Deuteronomy 17:4

Deuteronomy 17:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
• New International Version (NIV)and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
• English Standard Version (ESV)and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,

Context of Deuteronomy 17:4

2The Lord your God will give you towns to live in. You may hear that a man or a woman who lives in one of your towns has done a bad thing. He has done a sin that is against the covenant of the Lord your God. 3He may have started to worship false gods that I have commanded you not to worship. Perhaps he worships the sun, the moon or the stars. If you hear news like that, you must check the report carefully. If it is true that a wicked thing like that has happened in Israel, 5you must punish that person. Take the man or woman who has done that wicked thing to the gate of the town. Then you must throw stones at that person to kill them. 6But two or three people must agree about what the person has done. You must never kill anyone because of the words of only one person.

Deuteronomy 17:4 word by word

וְהֻֽגַּד־לְךָ֖ וְשָׁמָ֑עְתָּ וְדָרַשְׁתָּ֣ הֵיטֵ֔ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֱמֶת֙ נָכ֣וֹן הַדָּבָ֔ר נֶעֶשְׂתָ֛ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it be toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• thee, and thou hast heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• and enquiredדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• diligentlyיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• trueאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: trueH571
• the thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: promisedH1697
• certainכּוּןkûn · to establish: rightH3559
• such abominationתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
• is wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 17:4

• Deuteronomy 13:12The Lord your God will give you towns to live in. When you are there, you may hear news of people who are causing trouble.
• Deuteronomy 19:18The judges must be careful to discover who is telling the truth. The person may be speaking lies against another Israelite to accuse him.
• Proverbs 25:2God hides things because he is great. But great kings can explain things.
• John 7:51‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 17:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4If it be told thee - In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the report by the most careful examination of persons reporting, circumstances of the case, etc. And, behold, it be true - the report is not founded on vague rumor, hearsay, or malice. And the thing certain…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-7Verses 2-7 Compare Deuteronomy 13:1 ff. Here special reference is made to the legal forms to be adopted, Deuteronomy 17:5-7. The sentence was to be carried into effect at “the gates” (compare Genesis 19:1 note) of the town in which the crime was committed; because, as “all the people” were to take a part, an open space would be requisite for the execution. Note the typical and prophetical aspect of the injunction; compare Acts 7:58; Hebrews 13:12.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Anything that offends the Lord could be called an abomination (see 7:25; 12:31; 13:14). This word describes actions that are deeply hateful or detestable in God’s sight.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-72-7. If there be found among you ... man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness--The grand object contemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge and worship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whether of the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called "a transgression of His covenant." No rank or sex could palliate this crime. Every reported case, even a flying rumor of the perpetration of so heinous an offense, was…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 17:4

• Church
• Idolatry
• Intolerance, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Idolatry
• Mouth
• Atonement, Day of
• Certain; Certainly; Certainty
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis

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