Paddle
• Sickle
• Slack

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings