Deuteronomy 16:20

Deuteronomy 16:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
• New International Version (NIV)Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Context of Deuteronomy 16:20

18Each tribe must choose judges and officers in every town that the Lord gives you. They must judge the people in a way that is fair. 19Judges must do what is right for every person, rich or poor. They must not accept any bribes. A bribe may hide the truth even from a wise man. It can make honest people tell lies. Make sure that there is justice for everyone in the land that the Lord your God is giving to you. Then the land will belong to you and you will enjoy life in it. 21When you build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God, do not put any Asherah pole there. 22Do not put up any stone pillar as an idol. The Lord your God hates everything like that.

Deuteronomy 16:20 word by word

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• That which is altogetherצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• shalt thou followרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• that thou mayest liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• and inheritיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
• the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• thy Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 16:20

• Deuteronomy 25:13Do not try to cheat people when you weigh or measure things. Do not carry with you two different stone weights, one light one and one heavy one.
• Micah 6:8But God has told us what is good. This is what the Lord wants from us: ‘You must be fair to other people,’ God says. ‘You must want to be kind. And you must be careful to do what I show you.’
• Philippians 4:8Now my friends, I want to say this to you. Fill your minds with thoughts about good things. Think about things that are true, clean, right and lovely. Always think about things which people know are very good.
• Deuteronomy 4:1Israel's people, listen to the rules and laws that I will now teach you. If you obey them, you will live. You will go into the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving to you. The land will belong to you, for you to live in.
• Ezekiel 18:5There may be a truly good man who does what is right and fair.
• Romans 10:5Moses wrote about how God's Law could help people to be right with God. He said, ‘If a person obeys the rules in God's Law, then he will live by them.’

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 16:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 These verses are closely connected in subject with the following chapter, and introduce certain directions for the administration of justice and the carrying on of the civil government of the people in Canaan. During the lifetime of Moses, he himself, especially inspired and guided by God, was sufficient, with the aid of the subordinate judges (compare Exodus 18:13 ff), for the duties in question. But now that Moses was to be withdrawn, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All personal regards must be laid aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of the heathen. Nothing belies God more, or tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in gospel days, and under a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-22The community of Israel, like any nation, needed different kinds of leaders. These leaders helped keep the people united and guided them in the right direction. The Lord told Moses to set up a proper system of leadership. He also gave clear standards for choosing leaders and explained the duties of each role.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. Judges and officers shalt thou make--These last meant heralds or bailiffs, employed in executing the sentence of their superiors. in all thy gates--The gate was the place of public resort among the Israelites and other Eastern people, where business was transacted and causes decided. The Ottoman Porte derived its name from the administration of justice at its gates.Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 16:20

• Honesty
• Injustice
• Integrity
• Judge
• Justice
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Gift
• Inherit
• Atonement, Day of
• Calendar
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Justice

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 16

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings