Deuteronomy 17:20

Deuteronomy 17:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

Context of Deuteronomy 17:20

18When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:20 word by word

לְבִלְתִּ֤י רוּם־לְבָבוֹ֙ מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י ס֥וּר מִן־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַעַן֩ יַאֲרִ֨יךְ יָמִ֧ים עַל־מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו בְּקֶ֥רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear

• Then his heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• will notבִּלְתִּיbiltîy · lestH1115
• be exaltedרוּםrûm · to exaltH7311
• aboveמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• his countrymenאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• turn asideסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
• from the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• to the rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• or to the leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• in order thatמַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
• heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• may reignאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• many yearsיוֹםyôm · day: alwaysH3117
• overעַל‛al · uponH5921
• his kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• inקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:20

• Deuteronomy 8:2Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
• 2 Kings 14:10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 25:19You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
• 2 Chronicles 26:16But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
• 2 Chronicles 32:25But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
• 2 Chronicles 33:12And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.
• 2 Chronicles 34:27because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.
• Psalms 131:1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
• Isaiah 2:12For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted— it will be humbled—
• Daniel 5:20But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
• Habakkuk 2:4Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright— but the righteous will live by faith—
• 2 Corinthians 12:7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
• 1 Peter 5:5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
• Deuteronomy 4:2You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
• Deuteronomy 5:32So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
• Deuteronomy 12:25Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He, and his children, in the midst of Israel - From this verse it has been inferred that the crown of Israel was designed to be hereditary, and this is very probable; for long experience has proved to almost all the nations of the world that hereditary succession in the regal government is, on the whole, the safest, and best calculated to secure the public tranquillity.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingly, when the people desired a king, they applied to Samuel, a prophet of the Lord. In all cases, God's choice, if we can but know it, should direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. he shall write him a copy of this law in a book--The original scroll of the ancient Scriptures was deposited in the sanctuary under the strict custody of the priests (see on De 31:26; 2Ki 22:8). Each monarch, on his accession, was to be furnished with a true and faithful copy, which he was to keep constantly beside him, and daily peruse it, that his character and sentiments being cast into its sanctifying mould, he might discharge his royal…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 17:20

• Constitution
• King
• Law
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Mouth
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• King; Kingdom
• Law, Judicial

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings