Deuteronomy 17:18

Deuteronomy 17:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
• New International Version (NIV)When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.

Context of Deuteronomy 17:18

16A king must not get a lot of horses for himself. He must not send his people back to Egypt to buy more horses. The Lord has said to you, ‘Never return to Egypt for any reason!’ 17A king must not marry many wives. They may turn his thoughts away from the Lord. He must not store a lot of silver and gold for himself. When anyone starts to rule as king, he must copy this Law of God on a scroll. The scroll will be a copy of the one that belongs to the Levite priests. 19He must keep this scroll with him all the time. He must continue to read it every day of his life. If he does that, he will learn to respect the Lord his God. He will learn to obey all the rules and commands of this Law. 20If he does that, he will not become proud. He will not think that he is better than other Israelites. He will continue to obey the Lord's commands. Then he and his descendants will rule Israel as kings for many years.

Deuteronomy 17:18 word by word

וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים הַלְוִיִּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it shall be, when he sittethיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• upon the throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• of his kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• that he shall writeכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• him a copyמִשְׁנֶהmishneh · secondH4932
• of this lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
• in a bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:18

• 2 Kings 11:12Then Jehoiada brought the king's son out of the temple room. He put the crown onto Joash's head. He gave him a copy of the royal covenant. They poured olive oil on his head to show that he was now the king. They clapped their hands and they shouted, ‘May the king have a long life!’
• Deuteronomy 31:9Moses wrote down all the rules of God's Law. He gave them to the Levite priests who carry the Lord's Covenant Box. He also gave them to the leaders of the Israelites.
• 2 Kings 22:8Hilkiah, the leader of the priests, told Shaphan, the king's secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord's temple.’ He gave the book to Shaphan and Shaphan read it.
• 2 Chronicles 34:15Hilkiah told Shaphan, the king's secretary, ‘I have found the book of the Law in the Lord's temple.’ He gave the book to Shaphan.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He shall write him a copy of this law - הזאת התורה משנה mishneh hattorah hazzoth, an iteration or duplicate of this law; translated by the Septuagint, this deuteronomy. From this version both the Vulgate Latin and all the modern versions have taken the name of this book; and from the original word the Jews call it Mishneh . See the preface to this book. Out of that which is before the priests the Levites - It is likely this means, that the copy which the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18It is in striking consistency with the dignity which everywhere throughout the Mosaic legislation surrounds the chosen people of God, that even if they will be “like as all the nations about” Deuteronomy 17:14, and be governed by a king, care should nevertheless be taken that he shall be no Oriental despot. He is to be of no royal caste, but “one from among thy brethren” Deuteronomy 17:15; he is to bear himself as a kind of “primus inter pares,” his heart…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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18this instruction (Hebrew this torah): Here instruction refers to the book of Deuteronomy or possibly only this passage about having a king (monarchy) in Israel. For torah, see study note on 4:44.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 17:18

• Constitution
• King
• Law
• Rulers
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Law of Moses
• Mouth
• Throne
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Deuteronomy
• 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