English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 17:4
4and 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,
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
Context of Deuteronomy 17:4
2"If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, 3and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, 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, 5then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. 6On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Read all of Deuteronomy 17Deuteronomy 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 13:12"If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God is giving you to dwell there,
- Deuteronomy 19:18The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,
- Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
- John 7:51"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"
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
In the dictionaries
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
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